Healthy Schools are Effective Schools - An Introduction to School Climate
Introduction
Introduction | School Climate | Resource Package | Further Assistance
A positive school climate is an integral component of a healthy, successful and fulfilling working environment.
Through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing policy the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (the Department) is committed to establishing safe, healthy, supportive schools and workplaces as well as improving workplace health, safety and wellbeing. It is recognised that the health and wellbeing of staff impacts on many factors including absentee rates, retention of staff and levels of early retirement, the recruitment of talented young people into the profession and ultimately the educational experience and emotional well-being of young people (Glover and Butler, 2003).
The Department promotes work environments where diversity is valued and everyone is treated with respect, fairness and dignity. These values guide partnerships and teamwork among staff to ensure that education environments are effective and positive student outcomes are achieved.
As part of this commitment the Department has developed a RESOURCE PACKAGE FOR IMPROVED SCHOOL CLIMATE that offers practical advice on how school leadership teams and staff can help to improve their school climate.
Keys to a healthy school climate and ultimately improved student outcomes include:
- setting goals and co-operating with others;
- learning and sharing experiences;
- being honest and respecting and valuing others; and
- striving to do things better.
School climate is a vital part of school performance because it refers to the quality of the school working environment and reflects how school staff work together to achieve outcomes.
Improving the school climate is part of the broader process of school improvement. The Effective Schools model was developed to underpin the Blueprint for Government Schools and identifies eight characteristics of successful schools (see Figure 1). Each of these areas gives us a specific focus for school improvement. This model recognises the importance of school climate in shaping professional practice and staff effectiveness and providing for better student outcomes.
An effective school will demonstrate;
- A positive school climate as a vital component of its business.
- School leadership that is supportive.
- Staff who understand what their role requires and what their responsibilities are.
- Staff who feel that they can contribute meaningfully to decision-making and that their input is valued.
- Opportunities for professional growth and career development for its staff.
- A high degree of collaborative practice.
- Staff who understand and have ownership of the school’s direction and goals.
- A safe workplace for its staff.
