TY - CHAP
T1 - Hidden, yet in demand
T2 - Voices of principals who are governing deliberately different Australian schools
AU - Adams, Megan
AU - Cooper, Rebecca
AU - Fitzgerald, Angela
AU - George, Sindu
AU - Gunstone, Richard
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - In Australia, there is a significant rise in the number of students with complex needs who seek alternative education pathways. While there are schools specifically focused on making an educational difference for disengaged and disenfranchised students, their governance is complex. This chapter draws on data from a focus group interview with eight principals of such schools. Analyses of these data have identified three governance-related challenges. First, there is no clarity in terms of the systematic categorisation of these schools, which subsequently makes policy alignment and budgeting profoundly difficult. Second, significant funding is required to support students accessing external services, transport and attracting and retaining staff. Third, the schools’ visibility within the community is limited due to low levels of parental involvement. Implications for governance include staff recruitment, increased parental involvement, and a call to reposition the role and value of these schools for greater visibility in the community at large.
AB - In Australia, there is a significant rise in the number of students with complex needs who seek alternative education pathways. While there are schools specifically focused on making an educational difference for disengaged and disenfranchised students, their governance is complex. This chapter draws on data from a focus group interview with eight principals of such schools. Analyses of these data have identified three governance-related challenges. First, there is no clarity in terms of the systematic categorisation of these schools, which subsequently makes policy alignment and budgeting profoundly difficult. Second, significant funding is required to support students accessing external services, transport and attracting and retaining staff. Third, the schools’ visibility within the community is limited due to low levels of parental involvement. Implications for governance include staff recruitment, increased parental involvement, and a call to reposition the role and value of these schools for greater visibility in the community at large.
U2 - 10.4324/9781003221456-9
DO - 10.4324/9781003221456-9
M3 - Chapter (Book)
SN - 9781032116129
SN - 9781032117669
SP - 141
EP - 158
BT - School Governance in Global Contexts
A2 - Pang, Nicholas Sun-Keung
A2 - Chan, Philip Wing Keung
PB - Routledge
CY - Abingdon UK
ER -