School Review

18. School staff and other community members – roles and responsibilities

Your school review role and responsibilities

Effective schools establish links and build relationships with a broad range of people and organisations to expand opportunities to improve student outcomes. The school creates opportunities for inclusive engagements to occur across the school and its school community.

Parents and carers, community-based organisations, professional bodies, local employers, and other community members are encouraged to take part in the school review process. School staff should also be involved – staff participation should not be limited to members of the School Improvement Team (SIT).

School staff and community members may contribute to their school’s review process in a variety of ways. They may assist with the pre-review self-evaluation (PRSE) by contributing to focus groups which provide the Panel with valuable information about the school’s practice and performance from a community perspective.

Key tasks allocated to, or shared with, school staff and school community members are listed in this section. For more detail about how these tasks relate to the wider school review, and the roles and responsibilities of all participants in the review, refer to section 4 of these guidelines and to other tools and resources listed throughout.

You can also download an A3 printable checklist for the review process (DOCX) (staff login required).

School review participants

School review is characterised by collaboration. Every participant has a distinctive role and important responsibilities to fulfil.

A constructive and transparent school review welcomes ideas from all school community members, listens to and reflects on varying opinions, and relies on inclusive engagement and accountability.

Section 4 of the guidelines provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities for all Panel members.

Core School Review Panel members

School community members are important contributors to the Panel. They provide input at designated touchpoints and include:

• students
• the SIT
• other community members.

Tasks

Pre-review tasks

• Remain well informed about the school review through various school communication channels available to school and community members
• Consider volunteering to support the school review through involvement in focus groups and other activities during the PRSE process

Tasks for during the review

Fieldwork and Panel time

• Consider taking part in focus groups and other activities occurring on the review fieldwork days
• Keep abreast of the school review and follow-up with the school on any items you would like to know more about

Post-review tasks

• Keep informed on the school’s new directions and consider how you can become more involved in the school’s improvement journey

Good review practice

Good review practice is demonstrated when school staff and community members:

• understand the importance of family/school partnerships and welcome opportunities for collaborative involvement in school review
• are well informed about their school’s improvement journey by reading and engaging with school communications and broadening their understanding by consulting other sources such as educational articles
• actively participate in the school’s PRSE
• encourage and support children/students to participate by sharing their voice during the review process
• share with other community members the learning and insights they gain from the review process, and encourage other community members to become involved in the process
• remain engaged with the review process from the PRSE stage through to post-review activity.