We have achieved a lot this year. In 2020, more students remained in education and more Year 12 students finished school with a qualification than in previous years. We recorded the highest number of students who received a Western Australian Certificate of Education and we continued to have high rates of early childhood participation.
We have widened the scope of our approach to student learning, with a focus on Aboriginal students’ wellbeing, engagement and achievement. To assist our principals in leading school improvement and enhancing connectedness across our system, we have introduced the new Directors of Education and collegiate principals, and strengthened our public school review process.
We delivered a very significant maintenance, minor and capital works program with every school in the State benefiting. We opened five new primary schools: Brabham, North Harrisdale, Pine View, Yanchep Rise and Yarralinka, and delivered the second stages of Yanchep Secondary College and Aveley Secondary College. A further 67 schools continue to benefit from the WA Recovery Plan which includes stage two of Bob Hawke College, the redevelopment of Roebourne District High School and the first phase of Piara Waters Secondary College.
The Department continued to work closely with the non-government school sector to further strengthen the regulatory framework with a key focus on student safety and learning.
More than any other time, we worked across the public sector to provide for families, carers and communities.
Integrity, truth‑telling and trust are at the centre of our new Code of Conduct. Together, we worked to create a culturally responsive agency that strengthened relationships and further built the reputation on which our schools’ and students’ success depends.
We enhanced our incident management response to mobilise support for schools and we increased our digital capacity and supported teachers to improve their capability to deliver online teaching and learning as required.
In a year that presented many challenges – COVID-19, devastating bushfires, floods and Cyclone Seroja, which significantly impacted many of our school communities, this preparedness ensured continuity of learning and continued student achievement.
Over the last 12 months I have had the pleasure of visiting many schools throughout Western Australia. I see first-hand the incredible work our staff do to support student achievement and wellbeing.
Our priority is for all our students to be supported to learn and progress at school and to leave school with the capabilities demanded by further education, training or modern workplaces.
I am extremely proud of the staff in the Department of Education and in our schools, and their dedication to the teaching and learning of Western Australian children and young people.
This coming year, we remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for students to enjoy high quality learning. We will continue to support parents, carers and the community in the education of their children, delivering teaching excellence and successful outcomes for all students.
Lisa Rodgers
Director General