School Effectiveness Criterion #16

Effective communication, the life blood of a school community.

"Criterion #16  Communication Works In Our School Community (Aligns

                              with SDP elements #s11 & 16)

In an effective school Tom expected that there would be periodic evaluation of the school’s communication procedures and channels such as:   administration staff meetings; whole of staff meetings; subject meetings for secondary school;  daily notices to cover current events and relief teaching organization; readily available school policy files; access to the School Development Plan; easily accessible evacuation plans; communications to parents like the monthly school newsletter and reports of learning outcomes; general communication avenues for parents such as meetings with teachers, parent group meetings, parent representation to the School Board, School Board meetings; signage for students in respect of their movement around the school; ready access of teachers to the principal and others in the administrative hierarchy; student assemblies; student access to teachers especially at secondary school to the tutorial or form class teacher;  student access to counsellors and chaplains if they were in situ.  Tom did not agree with school chaplaincy in government schools preferring to have more investment in professional counsellors and wanting the government schools to be truly secular.

At this point Tom thought about the need for effective computer systems whereby student privacy and staff privacy were paramount.  This would affect all aspects of communication.  The security of the school’s computer systems needed regular review.

Tom was nearing the end of his meditative process about school effectiveness, but needed to record one of his pet beliefs about the symbols of the school."

May the Force be with you!

GD