Turnaround teams and audits to lift standards
15 September 2009
From next year, teams of experienced teachers will work with staff in our state's most disadvantaged school communities to boost the literacy and numeracy of students.
Teams of experienced teachers will be deployed in schools located in our most disadvantaged communities next year in an effort to boost school performance.
The teams of up to four teachers, led by a highly experienced principal, will work with schools to help ensure students can realise their potential.
Premier Anna Bligh said the turnaround teams would work with principals and teachers to identify problems that are holding students back, then devise and implement strategies to combat the problems.
'Some schools may have problems with truancy or behaviour management, others may need extra help with early childhood learning or teaching science,' Ms Bligh said.
The turnaround teams will be trialled at 10 schools in the Wide Bay-Burnett region from January before being rolled out to other regions from July.
In addition, all state schools will undergo a Teaching and Learning Audit from 2010.
Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson described the process as a health check for schools.
Professor Geoff Masters of the Australian Council for Educational Research said the initiatives had the potential to lift achievement levels in state schools.
'The turnaround teams initiative in low socio-economic schools recognises that improving achievement is a shared challenge and that schools will benefit from better access to expert assistance,' Prof Masters said.
The turnaround teams form part of the Low Socio-Economic Status School Communities National Partnership to support schools in the most disadvantaged areas of Queensland. It is part of the $900 million Smarter Schools National Partnership Agreement.
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