Comprehensive School Improvement Reviews
People, Practice and Performance: A Framework for School Performance and Accountability, launched in April 2016, continues to provide direction for all schools to participate in a five-year cycle of school improvement planning aligned to their school strategic plan, culminating in a school review in the fifth year. School reviews were undertaken for the first time in ACT public schools in 2016.
School Administration System
The ACT Government is investing $10 million over three years in the provision of a new School Administration System (SAS) that will streamline parent interaction with schools and provide improved and more efficient school administration. SAS will be progressively implemented across all ACT Public Schools throughout 2018 and 2019 and when fully implemented will ensure Canberra continues to be recognised as a leading digital city.
Schools for the Future – More Schools, Better Schools
The Directorate has expended more than $80 million during 2017-18 to deliver many infrastructure and capital works improvements, including school expansion projects totalling more than $35 million. Infrastructure and capital works projects have included the:
- commencement of construction of the new Margaret Hendry School in the suburb of Taylor to be operational for the start of the 2019 school year for preschool to year 6 students;
- advancement of Stage 2 of the modernisation works at Belconnen High School including major refurbishments of student learning and teaching spaces and the creation of a new school administration and main entry area;
- commencement of early planning work for the new preschool to year 10 school in Denman Prospect in the Molonglo Valley;
- completion of expansion works at Amaroo School creating new learning spaces for an additional 300 students and an expanded gymnasium;
- completion of further expansion works for the start of the 2018 school year at Neville Bonner Primary School and Gold Creek School as part of the in Better Schools for Our Kids – Expanding Schools Gungahlin four year program;
- completion of the construction and the commencement of operation of the Caroline Chisholm School Centre for Innovation and Learning located on the senior campus;
- completion of the installation of five new transportable units and student amenities at Campbell Primary School and the demolition of an end of life building housing 10 classrooms for the commencement of the 2018 school year;
- commencement of the installation of 22 transportable units and student amenities at Narrabundah College;
- completion of the construction of a Year 11-12 building at the Woden School;
- upgrade of 21 schools to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone services;
- creation of withdrawal/sensory spaces at 12 schools;
- roof replacement/refurbishment at Mount Stromlo High School and Erindale College;
- cooling upgrades to one third of schools;
- a new car park at Palmerston Primary School;
- a new transportable classroom at Aranda Primary School;
- two new classrooms at Arawang Primary School;
- a new lift at Alfred Deakin High; and
- access improvements including new accessible toilets at 10 schools for start of the school year.
The Directorate is also continuing the development of the Sustainable Delivery of Public School Facilities suite of documents that inform the design of new and refurbished learning spaces in accordance with contemporary pedagogy.
Better Schools for Our Kids – Technology Enabled Learning
In February 2018, more than 14,500 year 7 to year 11 students received a Chromebook following the ACT Government's $11.48 million commitment to provide all year 7 to year 11 students in public high schools and colleges with a tablet/notebook device. This will follow with all new Year 7 cohorts and any other new students allocated a Chromebook in February 2019 and 2020.
Transition to NAPLAN Online
The ACT Education Directorate worked closely with all ACT schools and sectors in moving to NAPLAN Online in 2018, with schools and teachers investing valuable effort into ensuring the readiness of their schools. In May 2018, 106 of 116 (91%) ACT public, Catholic and independent schools that sit NAPLAN successfully participated in online testing; this included all eligible ACT public schools.