The Ministerial Taskforce will continue to support the implementation of the new WACE. Membership for 2006 includes David Axworthy (Chair and newly appointed A/CEO of the Curriculum Council), Rees Barrett (Curriculum Council), John Nelson (Catholic Education Office), Valerie Gould (Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia) and Lois Joll (DET).

As recommended by the Ministerial Taskforce report in 2005, there will be a general achievement test (GAT) administered to all students studying new WACE courses in year 11. The test will be undertaken on Wednesday 7 June, on the same day it is administered to students in Victoria. Schools will be advised of the details in the near future.

As recommended by the Ministerial Taskforce, there will be a rolling independent evaluation of the implementation of the new courses (including the effectiveness of the professional development) to identify issues and provide advice to refine approaches, where necessary. In the first instance the focus of the evaluation will be on the implementation of the English, Engineering Studies and Media Production and Analysis courses. A working party of teachers will be convened to advise Council on suggested questions for the survey and associated processes.

The use of marks for indirect use of the standards in the courses and the processes to determine fine-grained assessment details for students interested in qualifying for university entrance are being addressed through collaboration with sector/systems and specialist groups working alongside the taskforce. Possible solutions are being presented to Council at a special meeting on 16 February. It is anticipated that schools/providers will be advised of the details following the March Council meeting.

Council has formed a reference group to investigate a range of certification issues that have arisen as a result of the raising of the school leaving age and to accommodate the increase in students who are expected to remain at school or who will be involved in training and/or work and who may be able to achieve the standards and other requirement set for the WACE.

You are invited to register your interest in the course information networks that have been set up by the council to ensure you receive the latest news and development details. You can also use these networks to feed in your ideas online to course project officers. Click here to register.

At its 1 February Council meeting, the Integrated Science course was moved to Phase 3, which means it will be implemented in schools from 2008. Originally placed in Phase 3, it was thought this course could be fast-tracked and be implemented with other Science courses in 2007, but this has proved difficult. In keeping with the Minister’s promise that where a course is not completely ready, it will not be implemented, the Council has moved it back to Phase 3. Schools will be able to offer Physical Science and Senior Science in 2007 (year 11) and 2008 (year 12). Teachers who enrolled in PD for Integrated Science will not attend PD for this course in 2006. If teachers wish to enrol in PD in other science workshops they will need to notify the council and register them for the course as soon as possible.

The 2006 PD plan was distributed to schools late in 2005. It is also available on the council website. All schools have now completed the registration of their teachers for professional development. The Council will commence training the 250 trainers on 18 February. Schools can expect to receive information about the venues of the PD sessions in the near future. Due to the complex planning involved, teachers who have not registered with the council for PD sessions will not be accepted in workshops as there will be no additional materials or catering available.