amounts, voluntary contributions or set fees Elected student members can only be for specialised programs. students from Year 10, 11 or 12 at the school. Schools may appoint coopted students from Can Independent Public Schools younger year levels; however these students are unable to vote. change their name? In general, the school council plays a role in No. The authority to change the name of a approving and monitoring the school’s state school remains with the Minister. strategic direction in a way that achieves the What support is provided to best learning outcomes for the school’s students. The size of the school will determine Independent Public Schools? representation of staff and students on the Independent Public Schools benefit from the school council. strengths of the Queensland state education For more information read the fact sheet. system through access to: existing liability insurance How does the role of a school legal and media advice council differ to that of a P&C Association? financial and purchasing advice The school council has an accountability role industrial relations advice and support and is responsible for informing and Curriculum into the Classroom monitoring the school’s strategic direction. Members are responsible for approving OneSchool strategic documents that set the direction, MyHR culture and tone of the school. Workcover support The Parents and Citizens’ (P&C) Association has a support and advice role and is central and regional office support. responsible for school fundraising activities. How do school councils operate? The Independent Public Schools initiative does not impact on the functions of P&C School councils in Independent Public Schools Associations. operate under the existing legislation as applied to all state schools. The establishment of school councils allows greater involvement of the school community in determining the school’s strategic direction. Is the Independent Public Schools School councils comprise at least six, but not initiative supported by research? more than 15 members. A school council must Research on school autonomy shows its include at least one elected parent member success relies on a range of factors such as and one elected staff member (the number of what support is provided, types of autonomy, elected parent members and elected staff and accountabilities. members of a school council must be equal). However, research also shows that while there A school council (for a school that provides should not be a fits all’ model for ‘one-size Years 10, 11 or 12) must include at least one autonomy, there is a link between but not more than two elected student systems and school autonomy. members and two appointed members.
amounts, voluntary contributions or set fees for specialised programs. Can Independent Public Schools change their name? No. The authority to change the name of a state school remains with the Minister. What support is provided to Independent Public Schools? Independent Public Schools benefit from the strengths of the Queensland state education system through access to: existing liability insurance legal and media advice financial and purchasing advice industrial relations advice and support Curriculum into the Classroom OneSchool MyHR Workcover support central and regional office support. How do school councils operate? School councils in Independent Public Schools operate under the existing legislation as applied to all state schools. The establishment of school councils allows greater involvement of the school community in determining the school’s strategic direction. School councils comprise at least six, but not more than 15 members. A school council must include at least one elected parent member and one elected staff member (the number of elected parent members and elected staff members of a school council must be equal). A school council (for a school that provides Years 10, 11 or 12) must include at least one but not more than two elected student members and two appointed members. Elected student members can only be students from Year 10, 11 or 12 at the school. Schools may appoint coopted students from younger year levels; however these students are unable to vote. In general, the school council plays a role in approving and monitoring the school’s strategic direction in a way that achieves the best learning outcomes for the school’s students. The size of the school will determine representation of staff and students on the school council. For more information read the fact sheet. How does the role of a school council differ to that of a P&C Association? The school council has an accountability role and is responsible for informing and monitoring the school’s strategic direction. Members are responsible for approving strategic documents that set the direction, culture and tone of the school. The Parents and Citizens’ (P&C) Association has a support and advice role and is responsible for school fundraising activities. The Independent Public Schools initiative does not impact on the functions of P&C Associations. Is the Independent Public Schools initiative supported by research? Research on school autonomy shows its success relies on a range of factors such as what support is provided, types of autonomy, and accountabilities. However, research also shows that while there should not be a ‘one-size fits all’ model for autonomy, there is a link between systems and school autonomy.