Level 1: A mutual benefit school - industry partnership.
Bluepoint High School is presented as an example of a partnership towards learning. The school serviced a relatively low socio-economic community with limited expectations for advanced education. The school’s vision was for stu- dents to become active participants in a technologically literate society and for both staff and students to be effective users of technology in a manner that enhances learning for all. The school was initially identified through a statewide program that recognized schools that were operating at the forefront of STEM education. Key administrative staff, namely the head of the mathemat- ics and the head of the science departments, after consulting with relevant teaching staff, expressed interest in participating in the program. The initiation exemplifies Bailey’s “top-down bottom up” approach in which enthusiastic and well-positioned staff sought to capitalize on the side-wide initiative. A team approach was developed and contact made with local representatives of industry. The principle of subsidiarity (Walsh, 2004) was evident in the initiation and planning that was featured in the early establishment of the partnership.