Ferny Grove forums support a Flying Start

_{04, June 2010}

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Forum participants Education Assistant DG Patrea Walton and Ferny Grove State School Acting Principal Brett Shackleton

Ferny Grove residents had an opportunity to have their say on the future of the State's education system outlined in the Green Paper, A Flying Start for Queensland Children at community consultation forums last week.

Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson said community members voiced their opinions about the proposals for educational reform in Queensland at the Ferny Grove State School forums.

"While the forum participants supported moving Year 7 to secondary school, they highlighted the need for a stronger focus on pastoral care and middle schooling to support the proposal," Mr Wilson said.

"Community members raised concerns about the capacity of Ferny Grove State High School to cater for the additional Year 7 student enrolments.

"There were also calls for the retention of a play-based curriculum in Prep when the Australian curriculum is introduced and the suggestion was made to use long day care centres and doctors’ surgeries to promote the early literacy message."

Mr Wilson said the state-wide forums had attracted more than 1400 participants including teachers, students and community members, who have provided considered feedback on plans to lift the bar for teaching, schools and behavioural standards.

"A Flying Start for Queensland Children details the challenges that face our schools, outlines a range of new initiatives and introduces some key proposals for change," he said.

"The community forums are a very valuable way of gathering meaningful feedback.

"I encourage as many people as possible to attend the forums which are being held throughout the state up until the end of June."

Mr Wilson said the proposals in A Flying Start for Queensland Children followed the introduction of Prep and the 'learning or earning' reforms that came out of the Education and Training Reforms for the Future discussion paper in 2003.

"They will complement our investment in early childhood services, including the rollout of up to 240 new kindergartens by 2014 and funding of kindergarten programs in long day care centres," Mr Wilson said.

"Community members at the forums have supported these early childhood reforms. I look forward to working with the community to ensure all Queensland children and young people get the flying start to learning they deserve."

Click here for more information on the discussion paper and forums.  Responses to the discussion paper can also be made online at the Queensland Government website or by email, fax or post until the end of June this year.

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