Mountain Heights School is engaging the local community in a partnership aimed at empowering learning and improving student outcomes, the Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Skills, Paul O'Halloran said today.

Mr O'Halloran congratulated the school on being selected as a Plus School under the Empowering Local Schools initiative.

"As a Plus School Mountain Heights School will develop and implement initiatives to support their own development and that of the community.

"The initiative is aimed at improving outcomes by increasing the capacity of principals, parents and school communities to be involved in the decision making of their school."

Mr O'Halloran said Mountain Heights was contributing significantly to improving the West Coast community.

"As one of two Plus Schools on the North-west/West coast, the school is engaging the local community in consultation about the vision and direction of the school.

"This consultative process has resulted in the development of the Mountain Heights Vision which will enable the teachers, school staff and community to manage their affairs to a greater extent.

"Mountain Heights School is particularly addressing the challenges faced by remote communities such as literacy and numeracy outcomes, student attendance, pathways beyond Grade 10, and teacher resourcing."