The Western Australian Government has announced the membership of the inaugural board of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA).

 

The new authority will replace the Curriculum Council when the Curriculum Council Amendment Act is proclaimed.

 

It will be chaired by Emeritus Professor Patrick Garnett, and its seven members include: education expert UWA Professor David Andrich; former public school principal and Aboriginal education specialist Lucina Cross; former Catholic school principal and Curtin University director Margaret Herley; vocational education and training expert Dr Ruth Shean; early childhood and primary education specialist Professor Christine Ure; and Dr Bruce Matthews, who is a former independent school principal with extensive experience working in education in rural areas.

 

WA Education Minister Liz Constable said the board members will work together as Western Australia’s peak education standards authority.

 

“They will manage the implementation of agreed arrangements between the State and Commonwealth in relation to the national curriculum.

 

Dr Constable said a key task for the board would be to oversee development of an outline for curriculum and assessment in schools that would replace the Curriculum Framework covering schooling from kindergarten to year 10.  This would include accepting responsibility, at State level, for the management of national testing such as NAPLAN.

 

“This is a significant expansion of the role of the State’s leading curriculum agency,” she said.

 

The Minister said Professor Garnett had been appointed for five years and each of the other members of the board for four years.

 

The board will be supported by a five-member Standards Committee and a 13-member Curriculum and Assessment Committee.