School Improvement Program

Our 3-year leadership development program for schools in challenging communities to improve educational outcomes.

How our program works

The Fogarty EDvance School Improvement Program focuses on building the capacity of school leadership teams to make informed evidence-based decisions, strategically plan, and ultimately, improve student outcomes.

We provide high quality support to build leadership capability and increase the overall effectiveness of schools, through our unique three year School Improvement Program, which brings together the best practices, resources and tools from education, business and philanthropy.

Our vision is to improve the educational outcomes of children attending schools in challenging communities. We see a future where every child can have a great education in Western Australia, regardless of their postcode.

Proven strategies

We use a holistic model for transforming school leadership and utilise tested research from Australia and across the globe – known as the ‘School Transformation Framework’. That way, schools can be sure they have both the ‘big picture’ and the detail, based on strategies that are already proven to work.

These include whole-school approaches to teaching and learning based on research, and understanding the experience of all stakeholders in their communities.

“EDvance is the best professional learning I have attended. It is a world class program that should be compulsory for all schools. Congratulations on an outstanding program.“

Louise O’Donovan Principal, Beeliar Primary School (Cohort 5)

The support we offer

We work within each school’s context

We recognise the unique context of each school and help them design an ambitious but realistic improvement plan so they can make the changes at the right time for their school.

We are there from start to end

The program runs for 3 years with mentoring and support from our team for the entire program.  Cohort peers face similar challenges – leaders will develop relationships that will continue to support the strategic direction of the school.

We use experienced mentors

Our mentors are highly regarded past principals and education leaders who work directly with the leadership team for the full 3 years of the program.

We provide support to build a rich school data set

Data is collected and used to inform ongoing strategic planning that can target and track improvements in key areas that have an impact on student outcomes (such as teaching, learning and leadership practice)

We use a holistic model of school leadership and utilise tested research

This includes access to experts across education and business that can be utilised as part of the Program, and inform the strategic direction of the school.

We focus on organisational health

A core component of our program is the idea that a school’s culture (or organisational health) drives the performance of student outcomes. In other words, a ‘healthy school’ where people work well together, will often result in improved student outcomes.

“The program is rigorous and robust, with carefully and strategically developed sequential learning. To be able to deliver and sustain a consistently first class program over a three year time frame is remarkable.”

Leila Bothams Principal, Harrisdale Senior High School (Cohort 5)

The three-year journey

The three-year journey, instigated by school leaders, is no small undertaking. Each year of the program builds on the next, following an intensive first year of laying the foundations for school improvement through the development of a three-year strategic plan. The subsequent years of the EDvance program focus on embedding and scaling your school’s strategic plan.

The Fogarty EDvance program enables our school leaders to set direction based on evidence, to enable students from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn and flourish. I support the positive impact the program has had on the academic, social and wellbeing achievements of our students and look forward to growing its success within the context of our strategic directions; Every student, every classroom, every day.

LISA RODGERS DIRECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Fogarty EDvance schools

We want the best educational outcomes for students in Western Australia, particularly those from more challenging contexts.

Does your school?

Is your school?

Find out more and register your interest for the Fogarty EDvance School Improvement Program.

The Fogarty EDvance (School Improvement) Program was founded by the Fogarty Foundation. The program is financially supported by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Education, and by Catholic Education Western Australia. The delivery partner of Fogarty EDvance is Knowledge Society.

Impact Snapshot

To see the impact of our program view our Impact Report for Cohort 6