New measures to lift performance of Western Australian public education

8/7/04
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter has today announced sweeping changes to the way Government schools will be staffed from next year.
For the first time in Western Australia, all Government school principals will be able to select their own staff, all principals will be appointed for renewable five-year terms and all new teaching appointments to city schools will be for five-year periods.
"Principals are responsible for the performance of their schools, so it is reasonable that they be given the opportunity to select their own staff," Mr Carpenter said.
"Local selection will allow schools to select the teachers most suited to them."
The Minister said local selection was already operating in 128 Government schools across the State. The remaining 650 schools were currently staffed through a centralised process.
"Expanding local selection to all Government schools will allow a better match between teachers and school communities," Mr Carpenter said.
"To ensure integrity and compliance, the process will be overseen by the Department of Education and Training."
The Minister said teaching staff with current permanent positions in schools and the existing career incentives for teachers in rural schools would not be affected by local selection.
"The changes to new appointments to city schools will not affect teachers already working in these schools, although it will affect those who move from one city school to another," he said.
The local selection process and the renewable appointments for principals will be phased in over three years.
"After the first five-year period, the expectation is that principals who have performed well will be reappointed to the same school," Mr Carpenter said.
"After a second five-year period, the expectation is that the principal will be moved to another school, unless under exceptional circumstances."
The Minister said the new contract terms would provide principals and teachers with increased opportunities to experience a more diverse range of learning and teaching environments, to the benefit of themselves, their students and, ultimately, public education.
Minister's office: 9213 6800