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WA's best school teachers will gain an opportunity to become leading State School principals through a new Masters Degree of School Leadership being offered by The University of Western Australia.

The new post graduate qualification is part of a new government schools teaching program, launched today by the WA Minister for Education, Dr Liz Constable at The University of Western Australia.

It also forms part of the WA Government's Independent Public Schools reform for State Schools to gain more flexibility and authority in managing their own affairs.

The Dean of UWA's Faculty of Education, Winthrop Professor Helen Wildy, said the new UWA course would consist of four core units dealing with Leading Teaching and Learning; Leading Assessment and Accountability; Managing a School as an Organisation; and Leading Curriculum Innovation.

"I am very pleased that UWA has this opportunity to work with the Department of Education to provide a new program for aspiring principals," Professor Wildy said.  "It will equip them with skills, understanding and knowledge to lead schools with confidence.

"A key feature of our new program is a hands-on approach that draws on case studies of a range of different school types to confront many of the challenges that all principals face in their leadership roles.

"The program will also be available for current principals keen to refresh their expertise and share their experience with others who aspire to principal positions."

Prospective students would enroll in a Master of Education course next year and transfer to the new Master's Degree of School Leadership from 2013.

Dr Constable said being a public school principal was an extremely important job.  The new program would help meet community expectations for high-quality school leaders.

"With an ageing workforce it is important we plan ahead now to ensure we have a strong supply of skilled and experienced people ready to move into leadership positions," Dr Constable said.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Helen Wildy (Faculty of Education)  (+61 8)  6488 1709
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783