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School councils in government schools.
Title from title screen (viewed on 7/11/2018). The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (ETR Act) establishes school councils within Victorian government schools and outlines their objectives. These include to ensure efficient governance of the school, make decisions in the studentsâ best interest, enhance educational opportunities and ensure the school complies with its legislative obligations. The ETR Act also specifies responsibilities of school councils, which include strategic planning and financial administration. School councils are required to inform their school community about their school's performance against its strategic plan and budget. School councils operate within a complex and unique governance framework. They share governance responsibilities with the principal of the school and the Department of Education and Training (DET). The framework cannot be compared directly with other well-documented and understood governance structures, such as a board of directors for a private or public entity. The framework also differs from non-government schools which are not part of DET and have their own governing arrangements. Because the governance framework of government schools is unique, it is particularly important that the roles, responsibilities, limits of authority and accountability of those involved are clearly defined and well understood, and that the framework works well in practice. DET is responsible for ensuring that school councils understand the governance framework. The ETR Act requires DET to establish an assurance regime over the financial and operational activities of school councils. DET is also required to advise the Minister for Education (the minister) on how school councils perform their functions and meet their objectives. School councils' role within government schools is not insignificant. As of February 2017, school councils operated in 1534 government schools that served over 600000 students. In 2016, Victorian school councils were responsible for budgets totalling $1.64 billion. School councils' activities have a real impact on students and the wider school community. In this audit, we examined whether school councils in government schools are meeting their objectives under the ETR Act. In doing so, we considered DET guidance to school councils on their roles and responsibilities offered through its guide Improving School Governance (ISG). We also considered whether DET effectively oversees school councils and has an assurance regime over their activities. In our assessment, we have not distinguished between the role of the Secretary of DET and the role of DET itself. [Audit overview] The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (ETR Act) establishes school councils within Victorian government schools and outlines their objectives. These include to ensure efficient governance of the school, make decisions in the studentsâ best interest, enhance educational opportunities and ensure the school complies with its legislative obligations. The ETR Act also specifies responsibilities of school councils, which include strategic planning and financial administration. School councils are required to inform their school community about their school's performance against its strategic plan and budget. School councils operate within a complex and unique governance framework. They share governance responsibilities with the principal of the school and the Department of Education and Training (DET). The framework cannot be compared directly with other well-documented and understood governance structures, such as a board of directors for a private or public entity. The framework also differs from non-government schools which are not part of DET and have their own governing arrangements. Because the governance framework of government schools is unique, it is particularly important that the roles, responsibilities, limits of authority and accountability of those involved are clearly defined and well understood, and that the framework works well in practice. DET is responsible for ensuring that school councils understand the governance framework. The ETR Act requires DET to establish an assurance regime over the financial and operational activities of school councils. DET is also required to advise the Minister for Education (the minister) on how school councils perform their functions and meet their objectives. School councils' role within government schools is not insignificant. As of February 2017, school councils operated in 1534 government schools that served over 600000 students. In 2016, Victorian school councils were responsible for budgets totalling $1.64 billion. School councils' activities have a real impact on students and the wider school community. In this audit, we examined whether school councils in government schools are meeting their objectives under the ETR Act. In doing so, we considered DET guidance to school councils on their roles and responsibilities offered through its guide Improving School Governance (ISG). We also considered whether DET effectively oversees school councils and has an assurance regime over their activities. In our assessment, we have not distinguished between the role of the Secretary of DET and the role of DET itself. [Audit overview]