Here’s a good news story from the Age, about how principals have been able to turn around schools that are struggling with declining numbers, low morale and disengaged students, and get them going in a more positive direction. And according to Dr Lisa Vinnicombe, principal of John Fawkner College, ‘bringing in parents’ is part of the solution.
The article tells the story of John Fawkner College and Scoresby Secondary College, both schools that were struggling with multiple problems. In both cases, an ‘executive principal’ was appointed and made (often radical) changes that turned the school around.
One of the changes at John Fawkner is to have a transition officer working with local primary schools to promote the school’s new direction.
“Along with that is bringing in parents and working with them to create the school of choice in the area,” said principal Lisa Vinnicombe.
