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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1333 asked in the Legislative Council on 25 November 2020 by Hon Donna Faragher

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

PREPRIMARY ENROLMENT REQUIREMENTS

1333. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and Training:

I refer to preprimary enrolment requirements and requests received on occasion by school principals from parents seeking some flexibility in the school starting age for their children.

(1) Can the minister confirm that principals have the authority to make decisions regarding year group placements?

(2) If yes —

(a) what matters are taken into consideration by principals in making such decisions if a request for some flexibility has been received; and

(b) are there any mechanisms by which parents can seek to appeal a decision of a principal; and, if so, will the minister provide further detail?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) Yes.

(2) (a) Principals consider the parents' reasons for making the request, as well as other relevant information provided by health professionals, school psychologists or educators who know the child.

(b) Principals are best placed to make these decisions in consultation with the family. In the event that parents are not satisfied with the outcome determined by the principal, they may request that a review be undertaken by the local regional executive director. Following that, a parent may request that the procedure by which the principal made the decision be reviewed by the Minister for Education and Training under section 223 of the School Education Act 1999. That goes to the process; I cannot review the merit or otherwise. The minister is not obliged to conduct a review.