Great Results guaranteed for students in 2015

The literacy and numeracy skills of Queensland children will improve, with $183 million going to all state schools in 2015 in the second round of the Great Results Guarantee.

Premier Campbell Newman said the Queensland Government had a strong plan to achieve better student outcomes and revitalise frontline services.

“I want Queensland to be among the top performers in literacy and numeracy in Australia by 2020,” Mr Newman said.

“Labor neglected our children and misplaced its spending, but we have boosted funding and are targeting the money to where it’s needed most, to ensure our education system is world class now and in the future.  

“That’s why this annual funding comes with a guarantee that every Queensland state school student will either achieve the National Minimum Standard for literacy and numeracy for their year level or have a plan in place to address why they might be falling behind.

“Mums and dads can have confidence that when they send their children to school they will get the best possible education.”

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the investment was the result of the Abbott Government’s $794 million Students First – A fairer funding agreement for schools initiative to be delivered over the next four years.

“Queensland is the only state or territory in Australia that is giving every single cent of this funding directly to schools,” Mr Langbroek said.

“It has already empowered schools to put in place effective programs that drive lasting improvements and I have no doubt that we’ll see this continue into the future.”

Mr Langbroek said the 2015 investment was $52 million more than the $131 million provided in 2014, the first year of the Great Results Guarantee.

“It’s about making sure that we can cater for the needs of Queensland students so they have every opportunity to succeed in life,” he said.

Member for Mount Coot-tha Saxon Rice said she had seen her local schools flourish with the increased flexibility and autonomy to decide how to invest their funds.

“Under the Great Results Guarantee schools were also encouraged to work with their parents and the wider school community to shape their plans, which has improved student performance and strengthened local engagement,” Ms Rice said. 

Milton State School Principal Paul Zernike said the local decision making approach was a big win for schools.

“The flexibility to decide how we invest our funding has had huge benefits, letting us target specific learning areas like spelling and reading through methods that work for us rather than a prescribed one-size-fits-all approach,” Mr Zernike said.

“Here at Milton State School we’ve been able to expand our Visible Learning Program and also employ extra teaching staff, giving the students more one on one support from our teachers and teacher aides.

“Through the Great Results Guarantee funding, our teachers have been able to learn from international experts on inquiry learning and critical thinking skills, developing valuable teaching skills that will benefit students for many years to come.

“For us, it’s about making sure every student is challenged and inspired and I’m very happy with how the Great Results Guarantee is helping us fulfil that commitment.”

For more information on the Great Results Guarantee, visit www.education.qld.gov.au/resultsguarantee

[ENDS] 24 September 2014

Media contact: Premier’s Office 3719 7000

Minister Langbroek – Danita Goodwin 0439 886 652