Teaching and Learning Update
Teaching and Learning Update
We hope you have enjoyed the start to 2022 and that your classes have been going well across the first few weeks. It has been great to see lessons in action again across all year levels and the wider extra-curricular programme of the school making a good start as well. We hope all students enjoyed the Swimming Carnival and it has been great to see so many signing up to be a part of our diverse and rich music instrumental programme.
Common Assessment Tasks
A number of changes have occurred in terms of assessment this year for students in Year 7 to Year 10. In line with departmental guidelines, Common Assessment Tasks (CATs) are now graded using Victorian Curriculum Levels. Schools are required to report on Victorian Curriculum Levels regularly across the year and this will make it easier for students to see how they are progressing in each assessment task.
In general, students should be aiming to achieve the level equal to their year group, by the end of the year. So, a student who achieves a Level 7 by the end of Year 7, is equalling the average attainment of all Year 7’s across the state. The following table explains what level students should achieve by the end of their school year, to equal the average attainment for that age group.
Victorian Curriculum Level | Year Group (Age) |
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 |
11.5 | On track for an A or above at VCE |
At Geelong High School we aim through our assessment processes to focus on growth, and urge students to think less about how they are progressing in comparison to the average for their age group, and more about their achievement, their effort and their own aspirations. Whilst Victorian Curriculum Levels will help them know more about how they are progressing, we will also be increasing the focus on how to act on feedback and achieve personal academic targets over the next year.
Students will also find that Common Assessment Tasks are more regular, shorter and more regularly completed in timed conditions to allow for more opportunities for students to grow and progress.
Tutor Learning Initiative
In 2022 we were pleased to receive extra funding from the State Government to continue the Tutor Learning Initiative. Tutors have started their work already with a focus in Term 1 towards Year 8 and 9 students who have been disadvantaged by remote learning. VCE students are able to gain access to tutors through asking their teachers who can make a referral, and all other year groups are invited to join the after school sessions on Monday and Tuesday in K1 and K2.
We were pleased to be able to reappoint Julie Cook, Maureen O'Connor, Ari Englemen and Petar Popovic to help support our students to overcome the challenges of remote learning. A huge thank you to all staff who have been involved and congratulations to our students who have made the most of this valuable resource.
Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support (MYLNS)
Geelong High School was also pleased to appoint two teachers to help support students with Literacy and Numeracy in Year 8, 9 and 10. In 2022 our MYLNS Literacy Teacher Ms Murray will work closely with students on literacy skills with a view towards helping them target their VCE and vocational aspirations. Ms McLure will be working similarly with students in Numeracy. A huge thank you to families and carers who have welcomed the work of our MYLNS teachers and we look forward to a great year for those students involved.
Phonics Programme
In 2021 Ms Murray also led the implementation of Macqulit, a phonics programme for building foundation language knowledge. After the success of the trial, this year we are providing access to students in Year 7 and 8 starting from Term 1. If you would like to be involved in the programme and believe your child would benefit, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
Disability Inclusion Fund
Geelong High School is also part of the pilot project for the Disability Inclusion Fund, another state government initiative to support student growth in education. The Disability Fund has allowed our school to improve its capacity to work with students with additional needs and we have been pleased to appoint Ms Jepsen last year as the Disability Inclusion Coordinator and Mr Haig this year as the Learning Specialist of Disability Inclusion. We welcome them both to the school and look forward to further being able to support students who face challenges with their learning.
