State schools get new powers

Public schools would have freedom to shun official curriculum and offer the International Baccalaureate under sweeping reforms unveiled by the State Government yesterday, which give principals power to hire teachers and expel students more easily.

Premier Colin Barnett said the plan to create independent public schools would cut red tape and allow parents more say in their children's education.

"This is a transformation of education in WA with the single objective of raising educational standards in 8primary, but especially our secondary school system," he said.

Education Minister Liz Constable said 30 schools would be chosen by the end of next month to start a "demonstration phase" next year. More schools could nominate for the 8program next year.

She said schools would have more flexibility to tailor programs to 8students, including offering different curriculums, such as the IB, up to Year 10.

Six private schools now run IB programs in WA but no State schools.

Dr Constable said principals would have total budgetary control and be able to select their own staff. She denied this would lead to teachers being sacked.

Independent public schools would not offer higher salaries than other State schools because they would still be bound by industrial agreements.

Decisions to expel students would be made at school level, without needing approval from education director-general Sharyn O'Neill.

Principals in the program would have to negotiate a five-year delivery and performance agreement, which would include improvement targets.

Principals' associations yesterday welcomed the reforms, saying many were keen to sign up. Principals at Churchlands and Rossmoyne Senior High Schools and Ballajura Community College said their school councils were considering applying.

Churchlands principal Neil Hunt said the school would consider offering IB programs but not until after it had seen the new national curriculum, which was still being written.

Shadow education minister Michelle Roberts said schools in country and lower socioeconomic areas and graduate teachers could be disadvantaged under the plan.

"There is little detail in what is being put in place to mitigate against the creation of elite government schools that sees other government schools disadvantaged, essentially the establishment of a two-tier system of public education," she said.

State School Teachers Union president Anne Gisborne said it would ask the WA Industrial Relations Commission to delay the changes because the Government had breached an agreement not to make significant changes without consulting the union.

She said governments had invested heavily in a national curriculum but WA was now giving schools the option to set their own curriculum. IB also involved costs that would have to be borne by taxpayers or parents.

The plan would make it harder for schools in less desirable locations to attract staff while independent schools would be able to "cherry pick" top graduates and teachers.