annual report 2003-2004 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING Department of Education and Training Annual Report 2003-2004 2 Cover: during a pre-primary excursion to Yanchep National Park, Emma Wilson of Lancelin Primary School learns about Nyoongar camp life. Inset: Certificate II in Horticulture student Keith Slater at the Geraldton campus of Central West TAFE. ISSN 1449-0315 SCIS 1155879 Department of Education and Training 151 Royal Street East Perth, Western Australia 6004 E-mail [email protected] Web www.det.wa.edu.au/ General enquiries Tel. (08) 9264 4111 Fax (08) 9264 5005 Corporate communications and marketing Tel. (08) 9264 4990 Fax (08) 9264 4597 Freedom of information Tel. (08) 9264 5160 Fax (08) 9264 5051 Statistical information Tel. (08) 9264 4562 Fax (08) 9264 4888 Term dates for government schools Tel. (08) 9264 5006/9264 5007 Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Network Tel. (08) 9229 5450 Fax (08) 9229 5451 Overseas Qualifications Unit Tel. (08) 9320 3747 Fax (08) 9320 3766 TAFE Admissions Centre Tel. (08) 9235 8888 Fax (08) 9235 8881 TAFE International Western Australia Tel. (08) 9320 3777 Fax (08) 9320 3700 Western Australian Training Info Centre Tel. (08) 9421 1344/1800 999 167 Fax (08) 9421 1391 Department of Education and Training Annual Report 2003-2004 3 Statement of compliance Hon. Alan Carpenter MLA Minister for Education and Training 12th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005 Dear Minister In accordance with section 62 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, I hereby submit for your information and presentation to Parliament the report of the Department of Education and Training for the year ending 30 June 2004. This annual report deals with the operations of government schools during the 2003 calendar year and with central office activities, finance and other related matters during the 2003-2004 financial year. Each TAFEWA college submits a separate annual report. The report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 and Treasurer’s Instructions. As Accountable Officer, I warrant that: • to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, at the date of signing this statement, all relevant written laws of the Parliament of Western Australia having a significant influence on the operations of the Department of Education and Training have been complied with and I am aware of no fact or circumstance apparent or existing at the date of signing that would lead me to conclude otherwise; • in the administration of the Department of Education and Training I have complied with the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management, the Western Australian Public Sector Code of Ethics and the Department’s Codes of Conduct. I have put in place procedures designed to ensure such compliance and conducted appropriate internal assessments to satisfy myself that this statement is correct; • applications made for breach of standards review and the corresponding outcomes for the reporting period were: number lodged – 23; ineligible – 2; withdrawn, issue resolved – 1 ; claims found on examination to lack substance Department of Education and Training Annual Report 2003-2004 4 – 12; claims found on review to lack substance – 5; claims found on review to have substance – 1; claims still under review – 2; and • I have designated persons within the Department as persons responsible for receiving disclosures of public interest information and prepared and published a policy and internal procedures relating to the authority’s obligation under the Act. Matters forwarded for examination in accordance with the provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003: two; matters remaining under examination at 30 June 2004: two; and • I have satisfied myself that during the year ending 30 June 2004, no officer classified at Level 9 or above possessed a personal interest of any kind in a contract or contracts existing or proposed to exist between the Department of Education and Training and a business entity external to the Department. PAUL ALBERT DIRECTOR GENERAL (ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER) 30 August 2004 Department of Education and Training Annual Report 2003-2004 5 Contents Director General’s message 7 Education and training in brief 11 Responsible minister 11 Accountable officer 11 Relevant legislation 11 Corporate structure 13 Mission statement 14 School education in Western Australia 15 The government school system 18 Vocational education and training in Western Australia 25 2003-2004 in summary 29 Student, staff and corporate achievements 2003-2004 36 Corporate governance 42 Operations 56 Output 1: Primary Education 58 Output 2: Secondary Education 68 Output 3: Vocational Education and Training Services 79 Output 4: Employment Programs 87 School support services: learning and teaching 100 Curriculum Improvement Program 100 New post-compulsory courses of study 102 Literacy and Numeracy 102 Science 105 Society and Environment 106 Languages other than English 108 Health and Physical Education 109 Technology and Enterprise 111 The Arts 112 Vocational Education and Training in Schools 113 Information and Communications Technologies 116 School support services: student support 119 Students with disabilities 119 Students at educational risk 122 Students from language backgrounds other than English 127 Geographically-isolated students 129 Gifted and talented students 130 Department of Education and Training Annual Report 2003-2004 6 Student Tracking System 132 Education of Aboriginal students 132 Home-schooled students 137 System support services 139 Human resources 139 Customer focus 163 Asset services 171 Information and communications technologies 188 Intellectual property 195 School resourcing 200 International education and training 203 Appendixes 210 1. Charges and contributions 210 2. Support for other educational institutions and non-government organisations 213 3. Compliance with the Electoral Act 1907 216 4. Publications 217 5. Contacting the Department of Education and Training 221 6. Glossary 226 Key performance indicators 233 Financial statements 271 Department of Education and Training Annual Report 2003-2004 7 Director General’s message The Department’s purpose is to ensure all government school students and all adults have ongoing opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to achieve their individual potential and contribute to the social and economic development of Western Australia. One of our priorities is to enhance public confidence in public education and the training system. We welcome public scrutiny and seek opportunities to inform the public about the positive values and educational and training outcomes achieved across our school and training systems. By the end of 2004-2005, our aim is the achievement of a seamless education for 17-19 year olds, who, for the first time, can move backward and forward between the education and training sectors without hindrance and obtain the education and training best suited to meeting their individual needs. The Government School Teachers and School Administrators’ Certified Agreement 2004 was certified by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission on 25 May 2004, following protracted negotiations between the Department and the Australian Education Union. The agreement provides very significant salary improvements in return for modest efficiency tradeoffs. Negotiations continued in respect of salary increases for other staff employed under the Public Sector Management Act. The commitment and professionalism of all staff in schools, districts, training establishments and central office have been crucial in the delivery of high-quality programs. I am pleased to report that the period under review has been characterised by a number of important developments, including: Schools • Schooling was provided to 251,182 students (February 2004 census), of whom 16,516 were enrolled in kindergarten programs and 19,942 in pre-primary programs. • The Plan for Government Schools 2004-2007, which provides an overview of the strategic directions for public school education for the next four years, was published and is being implemented. • Achievement targets for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 were defined and phased implementation commenced with the development of support materials and a comprehensive professional learning program. • The curriculum, assessment and reporting policy was revised and a common approach to reporting to parents developed. Department of Education and Training Annual Report 2003-2004 8 • The integration of education and training has already brought substantial benefits to young people in Western Australia. Schools, district offices and TAFEWA colleges cooperated in the planning of initiatives to encourage greater participation by 15-19-year-olds in education and training and schools are now working much more closely with TAFEWA colleges. • MSE9, a new literacy and numeracy assessment for Year 9 students, was launched as part of the successful Monitoring Standards in Education program. • The Assessment Literacy Initiative, which helps schools to analyse and use student performance data, including Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment and Tertiary Entrance Examinations results, was introduced. • Extra resources were provided to schools with significant numbers of ‘difficult to manage’ students under the Behaviour Management and Discipline program. • The review of educational services for students with disabilities was completed. • Implementation