1. Update for Schools 8 February 2011

2. Topics Enrolments Funding Australian Government Review of Funding My School website Australian Curriculum Year 7 Kindergartens

3. Enrolments August 2010 Census 107,611 students This was a 2.1% increase over the figure for 2009

4. Introduction of the Prep Year

5. Funding Australian Government General Recurrent Grant Supplementation 2010 Primary8.2% Secondary 7.0%

7. Funding Media focus on fee increases for independent schools Fee increases reflect the increasing cost of providing education Staff salaries, smaller class sizes, IT, capital needs, increased compliance and accountability

8. Funding Latest Productivity Commission Data on Government Funding for Schools (2008/09) Government Schools$13,544 per student Non Government Schools $6,850 per student In Queensland, it is estimated that independent schools save the taxpayer over $700 million annually in funding

9. Review of Funding Review Panel released Emerging Issues Paper in December Submissions sought by 31 March 2011

10. Key Themes Equity of educational outcomes Recurrent funding Capital funding Targeted and needs based funding Support for students with special needs Governance and Leadership Community and family involvement

11. Review of Funding Panel is undertaking research on Feasibility of developing a schooling resource standard Assessing existing funding models for schooling in Australia Funding for disadvantaged students

12. Review of Funding Further report from the Panel expected later this year Review is scheduled to be finalised by the end of 2011 Review outcomes will inform Government decisions about funding for independent schools from 2014

13. Tanberg – The Age 5/2/11

14. My School The release of Version 2 planned for early December 2010 was postponed Concerns of the independent sector about the accuracy of individual school financial data Concerns also about the validity of ICSEA

15. My School ACARA is currently undertaking a validation process of school financial data Each school must confirm that its financial data is correct Reviews of ICSEA scores have been undertaken where requested

16. School Finances

17. My School Expected that the new My School will be released shortly It will include 2010 NAPLAN outcomes ACARA has advised that schools may seek a review of their ICSEA score at any time ISQ position - financial data is not comparable across schools

18. Australian Curriculum Ministers approved the Australian Curriculum for Foundation (Prep) to Year 10 for English, mathematics, science and history on 8 th December 2010 However, Ministers did not approve the achievement standards in their current form Ministers have instructed ACARA to finalise for their approval the achievement standards and any adjustments and refinements that may need to be made to the curriculum content by October 2011

19. Australian Curriculum The Queensland Implementation Plan remains unchanged 2011 is awareness raising, engagement and understanding 2012 implementation of English, mathematics and science i.e. to teach, assess and report on the Australian Curriculum 2013 implementation of history Early adoption of Australian Curriculum is an individual school decision

20. Australian Curriculum The Queensland Studies Authority has a package of 100 resources available on their website to assist schools with planning, unit development and audit tools www.qsa.qld.edu.au Independent Schools Queensland briefings for principals and School Leaders continuing – refer to www.aisq.qld.edu.au for details www.aisq.qld.edu.au

21. Australian Curriculum Draft Version 2 of The Shape of the Australian Curriculum now available for consultation Final The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography now available Draft The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages now available for consultation All available at www.acara.edu.auwww.acara.edu.au

22. Green Paper – A Flying Start for All State Government announced in late 2010 that further consultation will be held on the proposed movement of Year 7 to secondary It is expected those consultations will be held during February/March

23. Kindergartens New recurrent funding arrangements for kindergartens commencing in 2011 Approved kindergarten providers eligible for recurrent funding for kindy aged cohort Providers must be licensed; 15 hours a week for 40 weeks a year; and delivered by a qualified teacher

24. Kindergartens Independent Schools Queensland is an approved “Central Governing Body” to administer kindergarten funding for stand alone kindergartens Long Day Centres funded directly by the Department Independent schools with stand alone kindergartens and kindergartens with close association with independent schools may join the ISQ CGB for funding purposes

25. Best wishes for 2011 Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information or clarification of any details drobertson@aisq.qld.edu.au