Etn State Schl Executive Summary
1. Intrductin 1.1 Backgrund This reprt is a prduct f a review carried ut at Etn State Schl frm 19 t 20 Nvember 2015. It prvides an evaluatin f the schl s perfrmance against the nine dmains f the Natinal Schl Imprvement Tl. It als recmmends imprvement strategies fr the schl t cnsider in cnsultatin with its reginal ffice and schl cmmunity. The review and reprt were cmpleted by a review team frm the Schl Imprvement Unit (SIU). Fr mre infrmatin abut the SIU and the new reviews fr Queensland state schls please visit the Department f Educatin and Training (DET) website. 1.2 Schl cntext Lcatin: Educatin regin: Prspect Street, Etn Central Queensland The schl pened in: 1883 Year levels: Prep t Year Six Current schl enrlment: 48 Indigenus enrlments: Students with disability enrlments: Index f Cmmunity Sci- Educatinal Advantage (ICSEA) value: nil 6.25 per cent 987 Year principal appinted: 2013 Number f teachers: 3 Nearby schls: Significant cmmunity partnerships: Unique schl prgrams: Mirani State Schl, Mirani State High Schl, Etn Nrth State Schl Returned and Services League f Australia (RSL) Differentiated grupings in Literacy and Numeracy, transitining t Prep prgram, Kitchen Garden, Adpt-a-Cp 2
1.3 Review methdlgy The review was cnducted by a team f tw reviewers. The review cnsisted f: a pre-review audit f the schl s perfrmance data and ther schl infrmatin cnsultatin with the schl s Assistant Reginal Directr a schl visit f tw days interviews with staff, students, parents and cmmunity representatives, including: Principal Tw classrm teachers Teacher aides Administratin staff Cleaner Five Parents and Citizens Assciatin (P&C) executive and members 11 parents Adpt-a-Cp Lcal Schl principals Cmmunity members 1.4 Review team Esta Thiris Heather Castle Internal reviewer, SIU (review chair) Peer reviewer 3
2. Executive summary 2.1 Key findings Students, staff and parents speak highly f the schl and value its small schl culture. The schl presents as calm and psitive and classes are rderly and purpseful. There is a psitive, caring relatinship between staff and students. There is a family atmsphere where students, staff and parents feel supprted and valued. The schl presents as an attractive learning envirnment. The principal has analysed schl perfrmance data and trends in student achievement t infrm the imprvement agenda. The schl s imprvement agenda as identified in the Annual Implementatin Plan 2015 includes reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuatin, numeracy, student achievement, attendance and the Australian Curriculum. The principal has further refined these pririties in the Explicit Imprvement Agenda 2015 t reading, spelling, grammar and punctuatin, and mathematics. The principal articulates a desire t see effective teaching ccurring thrughut the schl. The schl s pedaggical framewrk is based n the Dimensins f Teaching and Learning and there is sme evidence that this dcument infrms teaching practices. Staff fllw the I d, We d, Yu d mdel f explicit instructin t engage students. The schl supprts the implementatin f the gradual release f respnsibility mdel thrugh classrm visits, caching and frmal classrm bservatins. The schl has a curriculum plan. Teachers utilise Curriculum int the Classrm (C2C) as the primary resurce t supprt the Australian Curriculum. The principal prvides prfessinal develpment t build staff skills in curriculum planning. There is an pprtunity t cllabratively review all framewrks and develp a curriculum t meet the cntext f the schl and the learning needs f students. The schl has a prcess f teacher bservatin and feedback. Teachers appreciate the pprtunity t mdel and prvide caching fr each ther. The principal prvides written feedback t each member f the teaching staff fcused n warm ups and the gradual release f respnsibility mdel. This prcess is valued by staff. The schl is yet t develp a whle-schl prfessinal learning plan. 4
Human and physical resurces are utilised t address the learning needs f students. The schl budget is aligned t the schl pririties and supprts the educatinal needs f the schl. Sme schl-wide prgrams and plicies are in place t address the learning needs f particular student grups. These prgrams include reading, spelling, grammar and punctuatin and mathematics acrss the schl. Trained teacher aides supprt these prgrams. 5
2.2 Key imprvement strategies Ensure a clearly articulated whle-schl imprvement agenda is narrw and sharp. Ensure that the schl s data plan is aligned t the schl s imprvement agenda. Cllabratively review, implement and embed the schl s pedaggical framewrk. Cllabratively review the schl s curriculum plan including a develpmental Prep t Year 6 scpe and sequence dcument aligned with the Australian Curriculum. Develp and dcument the whle-schl prfessinal learning plan. Further develp a systematic whle-schl apprach t building teacher capacity. 6