The School Leaders’ Council commences 2012 with their first meeting at Cottesloe Golf Club Swanbourne on 212th March, 2012. There is a full day of professional development for School Leaders’ Council members however non council members leaders are welcome to participate for the morning session, though places are limited. The full agenda can be seen online.
Welcome back to a new year. I trust your holidays were restful and the New Year a smooth beginning. As we commence 2012 the indications are that it will be another very busy year. Many schools will commence the year juggling with various unsettled matters as a result of the significant changes announced by the Minister at the end of 2011, i.e. the compulsory attendance for students in Pre-Primary and year 7’s move to secondary in 2015. We are also aware of delays in the provision of ECE units and the allocation of staffing at some sites. We would be interested to hear from School Leaders on these matters.
I am writing to advise you of the call for papers for the Seventh World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: The 21st Century Approach to Mental Health. This conference also incorporates the Our mob, Our Minds, Our Spirits Indigenous mental health conference and will be held in Perth from 17 to 19 October 2012.
As the school year comes to a close the changes of ‘loose-tight control ’continue to increase expectations on all school leaders. I wish to emphasise the commentary of Trevor Cobbold (former Productivity Commissioner Economist and founder of Save Our Schools) “…..government schools are more efficient than private schools in producing high outcomes….”, and ….”.they do so with less than half the resources of the private schools….”
The School Leaders' Council held their second successful professional development day with principal colleagues on the 24th October at the Cottesloe Golf Club. Kevin O'Keefe, is currently conducting research into the status of Indigenous education with a focus on primary schools. His informative presentation gave an honest account of an Australia-wide context, and the critical role of school leadership and the moral imperative. We expect to hear more on completion of the research early in 2012.
An indoor equestrian centre, why can’t our kids have one! State Council sat silently as former Productivity Commission economist, Mr Trevor Cobbold, delivered a chilling account of inequity and greed. Greed that is now being defined as ‘class warfare’ as we continue to witness the erosion of public sector education services that are yet to be addressed by any Federal government of any persuasion.
The letter sent to every principal from the Director General re ‘NOTIFICATION OF DELEGATED OR SUBDELEGATED AUTHORITY TO EXERCISE A POWER OR FUNCTION’, is not to be ignored. I encourage all of you to be aware of the content. The DoE spreadsheet, currently in its preliminary format, is a reference to the delegation of powers sub delegated to the principal.
Discussions surrounding increased accountability, the School Performance Monitoring System (SPMS), mapping the National Curriculum and the introduction of IPS are invading the thoughts of many WA educators. These issues have brought out many concerns and unanswered questions. SSTUWA Organiser Claire Howard and Council Chair Edd Black went to great lengths to present a clearer understanding of these matters by holding the School Leaders Council Inaugural breakfast on the 22nd August.
On the eve of the announcement of the third intake of Independent Public Schools the Department of Education held a meeting to explain the public tender process for the Evaluation of Independent Public Schools Initiative 2011-2013. The tender is being offered within the parameters of $150,000-$400,000. The forum was led by, Director for School Innovation and Reform, Mr David Price.
Monash University is seeking your cooperation with The Australian Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey. We are asking that you assist by agreeing to email information about the survey and the survey invitation to your members later in the year.
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