For schools of special character. A school is considered to be a school of special character if the employing authority declares it so. In making a determination to declare a school one of special character and also making a determination on the appropriate allocation of allowance points the employing authority will generally take the following into account: • the specific purpose of the schools as espoused in its mission statement; • the significant percentages of ATSI students; • the significant percentages of special needs students; • other significant factors as determined by the employing authority. Generally, the criteria, as detailed in Table 1 below, will be applied to determine a Principal’s eligibility to receive a school of special character allowance. If a school’s characteristics change such that the percentage of enrolments of ATSI, ESL or Special Needs students increase above the relevant percentage threshold, as detailed in table 1 below, the principals’ eligibility for payment of the relevant number of allowance points will be adjusted and backdated to the beginning of the current year. If a school’s characteristics change so that the percentage of enrolments of ATSI, ESL or Special Needs students decrease such that it is 10% below the relevant percentage threshold, as detailed in table 1 below, for a period of 12 months, the principals’ eligibility for payment of the relevant number of allowance points (between 2 and 5 points) will be adjusted at the end of the current four (4) year contract period. The employing authority may declare a school a ‘school of special character’ based on significant factors other than the percentage of ATSI, ESL or Special Needs students enrolled at the school. The determination of a principal’s eligibility to receive payment of allowance points for their school’s ‘special character’ will be at the discretion of the employing authority.
