2012 Annual Report - Brighton Secondary School

Actions Across the school • Subject areas of English, Mathematics, Science and HASS have been reviewing/rewriting their courses to be in line with the National Curriculum with a greater focus on Literacy and Numeracy. • In Mathematics, students cover more of the content in the Year 9 NAPLAN. Mathematics are trialling Common Tests at Years 8, 9, 10 and then comparing student results with other assessment results for a more targeted and consistent approach. • In HASS, there is more explicit teaching of different language genres e.g. in Year 8 the focus is on descriptions and explanations; in Year 10 on reviews and arguments. • In Science, staff are focussing on developing scientific literacy through a focus on subject specific terminology. Staff access individual student’s school assessment and NAPLAN results when following up student progress. English • In English, staff have shared the NAPLAN data in faculty meetings to focus on students who haven’t made progress. Staff compare NAPLAN results with school assessment results and discuss with students. • In Year 8/9 grammar books are used – in context throughout lessons. • At Year 8, there is a targeted English class following the same program as other classes but with a focus on literacy skills. Students coming from primary schools with low ESL scales or identified poor literacy skills are supported here. The class is on the same line as other English classes so students can move in or out as the need arises. • A newly appointed ESL teacher, provides two specialists. The Stage 2 ESL Studies class is very popular. Literacies across the Curriculum • The majority of staff completed the 2-­‐day Stepping Out workshop thus raising the profile with staff talking about literacy in all faculties. • Literacy is an agenda item on all faculty meetings. • 15 staff completed the Teaching ESL in the Mainstream course facilitated by Gemma Brunckhorst, ESL • Staff – from English, Design Tech, ESL, Library -­‐ attended a How Language Works workshop at Brighton Primary School. As well as the informative content, the connections and sharing of data from the primary school across to the secondary school was very useful • Teachers from each faculty nominated to be trained as facilitators in the Literacy for Learning program and they will in turn facilitate workshops with members of their faculty in 2013 • All faculties took part in creating a genre map of literacy across the school – the start of an audit to establish who is teaching what and when • Staff Forum workshop facilitated by Jill MacDonald, Regional Curriculum Consultant, on actively teaching students subject specific language was well received 23