Curriculum and Learning

2022 was largely a return to normal to the delivery of our programs onsite and the breadth and depth of opportunities for learning together was revitalised. Whilst some restrictions were still in place, and masks were a dominant feature in every classroom, we forged ahead to focus on collaboration in the classroom and a return to almost all the activities which were not possible under stricter COVID guidelines.

A focus on key learnings from the 2021 experience underpinned our way forward. We retained our approach to reporting using descriptors rather than grades in Years 7-9, as we recognised the flexibility possible in reporting to parents and students in this way. We continued to provide opportunities for student choice in exploring topics of interest at all levels. An example of this was the geography field trip completed at home in which the girls examined features of their local neighbourhood. Shortened assessments and examinations in Year 10 were also retained as we had evidence from the lockdown years that longer tasks were more stressful, but unnecessary to guide next steps for learning.

Professional Learning Communities amongst staff focused on improving outcomes for students. Launched in April 2023, the PLC High Impact Teaching Strategies were developed based on our unique context and supported by strong research. The Learning Environments group focused their research on the physical spaces and how we might set up classrooms more flexibly, based on research from the Early Learning Centre,

Junior School and other models. The Classroom Wellbeing team examined the significant relationship between being well and being an engaged learner, particularly in the post-COVID era. Learning Teams focused on Year 7 classes and shared approaches to developing individual student’s passions and interests whilst building their skills in cooperative Learning. Filming classes and reviewing these in small teacher groups gave a focus on aspects of classroom dynamics such as questioning and feedback as part of a staffwide focus on classroom observation as a tool for teacher self-reflection.

The Year 9 OutLook program was a strong focus in 2021. As part of the Future Fund Grant provided by the PLC School Council, we explored different ways to deliver and assess growth in the PLC competencies for learning. The competencies of being balanced, articulate, confident and adaptable are core to all students’ development and there are four other competencies which match each of the PLC Graduate Outcomes. Scholar – Curious, Knowledgeable, Ambitious and Tenacious; Thinker – Critical, Creative, Reflective and Bold; Citizen – Ethical, Socially Aware, Empathetic and Culturally Aware; Advocate – Optimistic, Open-Minded, Engaged and Relational; and Leader – Responsible, Resilient, Collaborative and Self-aware. The OutLook program explored how each of these competencies fit within the areas of OutLook Outdoors, OutLook Community, OutLook Learning and OutLook City and the students selected competencies and tracked their growth through each of these units of work. Student self-reflections were then included on their final semester report. The OutLook program also focused on greater student agency; students chose their own learning groups and projects based on their passions and interests. The process of engaging with the competencies, student agency and self-reflection, gave the students an opportunity to develop an understanding of how they can take responsibility for their learning in the future.

Curriculum unit planners were finalised in Managebac software as a central repository for use in 2023 to examine assessment techniques, curriculum content choices, connections between disciplines, and competency development. The IB evaluation process commenced with self-study surveys and focus groups being conducted in preparation for submission in August 2023.

Use of our Learning Management System has become central to the classroom due to Distance Learning. In 2022, we defined what best practice use looks like for courses, units and class pages and have implemented this model for all new staff and staff developing new materials. Training for all staff is central to the consistent use of the platform to aid the student learning experience.

We finished the year with an End of Year program for Years 7 and 8 like no other. We sought student input and wanted it to be fun, engaging and to highlight student agency. Amongst other activities, the girls took on the role of teachers and provided a rich offering of learning opportunities for their peers which was a marvellous success. This program really was a celebration of moving on and students being empowered to lead learning as only a PLC girl can do.

Lisa Saffin Deputy Principal

Annual testing at Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 assesses student levels of achievement in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Numeracy and Grammar and Punctuation, with school results being benchmarked on a National scale. The tables below summarise this data for the three years, 2020, 2021 and 2020 There was no National testing conducted in 2020 due to COVID-19.