By Carole Levy
For the second consecutive year, Marian College in Sunshine West has been recognised as one of a select number of “high gain” Victorian schools.
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) publishes NAPLAN results annually, via the My School website, of the literacy and numeracy skills of students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
The latest data identified “high gain” schools nationwide that achieved improved NAPLAN results for students from one testing period to the next – and Marian College is in that mix.
Principal Raymond Pisani says Marian College students have demonstrated substantially above-average growth in literacy in the reading component, which has been shown to have a significant impact on future success.
“These results reflect a combined effort from teachers, parents and the various programs initiated and conducted at Marian College,” he says. “ACARA has acknowledged the college’s fantastic accomplishment and for sustaining the achievement from the previous year.
“This recognition highlights and rewards the work that the school’s teachers have been doing, focusing on optimising the progress of every student.”
Various strategies have been employed at the college, many underpinned by its three-year involvement in the Visible Learning Plus Project. Other strategies developed by the college include:
•Implementing a whole-school approach to promoting and supporting reading, led by teacher librarians and the Resource Centre Team working collaboratively with English teachers.
•Using data more effectively to know where students are placed in their learning to target teaching, focusing on growth.
•Establishing strong professional learning teams that use evidence and plan collaboratively.
•Achieving an alignment between school, learning team and individual teacher goals.
•Implementing a range of strategies to support/extend students with particular literacy needs.
•Focusing on teacher clarity through the development of the key document, The Marian Learning Framework.
•Developing a shared language and expectations for learning, displayed through the Love of Learning poster.
•Embedding a culture of quality feedback that includes teacher to student, student to student, student to teacher and teacher to teacher.
“These NAPLAN results are a reflection and testament of the literacy growth that many of the students regularly experience and further capture the commitment that Marian College has towards its students and their educational outcomes,” Mr Pisani says.
Marian College, 196 Glengala Road, Sunshine West. Inquiries: 9363 1711 or www.mariansw.catholic.edu.au
