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Introduction
Þ
New Handbook
Þ
Grievance
Standard
Þ
Code of Conduct
Þ
Facilities
Þ
Assessment and Reporting
Þ
Review
& Development
Þ
Information for the Board
Þ
SRB
Contact
Þ
Compliance Form
Introduction
As the 2006 school
year draws to a close, on behalf of the Schools Registration Board, I must
express our appreciation to non-government schools for the support and goodwill
that characterise the many contacts we have with you. It is based on a mutual
appreciation for the roles that we all play in the education of young people in
Tasmania. School personnel exhibit a high level of co-operation, especially in
the area of registration reviews, and, in most cases, exceed our expectations in
meeting the levels of information and documentation required by the Board.
This particular
annual circular endeavours to draw together the important developments that have
taken place in the operation of the Schools Registration Board during the past
two years and which have been progressively advised to schools. It will
necessarily involve the repetition of some information that already resides in
schools but it is an attempt to ensure that all non-government schools are now
operating from the same standpoint in relation to their registration.
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New Handbook
During 2006, the
Schools Registration Board has had, as a prime developmental focus, the
completion of its review of the registration Standards and the associated
revision of the Handbook. This has now been achieved and schools should have
received a complete, revised copy of the current Handbook. We trust that the
revisions will add clarity to the Standards and that the additional “Explanatory
Notes” will assist schools in complying with the Standards. Current work on
updating the SRB website to reflect the new Handbook will be completed before
the beginning of the 2007 school year.
Grievance Standard
The Board has held
a consistent view that processes for the resolution of grievances against a
non-government school reside within the school itself. Complainants who have
approached the Board have been referred back to schools and their grievance
policies and processes that should comply with Standard 3.10. In some
instances, complainants have returned to the Board indicating that there are
inadequate processes for resolving issues in the school and this tends to
exaggerate and prolong the issue both for the Board and the school. This has
resulted in the clarification of the Standard as the Board needs to be confident
that there is an adequate process in place when complainants seek resolution at
school level. A policy and process that complies with the Standard also reduces
the likelihood of the issue being referred for resolution through arbitration or
other legal processes.
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Code of
Conduct
The new Handbook
contains the detail required to develop a code that satisfies the Minister’s
requirement for all schools in Tasmania to have a code of conduct in place for
all employees in place. The Board is aware that many schools will have a code
in place but that in most instances, the code will require addition or
modification. The Board requires that schools give attention to this matter and
comply with the Standard by the end of Term 1, 2007.
Facilities
All schools now
have access to the Standard and Explanatory Notes related to school facilities.
It will be clear that the Board believes that compliance with the various Acts
of Parliament and associated regulations is the responsibility of school
governing bodies and their Responsible Officers. The Board needs to be assured
that the legal requirements are being met for all facilities including boarding
houses. However, it also needs to be satisfied that the facilities are
appropriate for the educational program being offered and this is determined
when the school is being registered, re-registered or when changes have been
made to the facilities.
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Assessment and Reporting
“Assessment and
Reporting” are components of both Standard 3.1.3, Assessment and Reporting
and 3.1.4, Review and Development and the SRB Registrar has had some
indications of confusion about the use of these terms in the two contexts. The
following notes are provided to assist in differentiating between the two.
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Standard 3.1.3
refers to the individual assessment of a student’s progress and
informing parents about that progress. This is the process that has
traditionally occurred in schools and is a requirement of the SRB. The
Standard generally expects student reports to be written, regular
and informative. The Board also recognises that reporting formats and styles
will vary greatly from school to school. Some will be formative and/or
summative and some will involve rating scales, etc.. The Board has no
preference in this regard.
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Standard 3.1.4
includes the review of a whole school's operation against the goals expressed
in its formal planning. It will assess its overall performance through the
collection of data from a number of sources (e.g. surveys, interviews, audits,
scrutiny of records, etc., as well as the assessment results of their students).
These assessment results will be the collective results for
students rather than individuals and will contribute to the development of
on-going priorities for the school as expressed in future planning. The
annual school report to its community is a component of this Standard.
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Review & Development
The Board
appreciates the interest in and acceptance of this new Standard and is
particularly grateful to the Pilot Schools for the manner in which they are
implementing the Standard.
Following is a
reminder of the requirements of schools in relation to this Standard:
·
By 31
December, 2007, Pilot Schools will have progressed to the point of:
Ø
Having collected information and data about school performance;
Ø
Involving the community in the consideration of the information and data;
Ø
Documenting a school development plan which includes improvement targets;
Ø
Having a documented process in place for this cyclic review and development as
well as a process for annual reporting to their communities.
·
By 31
December, 2007, all other schools are required to have in place only the
documented process for cyclic school review and
development and annual reporting.
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Information for the Board
The Board requires
schools to indicate, by 31 May, 2007, that they comply with the new or
significantly changed Standards. There is no requirement to forward any
documentation other than the proforma attached to this circular.
Schools that are
being reviewed in 2007 do not need to return this form as their compliance will
be checked during the visit by the review panel. Documentation relating to
these Standards will need to be included, as required, in the information
forwarded to the Board prior to the review visit.
SRB Contact
The office of the Registrar,
Janine Romaszko, will need to be relocated within the next month. Negotiations
are continuing in this regard and you will be informed of the new location as
soon as it has been determined. It is envisaged that Ms Romaszko will retain
her contact telephone number (03 6233 7104) and, until notified otherwise, mail
should be addressed to:
The Registrar
Schools Registration Board
PO Box 473
SANDY BAY 7006
Arnold McShane
Chairman
Schools Registration Board
Attachment:
Proforma – Statement of Compliance with New or Amended Standards
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Statement of Compliance with New or Amended
Standards
Name
of School or College
____________________________________________________________
I
certify that the school/college has received, understands and satisfies the
Standards listed below.
Please
tick as appropriate:
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Standard 3.3 – Facilities
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Standard 3.10 – Grievance Process
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Standard 3.11 – Code of Conduct |
Signed __________________________________
Position __________________________________
Date
____________________
Please return this form to:
Ms Janine Romaszko
Registrar, Schools
Registration Board
PO Box 473, SANDY BAY, Tas
7006
Or FAX
6224 0175
By 31 May, 2007.
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