The Western Australian Education Minister Peter Collier has announced 48 more schools that have been selected to become Independent Public Schools to start in 2013, bringing the overall total in the reform of WA’s education system to 255 (one third of Western Australia’s public schools).


Mr Collier said the 255 Independent Public Schools represent about 50 per cent of all public school students and teachers in WA. He said the response to date indicated that schools, staff and communities have “a strong desire to have more of a say about the way the schools are run and use their finance”.


To date 389 public schools have expressed interest in becoming Independent Public Schools over four intakes, leaving a further 382 schools yet to apply.


“Each school has identified very specific advantages that more independence will provide its students, staff and community.  For example, the four schools in Broome have worked together and applied as a cluster to maximise the education opportunities for all young people in the town,” he said.


Mr Collier said the WA Government has invested $13.53million between 2010 and 2012 directly in Independent Public Schools through one-off grants of between $20,000 and $40,000 each for transition purposes, and also provided recurrent administrative grants of between $25,000 and $50,000 each.


The first 34 Independent Public Schools are currently being reviewed independently through a process undertaken by the Department of Education Services. They are in the final year of their three-year delivery and performance agreements with the director general of the Department of Education.


An independent evaluation by The University of Melbourne of the implementation, impact and success of the initiative is also under way with a report due mid next year.


“Not only do we give Independent Public Schools increased autonomy, but we are also extending flexibility in key areas to all schools as part of our commitment to this initiative,” Mr Collier said.


“From this term, for example, all principals have the authority to fill vacancies as soon as they arise; appoint staff to each vacant position from established recruitment pools; and approve all leave.”

 

A list of the selected schools is here.