Independent public schools review report released soon

SEVEN recommendations have been formulated following a review into Queensland’s independent public schools, with a report to be published soon.

Queensland Minister for Education and Industrial Relations Grace Grace said there was nothing to hide in regards to the review. Picture: AAP/Darren England

• Independent public schools could be in danger
• Teachers’ union flexes muscle over IPS

SEVEN recommendations have been formulated following a review into Queensland’s independent public schools, with a report to be published soon.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the Government would release the “great” report, stating there was “nothing to hide”.

It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed last week that the Queensland Teachers’ Union had placed pressure on the State Labor Government to axe the independent public schools program, just three months before Ms Grace called a review into the scheme.

Opposition education spokesman Jarrod Bleijie slammed the news, claiming Labor was putting unions ahead of Queensland students again.

“If Labor goes through with its plan to scrap independent public schools it’s clear that they are owned lock, stock and barrel by the unions,” he said.

Ms Grace praised the recommendations.

“I have a briefing today on the IPS recommendations. I’ve seen the recommendations, they are very good,” Ms Grace said.

“There are seven of them.”

The Minister said in 2017, 70 Queensland schools became independent.

“We need to clearly bed them down,” she said.

“This is not about closing down IPS.

“This (review) is about getting the best not only from those schools but for every school around Queensland.

“As soon as I get briefed and we know exactly what is in the report we will release it to the public.

“Nothing to hide here.”

There are 250 IPS schools in Queensland, with each school receiving $50,000 per year under the program.