Principal for a Day

Independent Evaluation

Deakin University was commissioned to undertake an independent evaluation of the Principal for a Day national program for the three year period 2004-2006.

The objectives of the evaluation were to determine:

  • The extent to which new and previously untapped resources, knowledge and skills became available to schools through a Principal for a Day match
  • The extent to which Australia’s business and community leaders were more informed about, and active with, schools as a result of participating in the program
  • Attitudinal or behavioural change in schools and business/community organizations as a result of their new interaction

 

Evaluative data were obtained using six diverse methods:

  1. Annual feedback surveys conducted soon after each event
  2. School visits
  3. Attendance at Feedback Forums
  4. Year-after surveys
  5. Discussions with State/Territory co-ordinators
  6. Case studies based on telephone interviews

 

The most striking feature of the results was the very positive endorsement of the Principal for a Day program by the business/community leaders and the principals. The very positive responses were evident across all three years, all categories of business/community leaders, across all different types of school and local, regardless of the gender of the business/community leader or the principal, and from all sources during the evaluation.

The Report said “it is an inescapable conclusion that the Principal for a Day program is making a very significant contribution to public education and the community, to schools and their students and to the professional development of the program participants”.

Grateful acknowledgement is offered to Dr Geoff Beeson, who conducted the evaluation and mecu Limited, whose funding and support made the independent evaluation possible.

Download the full evaluation report