5.2 Settings of research and school profiles
5.2.5 Bramley Primary
The school was established in 1957, with 48 learners. In 1958 the enrolment increased to 144. It has a long history of vandalism, which was abated after a caretaker was introduced into the school premises in 2003. In 2004 the school was assigned Section 21 status, with Quintile 3 status. In 2013 the school enrollment increased to 459. The number of classrooms increased to 15.
162
Table 5.1 shows the profile of principals with regard to their experience in working as
principals. It also compares their professional qualifications which they have acquired as they engaged with their studies prior to embarking on their careers and also whilst they were engaged in their professional development. The table shows the basic qualifications that the principals acquired whilst they were being prepared at college and university before starting on their teaching career.
163 Table 5.1: The Profile of Schools and Principals
School
Principal No Years
principal &
experience
Qualifications CPTD
progress
Lungani Primary
Mrs Godide 2003 to date JPTD ; FDE
(Management) ;Bed
Work on
file ;
updating
Gateway Secondary
Mrs Denison
2001 to June 2015
STD; Bed; HR
Management; Computer;
Ace Leadership
programme; FDE
(Management programme)
Work on
file ;
updating
Thokozwayo Primary
Mr Jokozela 2007 to date STD; HDE; Ace Leadership Programme
Work on
file ;
updating Mbongwa
Secondary
Mr Ndonga 2001 to date BPed; Bed; PMDP programme
Work on
file ;
updating
Bramley Primary
Mr
Goldstone
1998 to date Std; Ace Leadership Programme; Bed Hons;
B.Theology
Work on
file ;
updating
The Table 5.2 indicates the profiles of schools. The profiles show the context in which the schools operate in. It outlines the background regarding the statistical information and the quintile rankings of the school. The quintiles are determined in terms of the background of the school, the number of learners, the poverty index of the parents, the location of the school and the infrastructure of the school. The quintile rankings range from 1-5. The poorest of the
164
poorest school are Quintiles 1 and 2 and the best schools are ranked as Quintile 5. The Post Provisioning Norm (PPN) is a tool used for allocating staff members to schools. The model is based on the number of learners and the subjects taught in the schools. The PPN in a secondary school is calculated on the basis of the number of learners and the weightings of the subjects in secondary schools. The schools are divided into section 21 and 20 in terms of the allocated functions that they are supposed to perform as guided by South African Schools Act (SASA). Schools which are allocated section 21 status are able to utilise their allocated
funds and procure services on their own.
Table 5.2 School Profiles
School
Enrol ment
PP N
Quintil e
Fees Section Cluste r
2011 2012 2013 2014 201 5
Lungani Primary
723 16 3 No fee
School
21 1 652 651 678 711 725
Gateway Secondary
255 11 3 No fee
School
21 1 329 354 330 299 255
Thokozwayo Primary
275 6 3 No fee
School
21 2 216 229 228 259 275
Mbongwa Secondary
1066 33 3 No fee
School
21 3 986 1020 980 1040 106
6
Bramley Primary
509 11 3 No fee
School
21 4 410 398 454 468 509
165
Table 5.3 enlists the research questions that were used during the interviews and focus discussion groups to elicit responses from principals. The Table lists the different kinds of questions that were used for purposes of gathering data from the respondents.
Table 5.3: Themes of questions for participants
No Theme Questions asked
1. Principal‘s
Understanding of System Thinking
What is your understanding of systems thinking?
2. The Use of Systems Thinking to School Development
What are the benefits of using a System Thinking Approach to school development?
Can you relate what you consider as some of the highlights and achievements in terms of developing your school?
3. Strategic Planning How do you go about conducting strategic planning for school development?
4. Process of School Development Planning
What sort of processes do you engage in terms of arriving the developing the school improvement plan
5. Curriculum Development
How have been involved in curriculum development as part of engagement in systems thinking to school development?
6. Teaching and Learning How is teaching and learning improved utilising a System Thinking Approach to school development?
7. Cluster Co-ordination and Networks
Drawing from experience as principal working from Systems perspective thinking for approaching school development what can you tell us about the use of system thinking in school development?
In your involvement at circuit and cluster level what can you share as your experience and engagement in systems thinking and its use in school development?
166 8 The Integration of
systems WSE and IQMS
How did you work on integrating the two systems, WSE and IQMS for purposes of school development?
9. Partnerships for School development
What are the areas of whole school that you have developed?
What partnerships have you developed and how have they developed the school?
10. Handling Social Ills What can you attribute as some of your school development achievements? Share your experience handling social issues coming from the environment that affect the school system?
11. Continuous Professional Development
In what way have you developed professionally and which programmes are you engaged in for professional development?
12. The Functionality of the Structures
Share your experiences in working with the school community in school development?
What sort of structures or committees do you work with to that are critical for school development?
13. Infrastructure development
In what way has the school developed in infrastructure?
14. The Value of
Journaling
Can you show me any of your of records, journals, diaries, pictures, that reflect and support what is considered as school development activities? What are the new things you are doing that contribute to school development?
15. Challenges of Working with Systems Thinking
What are some of the challenges of using a System Thinking Approach to school development?