Self Governing schools named

Twenty-nine schools have been named to take part in the Self Governing Schools program from the start of the 1999 school year.

The schools vary in size from a specialist school with 88 students, to a primary school of 209 to a secondary college of 1,688.

The schools will have increased flexibility in staffing and administrative arrangements.  They can

• directly employ all staff
• enter into partnerships with businesses, TAFEs or other institutions
• become specialist schools in a chosen discipline
• co-opt school council members with specialist skills
• lease school facilities to the community

The Minister for Education, Phil Gude, said that schools which applied for the program had to demonstrate how being part of the program would benefit their students.  He said that the response to the program was evidence that "one size does not fit all" and that there were some very innovative proposals amongst the schools admitted to the program

(News Release, Minister for Education, 13 November, 1998)