Three Hobart primary schools will merge under a single leadership team next year in a bold trial that could transform how Tasmanian schools are run.
From the start of 2026, New Town, Moonah and Risdon Vale primary schools will operate together in a five-year “adaptive trial” of ‘Multi-School Organisations’.
The schools will share resources, teaching strategies and student support under one management structure.
Education Minister Jo Palmer said the trial aimed to deliver stronger outcomes for students.
“We want every Tasmanian child and young person to get the best possible start in life through world-class education,” Palmer said.
“That’s why we’re announcing a nation-leading multi-school organisations trial that will transform teaching and support across our government schools.”
The trial will build on Tasmania’s literacy reforms and follows an independent review of the state’s education system.
Research from the Grattan Institute, which advised on the trial, found many Australian schools were simply too small to provide the leadership expertise and resources needed on their own.
“Too many children are treading water in schools that struggle to improve academic performance, meet students’ complex needs or offer a rich set of life experiences,” the think tank said following a 2024 report.
International evidence from England and New York shows Multi-School Organisations can spread the influence of outstanding principals, teachers and specialist staff, giving more students access to high-quality leadership.
Under the model, schools keep their individual identities while sharing everything from lesson plans to behaviour management strategies.
Teachers also gain access to new career pathways and professional development opportunities that standalone schools often cannot provide.
But the Grattan Institute warned success is not guaranteed, pointing to overseas examples that had “performed poorly or been mismanaged”.
It stressed governments must establish “policies and regulatory frameworks that ensure multi-school organisations genuinely add value”.
The Tasmanian trial will be run in partnership with McKinnon, a not-for-profit specialising in multi-school design, and will be independently evaluated over the five years.
Beyond the three-school pilot, every government school in the state will move to a dedicated executive leadership structure from 2026.
