VPRS 14010 School Records

This series has been created to contain a variety of records identified as permanent in Public Record Office Standard 88/2 General Disposal Schedule for Schools Records.For various reasons, some of the permanent records identified in the Schedule may not have survived. The records actually transferred in this series are a portion of those accumulated over time by the Education History Unit. They were received from various donors, including closed schools, former pupils and teachers. Many donations were made in response to the "Back to School: Harvesting Our Heritage" project that was undertaken for Victoria's sesquicentenary in 1985.The following records were identified as permanent in the Disposal Schedule. The attached records description list will identify which of the records were located and transferred from this school.Administration records - detailing the organisation of the school's operations, specifically;files of official correspondence which relate to matters specific to the school as received from either the Education Department or elsewhere. Files documenting general instructions or circulars from the Department have been culled and destroyed.a copy of the school newsletterdiaries of the school principal or head teacherthe school's investment register.Pupil records - Although the schedule specifies the permanent retention of a register of pupils, few secondary schools maintained a master record of enrolled pupils in this form. Recordkeeping practice varied but two general trends are apparent. The first is a form or card based system which summarises basic student information such as pupil's name, dates of birth and admission, name, address and occupation of parent or guardian, schools previously attended, grades admitted and destination after leaving the school. The second variation contains broadly the same detail but also incorporates a record of grades received by the student whilst at the school. For some schools such a record is in the form of specially printed pages or cards known as the pupils individual record, which are generally bound together to form a volume. This suggests that the creation of such a record was required for a period of time, however, more research is needed in this area.Pupil detail will have been entered into such records from admission forms completed by parents prior to the admission or, in the case of transfers from other State schools, from transfer notes completed by the previous school. Some or all of these records may have been retained if some or all of the pupil registers created by this school have not been located.It also appears that the master student record for some schools has been the student file. This file will frequently contain the admission form, transfer notes, copies of pupil reports and other documentation relating to the student's career at the school. These have been retained in some instances.Pupil reports not held within the student file may also be found in this series but only if the school created and retained copies.Inspection records - comprising reports created by Departmental inspectors in the course of annual and supplementary visits.School committees records documenting their organisation and operation. These include Mothers Club, Parents Associations, Safety House Committees and other committees associated with the school community. Specific records designated for transfer are:minute bookscorrespondence files, andannual financial statements.School Council records documenting its organisation and operation. School Councils date from 1983 and comprise the School Principal and representatives of the teaching staff, parents and the wider community. Councils are responsible for the determination of the general educational policy of the school within guidelines issued by the Minister. Councils are also responsible for a range of other matters including the condition of the school grounds and buildings (including the organisation of maintenance, improvement and cleaning work), forming opinions about the school's conduct and management and other duties prescribed by regulations. Between 1910 - 1983 all of these responsibilities except for the determination of school policy resided with the School Committee. Specific records designated for transfer are:minute bookscorrespondence filesannual financial statements, andpolicy records.Records created by the former School Committee and sub-committees of the Council may also be included.This series may also contain records additional to those identified in the disposal schedule. Records of this type which are found most frequently are:* examination registers which record the results of internal and external examinations (such as those for Proficiency, Intermediate, Leaving and Matriculation certificates)* photographs, videos or films of pupils, teaching staff, school buildings and school activities/events* other school publications such as student/staff bulletins, yearbooks and teacher handbooks, and* records pertaining to unique events in the school's history such as openings, reunions, anniversaries or closures.Consignment P1 includes school books, certificates, examination papers, newsclippings and diaries relating to VA 4613 Lake Leaghur (Primary School No.2592).