Independence Day for Nine Gold Coast State Schools

5 Nov 2014 2:15 PMMichael Hart

 

Independence Day for Nine Gold Coast State Schools

 

Nine schools on the Gold Coast will have more say on how they manage resources, recruit staff and tailor their curriculum to meet the needs of students when the next academic year begins.   

 

Member for Burleigh Michael Hart MP said the schools, including Caningeraba State School and Miami State High, were among 50 across Queensland due to become Independent Public Schools next year following an announcement today by Premier Campbell Newman.

 

“Two and a half years ago, schools were weighed down with red-tape and principals were dictated to by a bureaucracy in Brisbane,” Mr Hart said.

 

“Since then there has been a revolution in our schools as we gave more powers to teaching staff to do their jobs and raise standards.

 

“With greater input from parents, teachers and the community, these new Independent Public Schools will have even more freedom to decide their own futures and make decisions that will directly benefit students.”

 

Eighty Queensland schools have already been granted independent status, including 12 on the Gold Coast.

 

The Newman LNP Government went to the election promising 120 Independent Public Schools by 2016.

 

“We’ve now decided to extend our target to 250 Independent Public Schools by 2017, so even more Gold Coast schools will have the chance of more autonomy under this government,” Mr Hart said.

 

“Even though much has changed for the better in our schools in the past two and a half years, there’s still much more to be done.

 

“Only our strong plan for schools will give Gold Coast students the education they deserve.”

 

Mr Hart said Independent Public Schools also received more funding, including support from the Federal Government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Each school will all receive an additional $50,000 to assist with the change and an additional $50,000 in funding each year for administrative purposes,” Mr Hart said.

 

“This is part of a $22.8 million Queensland Government investment, combined with a further $12.88 million from the Abbott Government’s Independent Public Schools initiative.”

 

[ENDS] 5 November 2014

 

Media contact: Electorate Office – (07) 5526 6024

 

 

 

New Gold Coast Independent Public Schools

School Name	State Electorate
Caningeraba State School	Burleigh
Miami State High School	Burleigh
Coomera Rivers State School	Coomera
Ormeau State School	Coomera
Pimpama State Primary College	Coomera
Elanora State School	Currumbin
Merrimac State School	Mudgeeraba
Ashmore State School	Surfers Paradise
Bellevue Park State School	Surfers Paradise