School Improvement and Governance Network

The Nathalia Learning Community case study is recommended reading. This community involves:

• Nathalia Secondary College
• St Marys of the Angels Catholic Secondary College
• St Francis Primary School
• Nathalia Primary School
• Barmah Kindergarten and Occasional Care Centre
• Nathalia and District Pre School Centre.

The Nathalia Learning Community uses the concept of 'collaborative autonomy' – education organisations working and learning together with a shared purpose and common aims and objectives while retaining a sense of autonomy and uniqueness. It strives to:

• Place students at the centre of everything that the community does
• Build strong relationships between education organisations, between education and the broader community and between the Learning Community and key stakeholder groups
• Build a strong, resilient and sustainable 0-18+ years learning environment
• Develop and maintain a profile of education leaders in shared education provision.

Provides many insights that are relevant to all schools. For more information, contact Phil Brown, Executive Officer, Country Education Partnership, at Phil@cep.org.au and www.cep.org.au.