Independent Public Schools: An evaluation using large scale test data

Achieving higher student performance, as measured through large-scale test data, is the focus of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and governments worldwide. School system reform, through self-managing schools, is considered a key mechanism for securing better student academic performance. Accordingly, the Western Australia Government commenced school wide reform in 2009. This study examined the impact of this whole school reform on student achievement and progress on standardised tests. The study found no substantive change in student results since commencing IPS; replicating and elaborating on findings of a State Government funded evaluation of the Independent Public Schools (IPS) Initiative.