Overview of the Independent Public Schools Initiative

The Independent Public Schools initiative honours a State Government pre-election commitment to hand greater control to schools.

In collaboration with their school community, Independent Public Schools set their own strategic directions, have authority for day-to-day decision making and are in an ideal position to make decisions that best cater for their students. Parents and community members have an important and enhanced role in this initiative.

In order to operate with more autonomy, they are afforded a number of flexibilities. This means that they can select staff, manage their financial affairs though a one line budget, select school development day dates, approve leave applications, determine the curriculum that best supports students’ needs, as well as manage school utilities (electricity, water, gas and waste management) and faults (breakdowns and repairs). Some groups of Independent Public Schools work as a cluster, which enables them to effectively combine ideas and resources to create even greater flexibilities across their group.

Although they are called Independent Public Schools, these schools remain part of the public school system.
 

Further information on this website includes:

• A fact sheet
• the 2012 prospectus, which provides information about the various flexibilities that are available to Independent Public Schools.
• information about the obligations of an Independent Public School
• A PowerPoint that highlights key aspects of the Independent Public Schools initiative.

 

 C 2011 Department of Education