Multiplier effects of the structural and cultural dynamics of a multi-campus college on the learning community in which it is established: From theoretical perspectives to empirical evidence

Abstract

New South Wales DET and Ministerial literature suggests that the reframing of several years 7 - 12 comprehensive high schools and integrating them into a multi-campus college, comprising years 7 – 9/10 middle schools and a senior campus with years 10/11 – 12 cohorts, creates increased opportunities for students to improve their academic outcomes. To date, research literature on this debate is not readily available. Highlighting the application of a Dynamics Paradigm to enhance an understanding of educational change, this paper reports the results of a four years' study which provides empirical evidence of the impact of the establishment of a multi-campus college on students, teachers, principals and parents in the relevant community.Using the Dynamics Paradigm as a cognitive lens, quantitative and qualitative data from four case studies was analysed with the assistance of the Likert-Scale analytical tool and QSRNVivo software respectively. The analysis revealed that given contextual contingencies, the structural-cultural dynamics consequent upon the establishment of a multi-campus college are associated with a synergesis of positive multiplier effects which offer students greater opportunity for improved outcomes than the orthodox comprehensive high school.The paper concludes that the Dynamics Paradigm offers a theoretical framework for extending an understanding of change in an educational setting and that the structural-cultural dynamics of a multi-campus college represent a new way of delivering secondary education in New South Wales DET schools and deserve much more consideration from the DET, greater focus from educational researchers and renewed public debate.