EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION) STYLE

The four primary objectives of the Melbourne High School leadership team are: -

TONE, DIRECTION, EFFICIENCY, FOLLOW THROUGH.

• The keys to good School Management are – effective and efficient administration, strong School discipline, good facilities for staff and students, quality staff.
• A Principal must be seen to be ‘hands on’- and should make, or endorse, all final decisions at the School-wide level. He or she must be seen to ‘set the agenda’ after seeking advice widely.
• Key trusted staff should be given authority and responsibility for their particular areas and be given the tools and facilities to achieve meaningful goals.
• Total loyalty of key staff is essential, and total support to key staff is essential in return.
  The Principal must, however, be seen to be exercising ‘quality control’- through genuine interest and regular checking of progress in all areas.
• School ‘ethos’, and an absolutely clear School philosophy, are vital to a common approach to all matters within the School. Everyone must be heading in the same direction and the School community must know this. Therefore, creating ‘a sense of community’ is an essential role of the Principal and key staff. A particular rhetoric is very important as a tool in creating this unity of purpose – note the MHS Motto “Honour The Work” and yearly themes (in 2003 “Live Courageously”) – often written about and regularly spoken about throughout the School.
• Constant action and positive change creating a “Sense of Excitement” – always have active and current building, curriculum and cocurricular projects.
• Appropriate level of funding must accompany these objectives in order that they be realised – Government funding or appropriate level of fundraising and fees.
• Students and staff must appreciate the value of discipline and self-discipline so that the interesting and exciting aspects of learning will take centre stage. The Principal and senior staff must intervene to maintain and strengthen discipline and self-discipline in the School.

About the School

• 1365 students from Years 9-12. About 336 to 350 in each year level.
• Total selection by School – statewide provider – exam conducted each year for 1350 candidates. 336 selected for Year 9 and top ups later in Years 10,11,12.
• 97.5 EFT teachers.
• 32 ancillary staff.
• 13 casual staff.
• 142.5 total staff.
• 3 Assistant Principals.
• Global Budget about $6mill.
• Total School Budget, excluding Global Budget, $2.5million.
• Fees about $2,000 per annum. Uniform about $500 per annum. Books about $500 per annum. Fees are all inclusive. Almost no other collections of monies from students except for specialist programmes such as rowing and Cadets.
• Other sources of funds – Donations $50,000 to $100,000 pa, Commissions $30,000 pa, South Yarra Sports Centre profit $85,000 pa, Canteen $60,000 pa, P&F $30,000 pa.

Policy and Advice

• School Council and sub committees – Finance, Directions, Resources and Development, Education and Welfare, Canteen, Hockey/Netball.

Advice and Policy Formulation

• School and bodies within the School: - Curriculum Committee (LCC) - monthly, Administration Committee (LAC) - fortnightly, Curriculum Resources Development Committee (CRDG) in charge of technology development and implementation – every three weeks, Whole School Development Group - meets infrequently, Subject Coordinators’ Meeting - monthly, Year Level Coordinators’ (and Student Welfare Coordinator’s) Meeting - fortnightly, Staff Meetings - fortnightly, Student Leaders’ Luncheon Meetings – every three or four weeks.
• Outside School – Parents’ and Friends’ Association, Old Boys’ Association, School Patrons, Parent Teacher Nights - three per year, Parent Information Nights – one per year level per year.

Administration and Advice

• Assistant Principals (3) - Year Level and Curriculum, Year Level and Resources, Year Level and Personnel. The three Assistant Principals, plus the Principal, Principal’s Secretary and Daily Organiser, meet weekly to plan for coming fortnight and foresee any problems, needs etc.
• Registrar (enrolment, publicity, brochures, web page etc).
• Student Learning Coordinators – two per year level (8).
• Subject Coordinators – faculty plans, budgets and expenditure.
• Finance and Administration Manager – budget control and finance control.
• Timetable Coordinator, Daily Organiser, Director Of Music, Director Of Sport, CO of the Army Cadet Unit, CO of the Air Force Cadets, Resources Manager, Head Cleaner, Head Groundsman, Canteen Manager, Student Welfare Coordinator, Careers Coordinator, Work Experience Coordinator, Stage Manager, Archivist.
• Other Major Tasks handled by senior staff – Assemblies, Speech Night, theatre productions, massed singing, major events including Open Day, School music performances, House leadership, attendance checks.
• Student Leaders – School Captain, School Vice Captain, SRC President, SRC Vice President, Four Junior School Captains, SRC Executive, SRC Representatives (two per Form), Form Captains and Vice Captains, School Music Captain, Army and Air Force Cadets Under Officers, ‘Sentinel’ Editor, Millgrove Camp Leaders, Year 11 Mentors. Many of these leaders join with the Principal and senior staff in regular student leaders’ luncheons.

Aids To Good Administration and Management

• School Charter.
• Very precise School and faculty budgets devised by December of previous year.
• School Planning Calendar.
• P&F Calendar.
• Student Learning Coordinators’ Calendars.
• Student School Diaries.
• Student Wall Planners.

Rewards and Incentives For Students

• Weekly Assemblies for seniors and fortnightly Assemblies for juniors.
• Academic Awards – 5%-10% of students at each year level.
• Badges of office.
• School Sporting Colours.
• School Service Colours.
• Scholarships – about ten per Year Level.
• Speech Night Awards – top achievers in Year 12 (academic, sporting, general).
• Army and Air Force Cadet Rankings.

Opportunities For Marking Achievements and Gaining Community Support

• Speech Night.
• Registrar Sessions – ‘Meet The Principal’ sessions.
• Parent Information Nights.
• Principal and Presidents’ Dinner.
• Cadet Officers’ Dining In Night.
• Cadet Ceremonial Parade.
• Assemblies – one per week for seniors and one per fortnight for juniors.
• Singing Assemblies - one per Term for juniors.
• Final Assemblies for each Year Level.
• ANZAC Day Commemoration – and variety of involvements (e.g. Legacy Service at Melbourne Shrine Of Remembrance).
• P&F Functions – Quiz Night, International Night, Mothers’ Day Luncheon, Dinners for Parent Information Nights.
• Four working bees per year.
• School Productions – Musical, Play, Drama Production, Winter Concert, House Choral Competition.
• Music Events – Winter Concert, Gala Soiree, Promenade Concert, Spring Breakfast.
  Old Boys’ Annual Dinner.
• Red Cross fundraising launch.
• Annual General Meeting of School Council.
• School Council Retreat.
• School Exchanges – Adelaide, North Sydney, Germany, Japan, New Caledonia, Indonesia, England Cricket Tour, Manly Jazz Festival.