School boosts staff by 15 after critiques

Education Minister Sue Ellery says she has delivered on her promise of extra support for Hedland Senior High School.

There are 14 new employees at the local high school, with an additional school psychologist on the way to help the community.

The extra help comes after a series of violent incidents at the school hit headlines.

“Following a number of complaints about the unacceptable behaviour of a small group of students, I asked the Department of Education to identify the key issues, proactively intervene and support the school, and monitor the situation,” Ms Ellery said.

“The department has already provided more staff resources for the school, including an extra deputy principal with a focus on student wellbeing, and two additional education assistants working in the lower school engagement program.

“The school has increased school chaplain time, secured a media and marketing officer, and a specialist mentor has been employed to work with students and parents in conflict.”

Ms Ellery said the additional staff had been provided to address three areas of school life: improved communications and partnership; managing students with complex learning, social and behavioural needs; and managing change in a way that builds engagement and commitment and sustains improvement.

Member for Mining and Pastoral Region Jacqui Boydell, who questioned Ms Ellery on the range of measures in Parliament, said she would continue to monitor the situation to ensure the Government followed through with its commitments.

“Understandably, these issues are having an adverse effect on the community with a number of parents choosing to, or planning on leaving when their children reach high school age,” she said.

Ms Ellery promised additional resources to the local high school in July this year after a mass email was sent to parents criticising the Department of Education’s response to the violent and antisocial behaviour of students.