Record 109 WA schools get independent status

WA parents have backed a record number of school bids for Independent Public School status, Education Minister Liz Constable said.

Ms Constable and Premier Colin Barnett revealed the 109 schools to become Independent Public Schools in 2012 and 2013 at Creaney Primary School in Kingsley this morning.

“We now have one in four schools freed to set their own directions - all with the support of families and communities seeing the benefits for their children,” Dr Constable said. “In the last three years, 40 per cent of all WA public schools have been backed by their communities to apply.

“The State Government’s policy to empower school communities is one of WA education’s most successful reforms in the past 30 years with 207 schools selected as part of the initiative.

“Importantly, through school boards, parents are empowered to have a greater say in how their children are educated.”

In 2012, 73 of the 109 schools announced today will be Independent Public Schools, with the rest being phased in for full independent status the following year.

“Independent Public School principals are saying they would never return to the way things were previously,” the Minister said. “Instead of being dictated to by the bureaucracy, they are able to work more closely with parents, communities and others with expertise to provide additional help for those students who need it, or further challenge talented students.

“By working more closely with their communities and others with expertise, principals can tailor programs and resources to benefit their unique student body. They have control of their school’s finances and the ability to choose the staff they need to cater for their students.

“A key aspect which sets this policy apart from many others around the world is that this is an opt-in initiative. In addition, all staff continue to be employed by the Department of Education under industrial agreements and schools must adhere to legislative requirements.”

This intake of 109 schools includes the first two agricultural colleges and a significant number of schools in regional WA.

INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS in 2012

1. Applecross Primary School;
2. Applecross Senior High School;
3. Ardross Primary School;
4. Armadale Primary School;
5. Attadale Primary School;
6. Aubin Grove Primary School;
7. Baldivis Primary School;
8. Beachlands Primary School;
9. Boyup Brook District High School;
10. Caladenia Primary School;
11. Camboon Primary School;
12. Canning Vale Education Support Centre;
13. Canning Vale Primary School;
14. Cape Naturaliste College;
15. Career Enterprise Centre;
16. Clifton Hills Primary School;
17. Comet Bay College;
18. Connolly Primary School;
19. Dalkeith Primary School;
20. Davallia Primary School;
21. Deanmore Primary School;
22. East Butler Primary School;
23. Eden Hill Primary School;
24. Excelsior Primary School;
25. Gooseberry Hill Primary School;
26. Greenwood Senior High School;
27. Hannans Primary School;
28. Kinross College;
29. Lynwood Senior High School;
30. Marangaroo Primary School;
31. Margaret River Senior High School;
32. Marmion Primary School;
33. Melville Senior High School;
34. Mindarie Primary School;
35. Mount Lawley Senior High School;
36. Newborough Primary School;
37. Newman Primary School;
38. Newton Moore Senior High School;
39. North Beach Primary School;
40. North Cottesloe Primary School;
41. Parkfield Primary School;
42. Perth Modern School;
43. Pickering Brook Primary School;
44. Rockingham Lakes Primary School;
45. Singleton Primary School;
46. Sorrento Primary School;
47. South Newman Primary School;
48. Tom Price Primary School;
49. Tom Price Senior High School;
50. Tuart Hill Primary School;
51. Two Rocks Primary School;
52. WA College of Agriculture - Cunderdin;
53. Waggrakine Primary School;
54. Wattle Grove Primary School;
55. West Leederville Primary School;
56. Willandra Primary School;
57. Winterfold Primary School;
58. Winthrop Primary School;
59. Yokine Primary School;

60. Yule Brook College;

CLUSTERS
Coalition of schools
1. Ballajura Primary School;
2. Dianella Heights Primary School;
3. West Beechboro Primary School;
Manjimup Cluster
4. East Manjimup Primary School;
5. Manjimup Education Support Centre;
6. Manjimup Primary School;
7. Manjimup Senior High School;
Mount Hawthorn Cluster
8. Mount Hawthorn Education Support Centre;
9. Mount Hawthorn Primary School;
Turquoise Coastal Schools Alliance;
10. Cervantes Primary School;
11. Jurien Bay District High School;
12. Leeman Primary School;
To join existing Woodvale Cluster;

13. Creaney Primary School.

INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS in 2013

1. Atwell Primary School;
2. Beldon Primary School;
3. Belridge Senior High School;
4. Butler Primary School;
5. Carine Primary School;
6. Como Secondary College;
7. Dowerin District High School;
8. East Narrogin Primary School;
9. East Victoria Park Primary School;
10. Eaton Community College;
11. Falcon Primary School;
12. Girrawheen Senior High School;
13. Halls Head Primary School;
14. Hillman Primary School;
15. Joondalup Primary School;
16. Katanning Primary School;
17. Kinross Primary School;
18. Kulin District High School;
19. Lakeland Senior High School;
20. Little Grove Primary School;
21. Makybe Rise Primary School;
22. Narrogin Primary School;
23. Neerabup Primary School;
24. Pinjarra Senior High School;
25. Rangeway Primary School;
26. Rockingham Senior High School;
27. Rockingham Senior High School Education Support Centre;
28. Tuart College;
29. Vasse Primary School;
30. Walpole Primary School;
31. Wanneroo Senior High School;

32. York District High School.

CLUSTERS
Morawa Cluster
1. Morawa District High School;
2. WA College of Agriculture - Morawa;
Riverside Schools
3. Riverside Education Support Centre;
4. Riverside Primary School.