Independent public schools
Independent public schools
The Independent Public Schools Initiative has revolutionised the way public schools operate in Western Australia.
An independent public school is a public school that has demonstrated its capacity to use its increased flexibilities and responsibilities to make local decisions across a range of school operations to enhance education outcomes for students.
Thirteen schools have been selected and 2 new schools opening in 2024 will be doing so with independent public school (IPS) status. The IPS initiative has grown from 34 schools in 2010 to 639 as of Term 1 2024. For the full list of schools, refer to the independent public schools list below.
Independent research commissioned in 2015, School Autonomy: Building the Conditions for Student Success identifies the kind of leadership that links greater school autonomy with improvements in teaching and, ultimately, benefits for students.
Each independent public school has a school board. The school staff, in collaboration with the board, establishes a vision for the school that reflects the aspirations and needs of the community. The board can have an important influence on the direction of the school, with members bringing ideas and lending their expertise to strategic planning and community partnerships.
When establishing the board, the school can re-appoint members of the school council or seek new members from the community. Attracting people with a range of experiences and expertise enhances the board’s ability to make significant contribution to the development of the school. Board members are provided with support and training.
The principal signs a 'statement of expectation', which is noted and minuted by the school council or board at a meeting and then signed by the Director General. It outlines the expectations for each school for its strategic planning and self-assessment, to form part of the school’s Public School Review and the Principal’s Professional Performance Review.
Like all public schools, principals of independent public schools must comply with relevant legislation, industrial agreements and whole of government policies and initiatives. These include but are not limited to:
- School Education Act 1999
- School Education Regulations 2000
- School Curriculum and Standards Authority Act 1997
- Public Sector Management Act 1994
- Financial Management Act 2006.
Applying to become an independent public school is a decision made by each school, in consultation with the school council and local community. The school community must consider its capacity to take on the additional accountabilities of being an independent public school, the local community’s support for change and the school’s operational performance.
- Benefits of being an independent public school
- Independent public school list
- Greater flexibilities for all schools
- A brief background on the Independent Public Schools Initiative
- Evaluation of the Independent Public School Initiative
It takes committed and proactive school communities to become an independent public school.
Independent public school communities take a greater leadership role in all aspects of education, with the ultimate goal of delivering high quality education to students.
Independent public school principals have a direct line relationship with, and are accountable to, the Director General of the Department of Education.
Independent public schools:
- have greater independence for local decision making which directly reflects the needs of their students and communities
- establish dynamic and open governance relationships with the people in their communities
- have continued access to central and regional support services
- are supported by the full range of resources and infrastructure that comes with being part of the Western Australian public school system.
| Adam Road Primary School Albany Primary School Albany Secondary Education Support Centre Albany Senior High School Alinjarra Primary School Alkimos Beach Primary School Alkimos College Alkimos Primary School Allanson Primary School Allendale Primary School Amaroo Primary School Anne Hamersley Primary School Anzac Terrace Primary School, Bassendean Applecross Primary School Applecross Senior High School Arbor Grove Primary School Ardross Primary School Armadale Primary School Armadale Senior High School Ashburton Drive Primary School Ashdale Primary School Ashdale Secondary College Aspiri Primary School Attadale Primary School Atwell College Atwell Primary School Aubin Grove Primary School Augusta Primary School Australind Primary School Australind Senior High School Aveley North Primary School Aveley Primary School Aveley Secondary College Balcatta Primary School Balcatta Senior High School Baldivis Gardens Primary School Baldivis Primary School Baldivis Secondary College Baler Primary School Balga Primary School Balga Senior High School Balingup Primary School Ballajura Community College Ballajura Primary School Bambara Primary School Banksia Grove Primary School Banksia Park Primary School Bannister Creek Primary School Bassendean Primary School Bateman Primary School Baynton West Primary School Bayswater Primary School Beachlands Primary School Beaconsfield Primary School Beaumaris Primary School Beckenham Primary School Beeliar Primary School Beenyup Primary School Beldon Education Support Centre Beldon Primary School Belmont City College Belridge Secondary College Belridge Secondary Education Support Centre Bentley Primary School Bertram Primary School Beverley District High School Bibra Lake Primary School Bicton Primary School Bindoon Primary School Binnu Primary School Bletchley Park Primary School Bluff Point Primary School Bob Hawke College Boddington District High School Booragoon Primary School Boulder Primary School Boyanup Primary School Boyup Brook District High School Brabham Primary School Braeside Primary School, Katanning Bramfield Park Primary School Bridgetown Primary School Brookman Primary School Brookton District High School Broome North Primary School Broome Primary School Broome Senior High School Bruce Rock District High School Brunswick Junction Primary School Bull Creek Primary School Bullsbrook College Bunbury Primary School Bunbury Senior High School Bungaree Primary School Burbridge School Burns Beach Primary School Burrendah Primary School Busselton Primary School Busselton Senior High School Butler College Butler Primary School Byford Primary School Byford Secondary College Cable Beach Primary School Caladenia Primary School Calista Primary School Camboon Primary School Campbell Primary School Canning College Canning Vale College Canning Vale Education Support Centre Canning Vale Primary School Cannington Community College Cannington Community Education Support Centre Carnarvon Community College Cape Naturaliste College Capel Primary School Caralee Community School Carey Park Primary School Carine Primary School Carine Senior High School Carlisle Primary School Carnaby Rise Primary School Carnamah District High School Carramar Primary School Carson Street School Cassia Primary School Castletown Primary School Caversham Primary School Caversham Valley Primary School Cecil Andrews College Cervantes Primary School Challis Community Primary School Champion Bay Senior High School Chapman Valley Primary School Charthouse Primary School Chidlow Primary School Churchlands Primary School Churchlands Senior High School City Beach Primary School Clarkson Community High School (From 2024) Clarkson Primary School Clayton View Primary School Clifton Hills Primary School Clifton Park Primary School Cloverdale Education Support Centre Cloverdale Primary School Coastal Lakes College Collie Senior High School Comet Bay College Comet Bay Primary School Como Primary School Como Secondary College Connolly Primary School Coodanup College Coogee Primary School Cooinda Primary School Coolbinia Primary School Cooloongup Primary School Coorow Primary School Corrigin District High School Cottesloe Primary School Cowaramup Primary School Craigie Heights Primary School Cranbrook Primary School Creaney Education Support Centre Creaney Primary School Cunderdin District High School Currambine Primary School Curtin Primary School (From 2024) Cyril Jackson Senior Campus Dalkeith Primary School Dalmain Primary School Dalyellup College Dalyellup Primary School Dampier Primary School Dardanup Primary School Darkan Primary School Darling Range Sports College Davallia Primary School Dawson Park Primary School Deanmore Primary School Denmark Primary School Denmark Senior High School Dianella Heights Primary School Dianella Primary College Dianella Secondary College Dianella Secondary College Education Support Centre Dongara District High School Donnybrook District High School Doubleview Primary School Dowerin District High School Dryandra Primary School Dudley Park Primary School Duncraig Primary School Duncraig Senior High School Dunsborough Primary School Durham Road School East Beechboro Primary School East Butler Primary School East Fremantle Primary School East Hamersley Primary School East Hamilton Hill Primary School East Kalgoorlie Primary School East Kenwick Primary School East Kimberley College East Manjimup Primary School East Narrogin Primary School East Victoria Park Primary School East Wanneroo Primary School Eastern Goldfields College Eastern Hills Senior High School | Eaton Community College Eaton Primary School Eddystone Primary School (From 2024) Eden Hill Primary School Edgewater Primary School Edney Primary School Ellen Stirling Primary School Ellenbrook Primary School Ellenbrook Secondary College Embleton Primary School Endeavour Education Support Centre Endeavour Primary School Esperance Primary School Esperance Senior High School Excelsior Primary School Exmouth District High School Fairview Primary School Falcon Primary School Falls Road Primary School Flinders Park Primary School Floreat Park Primary School Forest Crescent Primary School Forrestdale Primary School Forrestfield Primary School Frankland River Primary School Fremantle College Fremantle Language Development Centre Fremantle Primary School Freshwater Bay Primary School Gairdner Primary School Geographe Primary School Geraldton Primary School Geraldton Senior College Gidgegannup Primary School Gilmore College Gingin District High School Girrawheen Senior High School Gladys Newton School Glen Forrest Primary School Glen Huon Primary School Glencoe Primary School Glendale Primary School Glengarry Primary School Gnowangerup District High School Golden Bay Primary School Goollelal Primary School Gooseberry Hill Primary School Gosnells Primary School Governor Stirling Senior High School Grandis Primary School Greenfields Primary School Greenmount Primary School Greenwood College Greenwood Primary School Grovelands Primary School Gwynne Park Education Support Centre Halidon Primary School Halls Head College Halls Head College Education Support Centre Halls Head Primary School Hammond Park Primary School Hammond Park Secondary College Hampton Park Primary School Hampton Senior High School Hannans Primary School Harmony Primary School Harrisdale Primary School Harrisdale Senior High School Harvey Primary School Harvey Senior High School Hawker Park Primary School Heathridge Primary School Hedland Senior High School Helena Valley Primary School Henley Brook Primary School (Opening in 2024) Herne Hill Primary School High Wycombe Primary School Highgate Primary School Hillarys Primary School Hillcrest Primary School, Bayswater Hillman Primary School Hilton Primary School Hocking Primary School Hollywood Primary School Honeywood Primary School Hudson Park Primary School (From 2024) Hyden Primary School Illawarra Primary School Inglewood Primary School Jandakot Primary School Jarrahdale Primary School Jilbup Primary School (Opening in 2024) John Butler Primary College John Curtin College of the Arts John Forrest Secondary College John Tonkin College John Tonkin College Education Support Centre Jolimont Primary School Joondalup Education Support Centre Joondalup Primary School Joseph Banks Secondary College Jurien Bay District High School Kalamunda Senior High School Kalamunda Secondary School Education Support Centre Kalannie Primary School Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School Kalgoorlie Primary School Kapinara Primary School Kardinya Primary School Karratha Primary School Karratha Senior High School Karridale Primary School Karrinyup Primary School Katanning Primary School Katanning Senior High School Kellerberrin District High School Kelmscott Primary School Kelmscott Senior High School Kendenup Primary School (From 2024) Kensington Primary School Kensington Secondary School Kent Street Senior High School Kenwick School Kiara College Kingston Primary School Kinross College Kinross Primary School Kondinin Primary School Koondoola Primary School Koorana Education Support Centre Koorana Primary School Kulin District High School Kyilla Primary School Lake Grace District High School Lake Gwelup Primary School Lake Monger Primary School Lakeland Senior High School Lakelands Primary School Lancelin Primary School (From 2024) Landsdale Primary School Lathlain Primary School Leda Education Support Centre Leda Primary School Leeman Primary School Leeming Primary School Leeming Senior High School Leeming Senior High School Education Support Centre Leinster Community School Leonora District High School Lesmurdie Primary School Lesmurdie Senior High School Little Grove Primary School Lynwood Senior High School Madeley Primary School Maida Vale Primary School Maidens Park Primary School Makybe Rise Primary School Malibu School Malvern Springs Primary School Mandurah Primary School Manea Senior College Manjimup Education Support Centre Manjimup Primary School Manjimup Senior High School Manning Primary School Marangaroo Primary School Margaret River Primary School Margaret River Senior High School Marmion Primary School Marri Grove Primary School Maylands Peninsula Primary School Meadow Springs Education Support Centre Meadow Springs Primary School Medina Primary School Melville Primary School Melville Senior High School Merredin College Merriwa Education Support Centre Merriwa Primary School Middle Swan Primary School Millars Well Primary School (From 2024) Miling Primary School Millen Primary School Mindarie Primary School Mindarie Senior College Moora Primary School Morawa District High School Morley Primary School Morley Senior High School Mosman Park Primary School Mount Barker Community College Mount Claremont Primary School Mount Hawthorn Education Support Centre Mount Hawthorn Primary School Mount Lawley Primary School Mount Lawley Senior High School Mount Lockyer Primary School Mount Pleasant Primary School Mukinbudin District High School Mullaloo Beach Primary School Mullaloo Heights Primary School Mundaring Primary School (From 2024) Mundijong Primary School Nannup District High School Narembeen District High School Narrogin Primary School Narrogin Senior High School Nedlands Primary School Neerigen Brook Primary School Newborough Primary School | Newman Primary School Newman Senior High School Newton Moore Education Support Centre Newton Moore Senior High School Newton Primary School Nollamara Primary School Noranda Primary School North Albany Senior High School North Balga Primary School North Beach Primary School North Cottesloe Primary School North Dandalup Primary School North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre North Fremantle Primary School North Harrisdale Primary School North Kalgoorlie Primary School North Mandurah Primary School North Morley Primary School North Perth Primary School North Tom Price Primary School North Woodvale Primary School Northam Senior High School Northam Primary School (From 2024) Northcliffe District High School (From 2024) Northampton District High School Nulsen Primary School Oakwood Primary School Oberthur Primary School Ocean Reef Primary School Ocean Reef Senior High School Ocean Road Primary School O'Connor Primary School Orange Grove Primary School Orelia Primary School Osborne Primary School Pannawonica Primary School Paraburdoo Primary School Parkerville Primary School Parkfield Primary School Parkwood Primary School Pearsall Primary School Peel Language Development School Peg's Creek Primary School Pemberton District High School Perenjori Primary School Perth Modern School Phoenix Primary School Piara Waters Primary School Pickering Brook Primary School Picton Primary School Pine View Primary School Pinjarra Primary School Pinjarra Senior High School Port Hedland Primary School Port Kennedy Primary School Poseidon Primary School Poynter Primary School Queens Park Primary School Quinns Beach Primary School Quinns Rocks Primary School Ranford Primary School Rangeway Primary School Rapids Landing Primary School Redcliffe Primary School Richmond Primary School Ridge View Secondary College Riva Primary School River Valley Primary School Rivergums Primary School Riverside Education Support Centre Riverside Primary School Riverton Education Support Centre Riverton Primary School Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre Rockingham Beach Primary School Rockingham Lakes Primary School Rockingham Senior High School Rockingham Senior High School Education Support Centre Roebuck Primary School Roleystone Community College Rosalie Primary School Roseworth Primary School Rossmoyne Primary School Rossmoyne Senior High School Rostrata Primary School Safety Bay Primary School Safety Bay Senior High School Sawyers Valley Primary School Scarborough Primary School Secret Harbour Primary School Serpentine Primary School Settlers Primary School Sevenoaks Senior College Shelley Primary School Shenton College Sheoak Grove Primary School Shorehaven Primary School Singleton Primary School Sir David Brand School Somerly Primary School Sorrento Primary School South Ballajura Education Support Centre South Bunbury Primary School South Coogee Primary School South East Language Development Centre South Halls Head Primary School South Hedland Primary School South Kalgoorlie Primary School South Lake Primary School South Newman Primary School South Padbury Primary School South Perth Primary School South Stirling Primary School South Thornlie Primary School Southern Cross District High School Southern Grove Primary School Southern River College Spearwood Alternative School Spearwood Primary School Spencer Park Education Support Centre Spencer Park Primary School Spring Hill Primary School Springfield Primary School Subiaco Primary School Success Primary School Sutherland Dianella Primary School Swan View Senior High School Swanbourne Primary School Tambrey Primary School Tapping Primary School Thornlie Primary School Thornlie Senior High School Three Springs Primary School Tom Price Primary School Tom Price Senior High School Treeby Primary School Treendale Primary School Tuart Forest Primary School Tuart Hill Primary School Tuart Rise Primary School Two Rocks Primary School Upper Swan Primary School Vasse Primary School Victoria Park Primary School Waddington Primary School Waggrakine Primary School Waikiki Primary School Walkaway Primary School Walliston Primary School Walpole Primary School Wandina Primary School Wanneroo Primary School Wanneroo Secondary College Warnbro Community High School Warnbro Community High School Education Support Centre Warnbro Primary School Warriapendi Primary School Waroona District High School Warwick Senior High School Wattle Grove Primary School Wellard Primary School Wembley Downs Primary School Wembley Primary School West Balcatta Primary School West Beechboro Primary School West Busselton Primary School West Byford Primary School West Coast Language Development Centre West Coast Secondary Education Support Centre West Greenwood Primary School West Leederville Primary School West Leeming Primary School West Morley Primary School Western Australian College of Agriculture - Cunderdin Western Australian College of Agriculture – Denmark Western Australian College of Agriculture - Harvey Western Australian College of Agriculture - Morawa Western Australian College of Agriculture – Narrogin Westfield Park Primary School Westminster Education Support Centre Westminster Primary School White Gum Valley Primary School Wickham Primary School Willandra Primary School Willetton Primary School Willetton Senior High School Wilson Park Primary School Winterfold Primary School Winthrop Primary School Wirrabirra Education Support Centre Wirrabirra Primary School Wongan Hills District High School (From 2024) Woodbridge Primary School Woodland Grove Primary School Woodlands Primary School Woodlupine Primary School, Forrestfield Woodvale Primary School Woodvale Secondary College Wundowie Primary School Yakamia Primary School Yale Primary School Yanchep Beach Primary School Yanchep Rise Primary School Yanchep Lagoon Primary School (From 2024) Yanchep Secondary College Yangebup Primary School (From 2024) Yarloop Primary School Yarralinka Primary School Yokine Primary School York District High School Yule Brook College Yuluma Primary School |
While the pioneering work of the Independent Public Schools Initiative has led the movement to greater school autonomy, all public schools are now benefiting from the extension of flexibilities and greater capacity for local decision making.
For example, independent public schools were the first schools to recruit, select and appoint their own staff rather than being provided with staff through a centralised staffing process. Today, every principal can recruit, select and appoint their own staff.
Independent public schools were also the first schools to operate with one line budgets. Today, all schools except community kindergartens operate with one line budgets and receive funding as dollars. That means the principal, in consultation with the school council or board, has more flexibility to determine how the funding is used to benefit students.
Launched in 2009, the Independent Public Schools Initiative empowers school communities to shape the ethos, priorities and directions of their schools to reflect the aspirations of their students.
Since then, we have extended and developed the initiative with further intakes of schools that meet the stringent selection criteria. Today, we have 77 per cent of public school students and teachers in 639 independent public schools across the state.
Independent public schools have demonstrated the capacity to respond to and work with their communities. They help build strong communities that are more able to respond to the needs of students.
It’s all part of being at the forefront of innovation in education so every child in every school achieves their potential.
An evaluation of independent public schools by The University of Melbourne found that the story of the Independent Public School Initiative is characterised by choice, energy, motivation, innovation and engagement. Independent public schools are also creating strong foundations for future improvement in student achievement.
The initiative was recognised with the 2013 Premier’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management.
An evaluation by The University of Melbourne found a specifically Western Australian version of autonomy emerging that was creating the strong foundations needed by schools to improve student achievement.
The report, released in 2013, found the following:
The initiative is positive, with greater autonomy for schools characterised by choice, energy, motivation, innovation and engagement.
The initiative was embraced by principals and has had a significant positive impact within schools and the broader system.
Independent public school principals reported positive cultural changes in their schools, including stronger relationships with their local school communities and an enhanced profile with strengthened school and community pride.
While it was too soon for independent public schools to demonstrate an effect on student outcomes, the initiative was supporting schools to create the conditions for such improvement.
View the evaluation reports:
More information
For further information on independent public schools, contact the Leadership Institute on 1300 610 801 or leadership.institute@education.wa.edu.au