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Hosting and Harvesting conference:
Creating the change we wish to see in the world

Disadvantaged students making the step to university

VIC - A survey has revealed that almost half of the government school graduates studying at university this year, are from disadvantaged backgrounds
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Impact of BER scheme may go beyond education

NATIONAL - The Building the Education Revolution scheme may be responsible for a recent fall in new housing construction. Macquarie Group senior economist Brian is quoted by 'The Age' as saying, 'It might be that the price we're paying for the government education building program is that small building contractors have been diverted'.
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'Refinements' made to Tasmanian education system

TAS - The Tasmania Tomorrow scheme has been 'refined' according to Education Minister Lin Thorp. The Polytechnic and the Academy is now under the control of the Department of Education, whereas theSkills Institute will now be considered a separate entity.
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Parents may be liable for school laptop damage

NSW - The parents of NSW students may be liable for damage caused to student laptops provided by the Rudd Government Digital Education Revolution, due to issues stemming from a mismatched protective case.
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Green schools miss out on rebate

NSW - Some government schools in NSW are missing out on the government's solar power rebate because they already produce too much solar energy to qualify.
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Childcare centres to get grants

NATIONAL - Almost 200 childcare centres across Australia will receive grants of $20,000 each to buy new equipment or toys and for minor building improvements.
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Former principal accused of sexual assault

QLD - A former school principal has allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old student. The matter is currently in the District Court.
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College loses registration

SA - The Adelaide Pacific International College has had its registration suspended, after failing 12 of 14 federal quality standards in an audit.
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Opinion . . .

The School Certificate is out of date

NSW - Headmaster at The King's School, Tim Hawkes, writes that the Year 10 School Certificate has become 'irrelevant'.
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Avoiding elitism

NATIONAL - An editorial in 'Adelaide Now' voices its concern for a school system that may be influenced by free market forces.
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Good news . . .

Tune it to TUNE!FM

VIC - Student radio station, TUNE!FM, has moved into a new site and is attracting the attention of students and staff interested in radio.
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International

Ethnicity of students in mural attracts controversy

UK - The creators of a school mural that promotes environmentally friendly transport, have been controversially asked to lighten the skin tone of the children in the image.
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Focus on safety for exams after wild weather

CHINA - There will be a focus on safety this year as Chinese students sit their annual national college entrance exams, due to a recent series of earthquakes and extreme weather.
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Stressed student torches school

THAILAND - The Mahidol Wittayanusorn school in Nakhon Pathom province has been burned down by a student allegedly feeling extreme pressure to excel in his studies.
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ACEL Noticeboard

ACEL's Travelling Scholar: Jan Robertson

Building Leadership and Learning Capacity Through Partnership
In an education context that is typified by change, complexity and challenge, new conceptions of leadership and learning are essential. Turbulent times require a type of education community that can ride the ebbs and flows of multiple discourses and ethical dilemmas – together taking the responsibility for the successes and the challenges still to be taken.

The essence of effective leadership and effective learning is in trusting, respectful relationships within the learning community. Jan’s work on the coaching partnership is acclaimed internationally for the powerful impact it has on educational leadership practice, the facilitation of professional learning, and in the development of formative learning relationships. Partnership is not a concept commonly practiced in education and therefore skill development is essential to this process. Jan is a highly sought after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator internationally.

The day will include the following content:
• Leadership and learning through partnership;
• Developing pedagogy for changing times;
• Formative learning relationships;
• Developing coaching cultures;
• The leadership of learning;
• Facilitating professional learning and building leadership capacity;
• Coaching skills of active listening, reflective interviewing, self-assessment and goal setting.

This day is a seminar and workshop. Participants will receive a work booklet as a coaching resource and will have many opportunities to reflect on their own professional practice, and will be equally challenged by the expertise in the group to take new thoughts of leadership and learning practice back to their own education communities.

Please click here for more information on this exciting event.

Inspire: ACEL Leadership Program

Are you a highly competent principal? Have you noticed that it’s always your team who get the in-house training budget rather than you? Are you ready to reignite your passion and continue to find purpose in the difference you are making? Are you building your legacy daily?

Mackerel Sky in partnership with ACEL has created the Inspire program. Mackerel Sky has worked with thousands of leaders across a range of industry sectors including IT, engineering, accounting, education and health care. Our programs unpack and name what it is that great leaders do. In this way CEO’s and executives gain insights on their existing strengths and clarity on the development pathways important to them.

In each one of our programs, leaders discover new ways to develop the leaders they serve. They gain clarity around what they do that works so well. Supporting the development of others is easier when you can clearly articulate what it is that has been working for you. Participants are delighted to discover easy to apply models and frameworks that serve as a guide in challenging situations.

The Inspire program sits alone in a market rich with offerings to emerging leaders. This program is uniquely placed to stretch experienced, senior leaders. You will create a powerful network of other strong leaders whilst covering the latest in leadership theory and practice such as:

• Talent management - attraction, retention and engagement across the generations
• Succession Planning – growing leaders from within
• Leaving a legacy – making sure your today is resourcing your tomorrow
• Connecting with Community – making a bigger difference
• Cultural Intelligence – creating cultural competence for leaders
• High Performance Teams – secrets of teams that go the extra mile

For more information on this special event please click here.

ACEL Winter School

The London Centre for Leadership in Learning, Institute of Education works in London, nationally and internationally and offers a vibrant and refreshing learning community to support your learning in the heart of London. The London Centre for Leadership in Learning works in partnership with practitioners and policy makers at the critical edge of research and practice and are at the forefront of developing new knowledge for and about leadership and learning.

In her role as Director of the London Centre for Leadership in Learning, Professor Alma Harris and her team will provide a Winter School during the week of the 5th – 9th July 2010 at the London Leadership Centre.

The Winter School will be built around the ACEL Leadership Capability
Framework and participants will have the opportunity to design the
program of their choice from a menu of opportunities including visits to
schools and workshops that focus on distributed leadership, strategic development in professional learning, coaching - building a coaching culture, emerging leaders, experience leaders, leading for learning, parental engagement, network for learning and deep dive learning sessions with London Leadership Centre consultants and leaders.

Participants will also be provided with pre and post conference learning activities that combined with conference will provide university credit. This program will be designed to support leaders informal leadership positions.

Participants will be invited to join the ACEL Alumni as a result of attending this Winter School and will be recognised in the Class of 2010.

Program Objectives
Participants will:
• Learn about the English educational context and learn from and
with educational leaders in London and the surrounding area
• Engage in participatory, reflective seminars and workshops lead by the London Centre for Leadership in Learning - Institute of Education colleagues
• Participate in the London Centre for Leadership in Learning Annual Conference on July 7th and interact with a wide range of educational leaders from schools in England.
• Personalise their own learning and development through reflection of their own experiences and practice
• Evaluate the impact of the week on their own learning and consider consequent implications for future practice

Click here for more details.

Final words ...
"It is in fact a part of the function of education to help us escape, not from our own time — for we are bound by that — but from the intellectual and emotional limitations of our time." - T.S. Eliot