School Board

The Education Act 2004 (the Act) requires that each public school is to have a school board as a way of sharing authority and responsibility with the local school community.

School boards are based on two principles:

  • school communities should have decision-making responsibilities and should be able to determine their own educational policies, and
  • decision-making at the school level should involve Directorate staff, the school community, including parents, carers and students.

Section 39(1) of the Act details the functions of a school board of a public school:

  • to establish strategic direction and priorities for the school
  • to monitor and review school performance and to report on it to the Director-General, parents of students at the school and staff
  • to develop, maintain and review curriculum for the school
  • to develop and review education policies at the school
  • to establish budgetary policies for the school and approve the school budget
  • to establish policies for the efficient and effective use of school assets and the management of financial risk
  • to develop relationships between the school and the community and between the school and community organisations
  • to make recommendations to the Director-General on issues affecting the school and to give effect to the Director-General's directions
  • to encourage parent participation in their children's learning, and
  • to exercise any other function given to the school board under the Act or any other Territory law.