Independent public schools

Independent public schools

The Independent Public Schools Initiative has revolutionised the way public schools operate in Western Australia.

An independent public school is a public school that has demonstrated its capacity to use its increased flexibilities and responsibilities to make local decisions across a range of school operations to enhance education outcomes for students.

Thirteen schools have been selected and 2 new schools opening in 2024 will be doing so with independent public school (IPS) status. The IPS initiative has grown from 34 schools in 2010 to 639 as of Term 1 2024. For the full list of schools, refer to the independent public schools list below.

Independent research commissioned in 2015, School Autonomy: Building the Conditions for Student Success identifies the kind of leadership that links greater school autonomy with improvements in teaching and, ultimately, benefits for students.

Each independent public school has a school board. The school staff, in collaboration with the board, establishes a vision for the school that reflects the aspirations and needs of the community. The board can have an important influence on the direction of the school, with members bringing ideas and lending their expertise to strategic planning and community partnerships.

When establishing the board, the school can re-appoint members of the school council or seek new members from the community. Attracting people with a range of experiences and expertise enhances the board’s ability to make significant contribution to the development of the school. Board members are provided with support and training.

The principal signs a 'statement of expectation', which is noted and minuted by the school council or board at a meeting and then signed by the Director General. It outlines the expectations for each school for its strategic planning and self-assessment, to form part of the school’s Public School Review and the Principal’s Professional Performance Review.

Like all public schools, principals of independent public schools must comply with relevant legislation, industrial agreements and whole of government policies and initiatives. These include but are not limited to:

Applying to become an independent public school is a decision made by each school, in consultation with the school council and local community. The school community must consider its capacity to take on the additional accountabilities of being an independent public school, the local community’s support for change and the school’s operational performance.

It takes committed and proactive school communities to become an independent public school.

Independent public school communities take a greater leadership role in all aspects of education, with the ultimate goal of delivering high quality education to students.

Independent public school principals have a direct line relationship with, and are accountable to, the Director General of the Department of Education.

Independent public schools:

  • have greater independence for local decision making which directly reflects the needs of their students and communities
  • establish dynamic and open governance relationships with the people in their communities
  • have continued access to central and regional support services
  • are supported by the full range of resources and infrastructure that comes with being part of the Western Australian public school system.

Adam Road Primary School

Albany Primary School

Albany Secondary Education Support Centre

Albany Senior High School

Alinjarra Primary School

Alkimos Beach Primary School

Alkimos College

Alkimos Primary School

Allanson Primary School

Allendale Primary School

Amaroo Primary School

Anne Hamersley Primary School

Anzac Terrace Primary School, Bassendean

Applecross Primary School

Applecross Senior High School

Arbor Grove Primary School

Ardross Primary School

Armadale Primary School

Armadale Senior High School

Ashburton Drive Primary School

Ashdale Primary School

Ashdale Secondary College

Aspiri Primary School

Attadale Primary School

Atwell College

Atwell Primary School

Aubin Grove Primary School

Augusta Primary School 

Australind Primary School

Australind Senior High School

Aveley North Primary School

Aveley Primary School

Aveley Secondary College

Balcatta Primary School

Balcatta Senior High School 

Baldivis Gardens Primary School

Baldivis Primary School

Baldivis Secondary College

Baler Primary School 

Balga Primary School

Balga Senior High School

Balingup Primary School

Ballajura Community College

Ballajura Primary School

Bambara Primary School

Banksia Grove Primary School

Banksia Park Primary School

Bannister Creek Primary School

Bassendean Primary School

Bateman Primary School 

Baynton West Primary School

Bayswater Primary School

Beachlands Primary School

Beaconsfield Primary School

Beaumaris Primary School

Beckenham Primary School

Beeliar Primary School

Beenyup Primary School

Beldon Education Support Centre

Beldon Primary School

Belmont City College

Belridge Secondary College

Belridge Secondary Education Support Centre

Bentley Primary School

Bertram Primary School

Beverley District High School 

Bibra Lake Primary School

Bicton Primary School

Bindoon Primary School

Binnu Primary School

Bletchley Park Primary School

Bluff Point Primary School

Bob Hawke College

Boddington District High School

Booragoon Primary School

Boulder Primary School

Boyanup Primary School 

Boyup Brook District High School

Brabham Primary School

Braeside Primary School, Katanning

Bramfield Park Primary School

Bridgetown Primary School

Brookman Primary School

Brookton District High School

Broome North Primary School

Broome Primary School

Broome Senior High School

Bruce Rock District High School

Brunswick Junction Primary School

Bull Creek Primary School

Bullsbrook College

Bunbury Primary School

Bunbury Senior High School

Bungaree Primary School

Burbridge School

Burns Beach Primary School

Burrendah Primary School

Busselton Primary School

Busselton Senior High School

Butler College

Butler Primary School

Byford Primary School

Byford Secondary College

Cable Beach Primary School

Caladenia Primary School

Calista Primary School

Camboon Primary School

Campbell Primary School

Canning College

Canning Vale College

Canning Vale Education Support Centre

Canning Vale Primary School

Cannington Community College

Cannington Community Education Support Centre

Carnarvon Community College

Cape Naturaliste College

Capel Primary School

Caralee Community School

Carey Park Primary School

Carine Primary School

Carine Senior High School

Carlisle Primary School

Carnaby Rise Primary School 

Carnamah District High School 

Carramar Primary School

Carson Street School

Cassia Primary School

Castletown Primary School 

Caversham Primary School

Caversham Valley Primary School

Cecil Andrews College

Cervantes Primary School

Challis Community Primary School

Champion Bay Senior High School

Chapman Valley Primary School

Charthouse Primary School

Chidlow Primary School

Churchlands Primary School

Churchlands Senior High School

City Beach Primary School

Clarkson Community High School (From 2024)

Clarkson Primary School

Clayton View Primary School

Clifton Hills Primary School

Clifton Park Primary School

Cloverdale Education Support Centre

Cloverdale Primary School

Coastal Lakes College

Collie Senior High School

Comet Bay College

Comet Bay Primary School

Como Primary School

Como Secondary College

Connolly Primary School

Coodanup College

Coogee Primary School

Cooinda Primary School

Coolbinia Primary School

Cooloongup Primary School

Coorow Primary School

Corrigin District High School

Cottesloe Primary School

Cowaramup Primary School

Craigie Heights Primary School

Cranbrook Primary School 

Creaney Education Support Centre

Creaney Primary School

Cunderdin District High School

Currambine Primary School

Curtin Primary School (From 2024)

Cyril Jackson Senior Campus

Dalkeith Primary School

Dalmain Primary School

Dalyellup College

Dalyellup Primary School

Dampier Primary School

Dardanup Primary School

Darkan Primary School

Darling Range Sports College

Davallia Primary School

Dawson Park Primary School

Deanmore Primary School

Denmark Primary School

Denmark Senior High School

Dianella Heights Primary School

Dianella Primary College

Dianella Secondary College

Dianella Secondary College Education Support Centre

Dongara District High School

Donnybrook District High School

Doubleview Primary School

Dowerin District High School

Dryandra Primary School

Dudley Park Primary School

Duncraig Primary School

Duncraig Senior High School

Dunsborough Primary School

Durham Road School

East Beechboro Primary School

East Butler Primary School

East Fremantle Primary School

East Hamersley Primary School

East Hamilton Hill Primary School

East Kalgoorlie Primary School

East Kenwick Primary School

East Kimberley College

East Manjimup Primary School

East Narrogin Primary School

East Victoria Park Primary School

East Wanneroo Primary School

Eastern Goldfields College

Eastern Hills Senior High School

Eaton Community College

Eaton Primary School

Eddystone Primary School (From 2024)

Eden Hill Primary School

Edgewater Primary School

Edney Primary School

Ellen Stirling Primary School

Ellenbrook Primary School

Ellenbrook Secondary College

Embleton Primary School

Endeavour Education Support Centre

Endeavour Primary School

Esperance Primary School

Esperance Senior High School

Excelsior Primary School

Exmouth District High School

Fairview Primary School

Falcon Primary School

Falls Road Primary School

Flinders Park Primary School

Floreat Park Primary School

Forest Crescent Primary School

Forrestdale Primary School

Forrestfield Primary School

Frankland River Primary School

Fremantle College

Fremantle Language Development Centre

Fremantle Primary School

Freshwater Bay Primary School

Gairdner Primary School

Geographe Primary School

Geraldton Primary School

Geraldton Senior College

Gidgegannup Primary School 

Gilmore College

Gingin District High School

Girrawheen Senior High School

Gladys Newton School

Glen Forrest Primary School

Glen Huon Primary School

Glencoe Primary School

Glendale Primary School

Glengarry Primary School

Gnowangerup District High School 

Golden Bay Primary School

Goollelal Primary School

Gooseberry Hill Primary School

Gosnells Primary School

Governor Stirling Senior High School

Grandis Primary School

Greenfields Primary School

Greenmount Primary School

Greenwood College

Greenwood Primary School

Grovelands Primary School

Gwynne Park Education Support Centre 

Halidon Primary School

Halls Head College

Halls Head College Education Support Centre

Halls Head Primary School

Hammond Park Primary School

Hammond Park Secondary College

Hampton Park Primary School

Hampton Senior High School

Hannans Primary School

Harmony Primary School

Harrisdale Primary School

Harrisdale Senior High School 

Harvey Primary School

Harvey Senior High School

Hawker Park Primary School

Heathridge Primary School

Hedland Senior High School

Helena Valley Primary School

Henley Brook Primary School (Opening in 2024)

Herne Hill Primary School

High Wycombe Primary School

Highgate Primary School

Hillarys Primary School

Hillcrest Primary School, Bayswater

Hillman Primary School

Hilton Primary School

Hocking Primary School

Hollywood Primary School

Honeywood Primary School 

Hudson Park Primary School (From 2024)

Hyden Primary School

Illawarra Primary School

Inglewood Primary School

Jandakot Primary School

Jarrahdale Primary School

Jilbup Primary School (Opening in 2024)

John Butler Primary College

John Curtin College of the Arts

John Forrest Secondary College

John Tonkin College

John Tonkin College Education Support Centre

Jolimont Primary School

Joondalup Education Support Centre

Joondalup Primary School

Joseph Banks Secondary College

Jurien Bay District High School

Kalamunda Senior High School

Kalamunda Secondary School Education Support Centre

Kalannie Primary School

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School

Kalgoorlie Primary School

Kapinara Primary School

Kardinya Primary School

Karratha Primary School

Karratha Senior High School

Karridale Primary School

Karrinyup Primary School

Katanning Primary School

Katanning Senior High School

Kellerberrin District High School

Kelmscott Primary School

Kelmscott Senior High School

Kendenup Primary School (From 2024)

Kensington Primary School

Kensington Secondary School

Kent Street Senior High School

Kenwick School

Kiara College

Kingston Primary School

Kinross College

Kinross Primary School

Kondinin Primary School

Koondoola Primary School

Koorana Education Support Centre

Koorana Primary School

Kulin District High School

Kyilla Primary School

Lake Grace District High School

Lake Gwelup Primary School

Lake Monger Primary School

Lakeland Senior High School

Lakelands Primary School

Lancelin Primary School (From 2024)

Landsdale Primary School

Lathlain Primary School

Leda Education Support Centre

Leda Primary School

Leeman Primary School

Leeming Primary School 

Leeming Senior High School

Leeming Senior High School Education Support Centre

Leinster Community School

Leonora District High School 

Lesmurdie Primary School

Lesmurdie Senior High School

Little Grove Primary School

Lynwood Senior High School

Madeley Primary School

Maida Vale Primary School

Maidens Park Primary School

Makybe Rise Primary School

Malibu School 

Malvern Springs Primary School 

Mandurah Primary School 

Manea Senior College

Manjimup Education Support Centre

Manjimup Primary School

Manjimup Senior High School

Manning Primary School

Marangaroo Primary School

Margaret River Primary School

Margaret River Senior High School

Marmion Primary School

Marri Grove Primary School 

Maylands Peninsula Primary School

Meadow Springs Education Support Centre

Meadow Springs Primary School

Medina Primary School

Melville Primary School

Melville Senior High School

Merredin College 

Merriwa Education Support Centre

Merriwa Primary School

Middle Swan Primary School

Millars Well Primary School (From 2024)

Miling Primary School

Millen Primary School

Mindarie Primary School

Mindarie Senior College

Moora Primary School

Morawa District High School

Morley Primary School 

Morley Senior High School

Mosman Park Primary School

Mount Barker Community College

Mount Claremont Primary School 

Mount Hawthorn Education Support Centre

Mount Hawthorn Primary School

Mount Lawley Primary School 

Mount Lawley Senior High School

Mount Lockyer Primary School

Mount Pleasant Primary School

Mukinbudin District High School

Mullaloo Beach Primary School

Mullaloo Heights Primary School

Mundaring Primary School (From 2024)

Mundijong Primary School

Nannup District High School 

Narembeen District High School

Narrogin Primary School

Narrogin Senior High School

Nedlands Primary School

Neerigen Brook Primary School

Newborough Primary School

Newman Primary School

Newman Senior High School

Newton Moore Education Support Centre

Newton Moore Senior High School

Newton Primary School

Nollamara Primary School

Noranda Primary School

North Albany Senior High School

North Balga Primary School

North Beach Primary School

North Cottesloe Primary School

North Dandalup Primary School

North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre

North Fremantle Primary School

North Harrisdale Primary School

North Kalgoorlie Primary School 

North Mandurah Primary School

North Morley Primary School

North Perth Primary School

North Tom Price Primary School

North Woodvale Primary School

Northam Senior High School

Northam Primary School (From 2024)

Northcliffe District High School (From 2024)

Northampton District High School

Nulsen Primary School 

Oakwood Primary School

Oberthur Primary School

Ocean Reef Primary School

Ocean Reef Senior High School

Ocean Road Primary School

O'Connor Primary School

Orange Grove Primary School

Orelia Primary School

Osborne Primary School

Pannawonica Primary School 

Paraburdoo Primary School

Parkerville Primary School 

Parkfield Primary School

Parkwood Primary School 

Pearsall Primary School

Peel Language Development School

Peg's Creek Primary School

Pemberton District High School 

Perenjori Primary School

Perth Modern School

Phoenix Primary School

Piara Waters Primary School

Pickering Brook Primary School

Picton Primary School

Pine View Primary School

Pinjarra Primary School 

Pinjarra Senior High School

Port Hedland Primary School

Port Kennedy Primary School

Poseidon Primary School

Poynter Primary School

Queens Park Primary School

Quinns Beach Primary School

Quinns Rocks Primary School

Ranford Primary School

Rangeway Primary School

Rapids Landing Primary School

Redcliffe Primary School 

Richmond Primary School

Ridge View Secondary College

Riva Primary School

River Valley Primary School

Rivergums Primary School

Riverside Education Support Centre

Riverside Primary School

Riverton Education Support Centre 

Riverton Primary School 

Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre

Rockingham Beach Primary School

Rockingham Lakes Primary School

Rockingham Senior High School

Rockingham Senior High School Education Support Centre

Roebuck Primary School

Roleystone Community College

Rosalie Primary School

Roseworth Primary School

Rossmoyne Primary School

Rossmoyne Senior High School

Rostrata Primary School

Safety Bay Primary School

Safety Bay Senior High School

Sawyers Valley Primary School

Scarborough Primary School

Secret Harbour Primary School

Serpentine Primary School 

Settlers Primary School

Sevenoaks Senior College

Shelley Primary School

Shenton College

Sheoak Grove Primary School

Shorehaven Primary School

Singleton Primary School

Sir David Brand School

Somerly Primary School 

Sorrento Primary School

South Ballajura Education Support Centre

South Bunbury Primary School

South Coogee Primary School

South East Language Development Centre

South Halls Head Primary School

South Hedland Primary School

South Kalgoorlie Primary School

South Lake Primary School

South Newman Primary School

South Padbury Primary School

South Perth Primary School

South Stirling Primary School

South Thornlie Primary School

Southern Cross District High School

Southern Grove Primary School

Southern River College

Spearwood Alternative School

Spearwood Primary School 

Spencer Park Education Support Centre

Spencer Park Primary School

Spring Hill Primary School

Springfield Primary School

Subiaco Primary School

Success Primary School

Sutherland Dianella Primary School

Swan View Senior High School

Swanbourne Primary School

Tambrey Primary School 

Tapping Primary School

Thornlie Primary School 

Thornlie Senior High School

Three Springs Primary School

Tom Price Primary School

Tom Price Senior High School

Treeby Primary School

Treendale Primary School

Tuart Forest Primary School

Tuart Hill Primary School

Tuart Rise Primary School

Two Rocks Primary School

Upper Swan Primary School

Vasse Primary School

Victoria Park Primary School

Waddington Primary School

Waggrakine Primary School

Waikiki Primary School

Walkaway Primary School

Walliston Primary School

Walpole Primary School

Wandina Primary School

Wanneroo Primary School

Wanneroo Secondary College

Warnbro Community High School

Warnbro Community High School Education Support Centre

Warnbro Primary School

Warriapendi Primary School

Waroona District High School

Warwick Senior High School

Wattle Grove Primary School

Wellard Primary School

Wembley Downs Primary School

Wembley Primary School

West Balcatta Primary School

West Beechboro Primary School

West Busselton Primary School

West Byford Primary School

West Coast Language Development Centre

West Coast Secondary Education Support Centre

West Greenwood Primary School

West Leederville Primary School

West Leeming Primary School

West Morley Primary School

Western Australian College of Agriculture - Cunderdin

Western Australian College of Agriculture – Denmark

Western Australian College of Agriculture - Harvey

Western Australian College of Agriculture - Morawa

Western Australian College of Agriculture – Narrogin 

Westfield Park Primary School

Westminster Education Support Centre

Westminster Primary School

White Gum Valley Primary School 

Wickham Primary School

Willandra Primary School

Willetton Primary School 

Willetton Senior High School

Wilson Park Primary School

Winterfold Primary School

Winthrop Primary School

Wirrabirra Education Support Centre

Wirrabirra Primary School

Wongan Hills District High School (From 2024)

Woodbridge Primary School

Woodland Grove Primary School

Woodlands Primary School

Woodlupine Primary School, Forrestfield

Woodvale Primary School

Woodvale Secondary College

Wundowie Primary School

Yakamia Primary School 

Yale Primary School 

Yanchep Beach Primary School

Yanchep Rise Primary School

Yanchep Lagoon Primary School (From 2024)

Yanchep Secondary College

Yangebup Primary School (From 2024)

Yarloop Primary School

Yarralinka Primary School

Yokine Primary School

York District High School

Yule Brook College

Yuluma Primary School

While the pioneering work of the Independent Public Schools Initiative has led the movement to greater school autonomy, all public schools are now benefiting from the extension of flexibilities and greater capacity for local decision making.

For example, independent public schools were the first schools to recruit, select and appoint their own staff rather than being provided with staff through a centralised staffing process. Today, every principal can recruit, select and appoint their own staff.

Independent public schools were also the first schools to operate with one line budgets. Today, all schools except community kindergartens operate with one line budgets and receive funding as dollars. That means the principal, in consultation with the school council or board, has more flexibility to determine how the funding is used to benefit students.

Launched in 2009, the Independent Public Schools Initiative empowers school communities to shape the ethos, priorities and directions of their schools to reflect the aspirations of their students.

Since then, we have extended and developed the initiative with further intakes of schools that meet the stringent selection criteria. Today, we have 77 per cent of public school students and teachers in 639 independent public schools across the state.

Independent public schools have demonstrated the capacity to respond to and work with their communities. They help build strong communities that are more able to respond to the needs of students.

It’s all part of being at the forefront of innovation in education so every child in every school achieves their potential.

An evaluation of independent public schools by The University of Melbourne found that the story of the Independent Public School Initiative is characterised by choice, energy, motivation, innovation and engagement. Independent public schools are also creating strong foundations for future improvement in student achievement.

The initiative was recognised with the 2013 Premier’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management.

An evaluation by The University of Melbourne found a specifically Western Australian version of autonomy emerging that was creating the strong foundations needed by schools to improve student achievement.

The report, released in 2013, found the following:

The initiative is positive, with greater autonomy for schools characterised by choice, energy, motivation, innovation and engagement.

The initiative was embraced by principals and has had a significant positive impact within schools and the broader system.

Independent public school principals reported positive cultural changes in their schools, including stronger relationships with their local school communities and an enhanced profile with strengthened school and community pride.

While it was too soon for independent public schools to demonstrate an effect on student outcomes, the initiative was supporting schools to create the conditions for such improvement.

View the evaluation reports:

More information

For further information on independent public schools, contact the Leadership Institute on 1300 610 801 or leadership.institute@education.wa.edu.au