Premier John Brumby said better leadership throughout schools, better support for parents to involve them in their child’s learning and a restructure of school networks statewide will be the drivers for future excellence in education in Victoria.

“Our Government is committed to lifting up all schools to a standard of excellence, so that every child has every opportunity to succeed,” Mr Brumby said.

“We are also committed to giving children the best possible start in life, improving the transition from early childhood services to school and giving parents more information about the progress of their children.

“These reforms show that Victoria is leading the way nationally when it comes to education and that we are education revolution-ready.

“Discussion papers released in April on the development of our Blueprint to increase education standards across the whole system have flagged our intention to introduce the best and brightest teachers into our schools.

“Education is our Government’s number-one priority. We were the first state to lead on educational reform and we are now ready and willing as the first State to drive the implementation of that reform.

“We are confident that with a new political will in Canberra, we can continue delivering the best educational opportunities to Victorians.”

The blueprints’ main reforms include:

• Stronger interventions and more intensive monitoring in under-performing schools;
• Providing incentives for the best teachers and school leaders to work in schools where they are needed most;
• A scheme to encourage high-performing graduates from other fields to enter teaching;
• Improving transitions to school;
• Integrating early childhood services with childcare, in partnership with the Federal Government;
• Developing a new 0–8 learning and development framework that will be linked to existing learning standards in schools;
• Improving participation in early childhood services to improve early identification of health and development problems; and
• Supporting families to provide a home environment that supports development.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said the linking of early childhood services and schools – with the creation of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development last August – laid the platform for systemic reform.

“This blueprint maps how we remove the barriers to success and ensure that where a child lives and goes to school makes no difference to their chances for succeeding,” Ms Pike said.

“We know that every child can learn and achieve their full potential regardless of postcode.

“We have also announced a $10 million Institute of Educational Leadership will be established to develop current and aspiring school leaders, because great leadership drives excellence in the classroom.”

Victoria has already announced the first executive contract principal to work in Broadmeadows and the Government would forge ahead with other reforms, such as TeachFirst, to attract high-performing graduates from other study fields.

Children and Early Childhood Development Minister, Maxine Morand said the blueprint set out a clear plan to connect all childhood services across the system making it easier for parents and ensuring each child gets the support they need.

“Improved linkages between children’s services and schools are central to this reform because a child’s developmental and educational outcomes improve when there is a stronger focus on early childhood,” Ms Morand said.

“The period from birth to eight, and especially the first three years, sets the foundation for a child’s future development.

“How we support young people in those early years is critical to their success in leading happy and productive lives.”

In the next 12 months, the Government has committed to:

• Rolling out the first round of transition plans for children entering primary school;
• Building more early childhood centres on school sites;
• Recruiting the first intake of graduates into the TeachFirst program;
• Pursuing more school regeneration projects as part of the Victorian Schools Plan;
• Executive contracts for high performing principals; and
• Investigating rewards and incentives for effective teaching.

A copy of the blueprint is available at: www.education.vic.gov.au/blueprint

More Information
Read and listen to the Education Blueprint announcement