Learning Assessment Task Changes
Dear Parents and Community,
Across 2022 Geelong High School has been reviewing assessment and reporting. In 2023 there are a number of changes intended to improve assessment and reporting processes that parents should be aware of. The purpose of these changes is to improve student focus on learning, to empower them to act on feedback in a timely manner and to help communicate with parents and families more effectively how students are progressing.
Learning Assessment Task Changes
As of 2023 the only assessment tasks that will be visible through Compass are important Common Assessment Tasks Years 7-10 (CATs) and School Assessed Coursework at VCE (SACs). These assessment tasks will be visible once the teacher has released the results to students and will include a Victorian Curriculum Level and a comment. Parents are encouraged to access this feedback and discuss the progress of their children on an ongoing basis.
Change to Reports
Progress Reports will still occur at the end of Term 1 and 3, and Semester Reports will happen as usual at the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2. On the Semester Reports, students will continue to receive a Victorian Curriculum Level for each subject and the report will include a summary of their CATs/SACs depending on what year they are in. There will also be a review of students Study Habits in both reports.
Victorian Curriculum Levels 7-10
In Years 7-10 Geelong High School is now using Victorian Curriculum Levels as suggested by the Victorian Department of Education. This commenced at the beginning of 2022 and will apply to all subjects. Schools are mandated to use Victorian Curriculum Levels in line with current research focused on growth and improvement. To understand Victorian Curriculum Levels, please use the following table. The right hand column shows when each rating would be the average that most students attain.
Victorian Curriculum Level |
At standard rating |
DNP |
Did not Pass |
6.5 |
Mid Year 7 |
7 |
End of Year 7 |
7.5 |
Mid Year 8 |
8 |
End of Year 8 |
8.5 |
Mid Year 9 |
9 |
End of Year 9 |
9.5 |
Mid Year 10 |
10 |
End of Year 10 |
10.5 |
On track for a B or above at VCE |
11 |
On track for a B+ or above at VCE |
Whilst Victorian Curriculum Levels do track attainment, it is worth noting that schools and students should be particularly focused on growth and how students are progressing. Even in one year students can radically improve their outcomes in any particular subject and levels are only indications of current attainment not ability. Many students improve from below the standard outcomes in junior years to top outcomes in the senior years.
The new version of the Semester Reports will continue to show student growth by including a visual showing their progress from the previous year.
VCE Grading Scale
Students at VCE are scored from A+-E for all School Based Assessments. Whilst these outcomes are strong indicators of attainment students and families must be aware that they are statistically moderated against the General Achievement Test (GAT) and exam performance. For this reason, outcomes might change significantly between the SAC result being given by the teacher and the final outcome.
Parent and Family Feedback
During 2023 we would be happy to receive feedback from parents and families about the changes to reporting systems. Please feel free to email the school any questions or ideas about how we might further improve our reporting process.
All the best,
Mr McConchie
Assistant Principal: Teaching and Learning
