St Albans Secondary College

1. WELCOME St AlbansSecondary College

2. A snapshot of St Albans Secondary College

3. What were the catalysts for change? Engagement Student achievement Pathways

4. Some key achievements: • VCE outcomes • Pathway destinations • Literacy • Student engagement and motivation • ‘Schools that achieve extraordinary success’ (Zbar et al. 2009)

5. 10 Lessons for Improvement Zbar et al. 2009 • Strong, shared leadership • High levels of expectation & teacher efficacy • An orderly learning environment where students are well -known • Focus on what matters most • Building teaching & leadership expertise • Structure teaching to ensure all students succeed • Using data to drive improvement • A culture of sharing & responsibility • Tailoring initiatives to school needs • Engendering pride in the school

6. Building the vision for effective teaching & learning • Personalising Learning (Hargreaves) • Habits of Mind (Costa) • Bloom’s Taxonomy (Bloom) • Multiple Intelligences (Gardiner) • Balanced Leadership (McREL) • Factors affecting learning (Marzano) • Visible Learning (Hattie) • Classroom Instruction that Works (Marzano et al) • One Teacher at a Time (Pollock)

7. Building the vision for effective teaching and learning • Teaching and Learning Framework • St Albans SC Learning Cycle • Documented guaranteed and viable curriculum • Policies and programs • Structured team approach • In-house professional learning program • Coaching

8. Refining the vision & building teacher capacity Curriculum Instruction Feedback Assessment

9. Supported by… • The SASC Learning Cycle • Whole-school approach to literacy • Coaching • Structured professional learning • Policies, guidelines and protocols

10. Table Discussions • Questions?

11. Using data to createimprovement

12. Data- challenging the myths • “I know what the results are.” • “What do you expect from kids like ours?” • “My subject is the fifth.” • “I am too busy for this-just let me get on with teaching.” EARLY PRIORITIES

13. Cultural change • Leadership role created • Strategic focus on VCE: • individual subjects • learning areas • staffing • course alignment and documentation • data use • celebration of achievement • Changes in practices and policies

14. Building teacher capacity • Impact beyond VCE • Curriculum scope and sequence • Moderation • Policy change • Using data to improve teaching • The Data Schedule and Protocols • Wider use of all types of data

15. Knowing each student well • The right data, at the right time, with the right people. • Schoolwide Case Management process • Pathways Planning • Class learning profiles • Curriculum review and planning USING DATA

16. Table Discussions • Questions?

17. Engaging students “We take good pride in the results of the class of 2009 who set such a high standard. But there is no doubt in my mind, in our minds, that the class of 2010 will not only meet that standard, but better it and once again raise the bar of success here at St Albans Secondary College.” Ben Sortino, Yr 12 student & College Captain

18. Raising student expectations • Shared language • Common approaches • Student voice • Student leadership • Programs • Partnerships • Recognition

19. Table Discussions • Questions?

20. Challenges • “One year’s growth for one year’s teaching” • Differentiated teaching & assessment • Staff engagement & empathy • Learning technologies

21. A focus on what matters most

22. Thank you