This is a collection of three papers presented at a symposium ‘Implementing a generic school improvement framework: experience of the National School Improvement Tool in Australian settings’ at the 27th International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI) , Yogyakarta Indonesia, 27 January 2014.

Paper A: Development of a school improvement framework with broad application in different contexts by Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young, ACER. School improvement has been a focus of attention in Australia for some time, but the publication of results in international testing such as PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study), TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) in recent times has heightened awareness of comparisons between Australian students and their peers in other countries. This paper describes the National School Improvement Tool (ACER, 2012) developed in Australia to support school and system improvement efforts.

Paper B: Large scale system implementation of school improvement in Queensland by Robert Marshall, ACER. This paper examines the implementation of a large scale system of school improvement through school audits in Queensland which commenced in 2010.

Paper C: Focus on planning in independent schools in Western Australia by Robert Hassell, Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA). This paper draws on three specific examples from the twenty-four Western Australian schools in the Association of Independent Schools Western Australia (AISWA) that have worked with consultants in 2013 using the National School Improvement Tool (ACER, 2012).