The Queensland independent school sector has welcomed the Queensland Government’s response to the review of the Non-State School Accreditation Framework.

Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ), the peak body representing more than 230 independent schools across the state, drew on a significant amount of feedback from its member schools as the basis for its submission into the review.

ISQ Chief Executive Officer, Chis Mountford said it was encouraging to see so much of this feedback carried through into the final report, with 21 of the 24 recommendations being agreed to in principle by the Government.

“The overarching feedback from our members was that they wanted to see a more constructive relationship between the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board and non-state schools, ensuring every school is set up to succeed,” Mr Mountford said.

“To see the recommendations outlined in the final report clearly guided by this feedback will give non-state schools, and importantly their school communities, greater confidence about the future regulation of the sector."

“What we need to ensure now is that the recommendations put forward in the report and agreed to by Government are implemented collaboratively and not mired in unnecessary delay or over-regulation. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with the Department of Education throughout the implementation of these recommendations and any subsequent legislation.”

Mr Mountford also acknowledged the work of the review’s lead, Ms Cheryl Vardon AO.

“This review is highly significant to our sector, and for it to mean anything it was vital that stakeholders from right across the non-state school sectors were consulted,” he said.

“Ms Vardon did an incredible job in not only ensuring this consultation occurred but that it was thorough, and the subsequent feedback was taken on board when putting together the final report.”

Media Contact

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