Knowledge

KnowledgeAt Inaburra we enrol students from the broad spectrumof academic ability levels and measure our achievementaccording to the progress each student makes.Over the next five years a national curriculum will bedeveloped in Australia. This is an opportunity for us as aschool. Inaburra currently teaches the NSW Board of Studiescurriculum from Kindergarten through to Year 12. We arecommitted to the introduction of this program and will adaptthis strategic plan to accommodate it.A Dedicated andKnowledgeableTeaching StaffWe believe the keys to successful learning are the quality of theteaching and the teacher-student relationship. Teachers arecharged with the responsibility of developing a positive classroomclimate, connecting their subject matter with the real world,differentiating learning according to student need, and becomingan expert in their field/s. Inaburra believes that “assessmentfor learning” strategies are essential to enable individual studentsto improve.Over the next five years Inaburra will seek to assist its teachers toteach well by:• Initiating a program of mentoring of less experienced byexperienced teachers that will include classroom visits,feedback and goal setting.• Using the Institute of Teachers material to identify excellentpractices in teaching and developing a plan to rewardexcellent teachers.• Promoting professional development in quality teachingand learning, assessment for learning and subject teachingto HSC level.• Including professional development on adding value to eachchild’s learning.• Pursuing professional development in the use of newtechnologies and in the best use of NAPLAN test results toimprove learning.• Including professional development in extending studentthinking, writing, reading, listening, and speaking.• Continuing the use and development of the InaburraProfessional Practice Manual. This document summarises ourteaching practices and is provided for all Inaburra teachers.Ongoing Work inAcademic ProgramsCurriculumOver the next five years the knowledge base in subjectssuch as Science and Economics will change. Curriculumdevelopment is essential if schools are to deliver relevantprograms in a changing world. We need to not only keep upto date, but engage with the ideas underlying societal change.Across the school we wish to:• Interact with and adapt to the National Curriculum. ThisFederal Government initiative will impact K-12 classes from2011. It is currently in the consultation phase, but will altereducation across Australia.• Review curricula to ensure current practices are high qualityand current.• Continue partnership with Dr Lloyd Dawe to assist Inaburrato strengthen our program of understanding Mathematics.Dr Dawe will continue as our Mathematician in Residence.• Enable students to select high quality reading materialthrough the development of cross-curricular reading guidesfor each age group.• Conduct a high quality writing competition in the JuniorSchool, connecting to skills that have been identified inscope and sequence documents.• Develop Inaburra standards in writing for each stageof learning.• Embed the thinking processes inherent in debating in Englishclasses from Year 5.• Develop debating and public speaking as specialist areas.3