- Find out what a Multi-School Organisation is.
- Find out whether your local school is part of a Multi-School Organisation or a School Grouping.
- Find key information about each MSO.
- Check back in for updates as we implement this nation-leading reform.
In Tasmania we’re undertaking a nation-leading trial of Multi-School Organisations. This is what we are hearing about the experience for the principals involved in the first Multi-School Organisation:
“We’re already seeing ourselves as a collective and talking about the students within the MSO rather than the students just within our individual schools.”
“Support from like-minded people, has really energised our staff; relationships have started already.”
“For us is middle leadership, we are now part of a team where there’s somebody else that’s doing a very similar role at another school and we can be back and forth having those conversations, actually meeting with each other and developing something that’s better and stronger.”
Watch the video below to hear more about the Multi-School Organisation model from Principals, MSO experts and instructional specialist involved in the Tasmanian trial.
MSO1 Overview
MSO1, Tasmania’s first Multi-School Organisation, commenced in term 1, 2026.
Schools included in MSO1 are:
In 2027, Hobart City High School will join MSO1.
Hobart City High bring with them a history of innovation and collaboration, and a deep commitment to improving outcomes for students.
Hobart City High School will formally join MSO1 on day 1 Term 1 2027. Ahead of this, there will be a staged onboarding process led by the CEO and working closely with our MSO1 leadership team.
The MSO1 blueprint is being developed in collaboration with MSO1 school leadership teams. The blueprint will include an education and operational strategy, which will cover the agreed vision and approach to curriculum, teaching practice, school improvement, resourcing, budget and finance matters. MSO1 is already implementing agreed curriculum and instructional practices, providing quality learning while still enabling teacher innovation and creativity.
MSO1 uses four guiding questions to provide clarity on their purpose, values, focus and direction. The answers form the foundation for alignment, decision-making and accountability as the MSO grows.
For more information about MSO1, please contact msotrial@decyp.tas.gov.au
MSO1 Vision
Why do we exist?
To provide a world-class education that shapes a brighter future for all Tasmanian students.
How do we behave?
We share five values with our colleagues across DECYP: Courage, Growth, Respect, Responsibility and Connection.
What do we do?
We create joyful, aspirational and high-performing schools in which there is excellent teaching in every class, every day, for every student. In our classrooms students develop the knowledge, skills and character that empowers them to reach their potential and shape their future with pride, purpose and possibility.
How will we succeed?
- The rigour of our Charter-focused on students, grounded in evidence, built together, iterating over time.
- The precision of our implementation-building and developing a high performing, happy team; ruthlessly prioritising the next step for our family of schools and each school within it; and creating the right environment for change to happen.
- Being the best at getting better-being humble, outward facing and looking to the research and other expert colleagues, seeking out and acting on feedback and prioritising our own learning.
MSO2 Overview
MSO2, Tasmania’s second Multi-School Organisation, will commence in the north of the State in 2027.
Schools to establish MSO2 in 2027 are:
- Ravenswood Heights Primary School
- St Leonards Primary School
- Youngtown Primary School
MSO2 schools will begin a leadership onboarding program July 2026. Their program is being coordinated by the Department together with our Trial partners McKinnon. This onboarding phase will be managed in close consultation with their Executive Leads to ensure minimal disruption during the move from School Grouping to MSO. The move into an MSO will be staged and carefully supported.
The school will continue to keep their own identity and community connections whilst being closely supported to work towards the shared priorities of the MSO. Initially, students will see minimal day‑to‑day change, with any curriculum or teaching changes emerging gradually over time.
School Groupings
All schools not yet part of a Multi-School Organisation are in School Groupings. There are 11 School Groupings across Tasmania. View the 2026 School Groupings list (PDF, 162 KB).
For more information on School Groupings, please contact schoolgroupings@decyp.tas.gov.au
Overview of Multi-School Organisations in Tasmania
The Independent Review of Education in Tasmania found that Tasmania could benefit from trialling new ways of organising schools to enhance sharing of resources and services, and identified Multi-School Organisations as a way to do this.
Multi-School Organisations unite families of schools under one executive leadership team, allowing schools to share resources, lesson plans, behaviour plans and other services. The model also provides closer support for our principals, leaders and teachers.
The Tasmanian Multi-School Organisation model is evidence-based and has been adapted to our context.
McKinnon, an independent not-for-profit organisation, is supporting the Department for Education, Children and Young People to design and deliver the MSO trial. In 2025, McKinnon invested $700,000 in philanthropic funding to build expertise in the MSO model in Tasmania. This included access to experts in the multi-academy trust model that inspired the MSO approach, and a UK study tour for all founding MSO leaders.
To support the success of Multi-School Organisations in Tasmania, the Department is developing the Multi-School Organisation Framework. The Framework will clarify the governance, accountability and operational elements of the model. For more information on MSOs in Tasmania visit here: Tasmanian education system reform – Department for Education, Children and Young People.