Statewide Education Services to deliver improved support for schools

The State Government's continued education reform will see support services brought together under one roof where schools can easily access expert advice and support.

Education Minister Liz Constable today announced the Padbury Senior High School site would from next year house the new Statewide Education Services for schools, becoming the home of specialist services and resources for schools.

Almost 300 experts in a range of areas, including early childhood education; literacy and numeracy; English as a second language and dialect; behaviour management; student disability, including deaf and hard of hearing; speech and language development; curriculum and vocational education will be based there.

"Reform is under way at the school level, in the regions and now at central office," Dr Constable said.

One hundred staff will move to the site from the Department of Education's central office at the start of 2012.  Others will come from a range of places, including Hale House, when Padbury Senior High School closes at the end of 2011.

"For too long, programs have been run out to schools in a one-size-fits-all approach. Now, schools will determine the support they need and be able to access it through Statewide Education Services," the Minister said.

This move follows the Independent Public Schools reform which allowed schools more autonomy and regionalisation.

"The real advantage of this new approach is that professionals from different fields, such as psychology, speech and language, disability and curriculum will work together in multi-disciplinary groups in schools to provide a complete range of specialist services to students," Dr Constable said.

"Rather than navigating the web of bureaucracy to access support for their students, school staff and parents will be able to easily contact the team for expert support and advice."

Further, as part of the changes to the way schools are supported, a number of Teacher Development Schools will be set up across the State. These schools will have demonstrated curriculum expertise and play a major role as the Australian Curriculum is introduced from kindergarten to year 10 from 2012.

"We know that teachers benefit most from working with other expert and experienced teachers in classrooms rather than through centralised programs," the Minister said.

"These Teacher Development Schools will provide the necessary support to teachers in all schools as they become familiar with the Australian Curriculum."

Together these reforms are aimed at continuing to build a strong public school system with the prime focus being the success of students.