Smith Family

Strategic Partnerships in Schools

Partnerships to improve student learning outcomes

Schools are increasingly being asked to prepare students for a rapidly changing world and deliver improved generic skills beyond literacy and numeracy. These demands stretch the teaching and learning load. At the same time, students, families, schools and their communities face an increasingly complex array of issues. For example, some schools – particularly schools based in disadvantaged and regional communities – are vulnerable because they have fewer resources and reduced access to services.

School-based strategic partnerships assist teachers and principals in addressing entrenched educational underperformance in schools, particularly in low socio-economic communities.

Benefits delivered through strategic partnerships

• Early identification of children and young people’s needs and quicker access to services
• Improved educational outcomes and increased engagement and participation in school
• Improved self-confidence and wellbeing
• More positive school environment
• Improved communication between schools and families and improved family engagement
• Greater community connectedness and capacity
• A widening of schools’ external contacts, networks and partnerships and enhanced social capital
• Stronger relationships between schools and other local services, such as public housing and health
• The promotion of lifelong learning through the re-engagement of adults with education

On Tuesday 3-4pm the Smith Family host a learning club at Morphett Vale Primary School.