Tony Mullen
May 18, 2011
The SSTUWA is opposed to the Independent Public Schools Program. It has major concerns at the short and long term impact of IPS on teachers/administrators conditions and the working/ learning environments in our government school system. The international trend of British ‘academies’ and American ‘Charter Schools’ with a ramping up of the simplistic approach to accountability through national testing regimes should be enough to have the teaching profession concerned at this direction.
Read more: Independent Public Schools Communication May 2011
The SSTUWA has held a number of IPS forums for members to assist them in understanding the concerns the our union has with the direction of this program. Senior Officers and Industrial staff are available to speak to your school community if you are considering applying to be in the IPS program. It is very important a school community [staff and parents] is provided with the opportunity to understand all issues associated with the introduction of this program into the public education system.
Last week the Minister announced receipt of 132 applications for the second round of IPS. Whilst it is diappointing to see further erosion of the system of government schools through the IPS program, the Union wishes to commend the work undertaken by Union Reps and members in many schools during this process. It was particularly pleasing to see on the ground activity to ensure that staff and community were as fully informed as they could be.
Minister for Education Dr Liz Constable announced a 2nd round intake for the Independent Schools Program recently. Again, the SSTUWA has been extremely dispappointed with this announcement, particulalry as the initial 34 schools announced late in 2009 have not yet even completed and had signed off their respective “business plans” [due in May 2010]. 
The determination of the Barnett Government and Minister for Education, Dr Liz Constable, to further expand the IPS program should be a major concern to the community on two levels. Firstly, it is unbelievable that Education Minister Liz Constable should announce more independent public schools before any realistic results can be known from the first group of schools. The Business Plans for the initial 34 IPS schools are not due until May 2010.
WHAT’S HAPPENING: Independent Public Schools Visit Program & Supports, DET-SSTUWA on-going consultation, Unsucessful Applicant Schools, SSTUWA Communication to Parents/Community. The Union office will be focussing on visiting and providing supports for the 34 IPS.It is hoped to have had a first round of visits undertaken by week 5 of term 4 2009.
UPDATE ON WAIRC. The parties returned to the WAIRC on Monday 5 October 1009 to report back to Commissioner Harrison who was very clear about the need for the parties to have established clear ‘terms of reference’ for the DET-SSTU IPS Reference Group arising out of the WAIRC application by the Union. Harrison has set down a respond date for the ‘terms of reference’ to be tabled to the WAIRC and a scheduled for further report backs. 
The SSTUWA congratulates all schools / branches who did not proceed to place an application forward in the current process to be considered as an Independent Public School. Apart from the general position of the Union on this matter, the lack of consulation with a key representative group such as the SSTUWA prior to the announcement, the indecent haste in the timeline for nomination, the lack of detail with regard to “proper process in consulation”..
IF YOUR SCHOOL IS APPLYING TO BE AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOL - Please COMPLETE and RETURN the attached document “Application to be an Independent Public School”. Your RETURN will assist the Union in getting a clear picture of activity around this matter in schools. It will also be useful background for the various consultations we will be in with DET and the matter in the WAIRC. Union Reps assistance with this matter would be appreciated. 
