“Schools that work” ministerial committee report released

3 December 2007

In June 2007, the Minister of Education established a Committee to conduct research into schools that performed well and are in the middle quintiles.

Called “Schools that Work” the qualitative study, considered the circumstances under which schools achieve good results, while others in a similar context do not.

“There can be no doubt that the good results of these schools are produced by the commitment of principals and teachers. This emerged as one of the most powerful themes in our study of Schools that Work”, the Committee wrote.

The report recommends that provincial departments support successful schools through recognition and incentives.

The Committee found highly motivated schools, with dedicated staff and busy learners, using additional time before and after school, on Saturdays and during holidays. Schools were focused on learner achievement, and celebrated their achievements to motivate themselves further.

The Committee found four essential dynamics at work in successful schools:

• all of the schools were focused on their central tasks of teaching, learning, and management with a sense of responsibility, purpose and commitment;
• all of the schools carried out their tasks with competence and confidence;
• all had organisational cultures or mindsets that supported a work ethic, expected achievement, and acknowledged success;
• all had strong internal accountability systems in place, which enabled them to meet the demands of external accountability, particularly in terms of Senior Certificate achievement.