Teaching and Learning Report

by Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning – Mr Stephen Hill

Teaching and Learning in 2020

Classes for the year have started very well and the boys have returned from the break with a noticeably positive attitude to their learning. Congratulations to the boys on the way they have started 2020 and may the rest of the year be equally as productive!

 

The 2020-2021 Strategic Plan lists four goals for the Learning and Teaching area:

1. Engage and challenge staff, students and parents to assume collaborative responsibility for learning through a whole school learning and teaching vision that promotes excellence.
2. Identify and evaluate students’ learning strengths and challenges to inform teaching and to provide rigorous and meaningful learning.
3. Recognising the diverse learning needs and interests of our students, continue to review and develop classroom programs, pathways and certificate offerings.
4. Facilitate a program of staff professional development in the contemporary understanding of research-based learning and teaching pedagogy.

Throughout 2020, our teaching and classroom support staff will trial, develop and implement a range of teaching and learning initiatives in response to these goals including:

• • A review and redevelopment of the Years 7-9 Linguistics programs, now to be known as Literacy Support.
  • Expanded use of diagnostic testing data to inform and maximize the Junior School English and Mathematics blocking model to maximise literacy and numeracy outcomes for the boys.
  • The 2020 introduction of VCE Units 1/2 Environmental Science, VCE Units 1/2 Philosophy, Year 10 Commerce and Year 10 Legal Studies and Politics to meet student interest and demand in these emerging areas of the Senior School program.
  • As a consequence of the work done by the ICT Executive, a key recommendation of the College’s eLearning Plan, the introduction of laptops for 2020 Year 7 students, has been launched.
  • The refurbishment of the Sir Bernard Heinz Theatre to create a second teaching space to support the College’s classroom Music, Instrumental Music and Bands program.
  • The refurbishment of Purton 006 to create a contemporary “black box” Theatre and Drama space to support the boys’ increasing interest in the performing arts.
  • Completion of the whole-school Timetable and Daily Organisation Review.

 

The College has also extended its commitment to contemporary, evidence-based best practice in boys’ education through our membership of the International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC). An immediate consequence of this will see 20 teachers participating in month-long professional development from next week in the areas of A Course for Teachers New to Boys’ Schools, Leadership Development for Current and Aspiring Boys’ School Administrators and Mastery Practice in Teaching Boys.

The aim with each of these initiatives and developments is to continue to provide teaching and learning structures that recognise and respond to the diverse learning of students at St Patrick’s, giving all our boys every opportunity to achieve personal academic success.

Expected Standards of Attainment in Assessment Tasks Guidelines

The College’s Expected Standards of Attainment in Assessment Tasks Guidelines state that the expected minimum standard of attainment for graded assessment tasks in all Victorian Curriculum, CEOB Awakenings and VCE subjects at St Patrick’s will be 50%.

The Expected Standards of Attainment in Assessment Tasks Guidelines aims to:

–    Promote and further a culture of high academic expectations amongst students

–    Reinforce and support the College’s committed to academic excellence,

–    Further raise academic outcomes (with particular emphasis on, literacy, numeracy and VCE outcomes)

–    Enhance student engagement and resilience

–    Establish clear expectations for students, parents and teachers alike regarding assessment tasks

–    Support the ongoing identification of students who might benefit from an individual learning plan

–    Inform any required discussions regarding a student’s readiness to progress to the following year level or equivalent subject.

The enforcement of expected standards of attainment for assessment tasks clearly indicates to all students, parents and teachers that the College will not accept mediocrity. These guidelines aim to reinforce in the boys’ minds that the College is committed to academic excellence and that doing the minimum will not be accepted.

The complete Expected Standards of Attainment in Assessment Tasks Guidelines can be accessed via PAM (in the ‘Parent Information’ section) and the College’s website.

Mr Stephen Hill

Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning