School Improvement and Governance Network

Victoria is developing a networked system of schools to powerfully lift the performance and achievement of all students. These new networks, operating as Communities of Practice led by school principals, are aligned to the seventeen areas within the regions. 

The Networks as Communities of Practice document outlines these opportunities for increased school-to-school collaboration and building dynamic local networks. 

Central to this collaborative way of working is forming strong partnerships with families and communities to help create a highly networked system. 

Victoria's Framework for Improving Student Outcomes assists schools to focus efforts on key areas that have the greatest impact on school improvement. It includes four state-wide priorities:

1. Excellence in teaching and learning
2. Professional leadership
3. Positive climate for learning
4. Community engagement in learning.

1. Building practice excellence, including teachers, principals and schools working together to exchange knowledge and ideas and build a culture of collaboration
2. Curriculum planning and assessment, including how best to use data and feedback and adjust learning programs and interventions to suit individual student needs
3. Building leadership teams, including using proven coaching and feedback methods
4. Empowering students and building school pride, including a greater say for students in learning decisions and whole school community engagement with students
5. Setting expectations and promoting inclusion, including how schools work across their communities in supporting the health, wellbeing, inclusion and engagement of students
6. Building communities, including schools’ relationships with the wider community and parents to collectively encourage students' learning and enhance outcomes.

The Government Schools Funding Review (the 'Bracks Review') has been released. Better learning outcomes through the development of stronger collaboration and shared responsibility is a major emphasis in the Review. Strategic governance is likewise a key theme. A brief summary of the Review is also available at the same link.

The Hon James Merlino MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, points out that:

A central premise of the Review is that better student outcomes rely on collaboration and shared responsibility across all schools, across all sectors. It reaffirms the Education State reform agenda, encouraging stronger partnerships between schools beyond the school gate (DET, 2016)

The Review suggests ways that DET may incentivise collaboration. Among the proposals are:

• Collaboration Hubs to bring government schools and partners together, to share resources and data and explore opportunities for collaboration
• Open, peer based networks that are led by schools and their communities, and supported by DET and the wider system
• A Learning Partnerships Challenge Fund to unlock the potential gains for students from collaboration between schools and non-school partners to broaden curriculum options, share resources, improve student welfare and improve efficiencies
• A Student Engagement Fund to incentivise new ways for schools to work with partners to strengthen student engagement.

The School Council Skills and Expertise Guide outlines the desired skills and expertise required for effective school governance. An excellent tool for school councils. VICCSO assisted with the development of this Department of Education and Training guide. 

School council training information. Provided by Synergistiq on behalf of the Department of Education and Training. Free and open to all school councillors. Contact details are included in the flyer.