Benarkin State Schl Executive Summary
1. Intrductin 1.1 Backgrund This reprt is a prduct f a review carried ut at Benarkin State Schl frm 7 June t 8 June 2016. 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: Sctt Street, Benarkin Darling Dwns Suth West Regin The schl pened in: 1910 Year levels: Prep t Year 6 Current schl enrlment: 25 Indigenus enrlments: Students with disability enrlments: Index f Cmmunity Sci- Educatinal Advantage (ICSEA) value: 0 per cent 9 per cent 891 Year principal appinted: 2015 Number f teachers: Nearby schls: Significant cmmunity partnerships: Significant schl prgrams: 2.4 (full-time equivalent) Nanang State High Schl, Nanang State Schl, Yaraman State Schl, Blackbutt State Schl Stephanie Alexander Garden Schl, Playgrup Bushkids Stephanie Alexander Garden Schl 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 teachers Three teacher aides Library teacher aide Administratin Officer Three Parents and Citizens Assciatin (P&C) members Five parents Cleaner Tw principals/deputy principals frm neighburing schls Lcal Cuncil Representative Blackbutt plice fficer in charge 16 students Beautiful Blackbutt Festival representative Cmmunity pstmaster 1.4 Review team Tammy Swane Prestn Parter Internal reviewer, SIU (review chair) Peer reviewer 3
2. Executive summary 2.1 Key findings There is a clear expectatin that all students will learn in a safe and supprtive learning envirnment. The schl presents as an attractive envirnment that supprts and encurages learning. Relatinships between staff, students and parents are, in mst cases, psitive and supprtive. Staff members f the schl understand the imprtance f psitive and caring relatinships t successful learning and are wrking t build respectful and prfessinal relatinships acrss the schl cmmunity. The schl principal has a dcumented imprvement agenda. The principal and the schl staff share a cmmitment t imprve. The schl s imprvement agenda pririties are reading, writing and numeracy. Explicit and clear schl-wide targets fr imprvements are yet t be set and cmmunicated t teaching staff with accmpanying timelines. Staff members f the schl demnstrate an understanding f the imprtance f psitive and caring relatinships. Staff members are cmmitted t building successful, respectful and prfessinal relatinships acrss the schl cmmunity t maximise student learning utcmes thrugh cllabratin and teamwrk. There is a fcus n the use f literacy and numeracy data t supprt teaching and learning. A culture f self-evaluatin and reflectin is being built acrss the schl. Teachers and staff are building their capability t interpret this data t infrm teaching practice. Utilising data t set the next steps fr learning fr students is yet t be develped. Teaching staff cllect a range f diagnstic and curriculum assessment data. The develping, tracking, mnitring and evaluatin f whle-schl interventin and supprt prgrams are yet t be develped. The schl has initiatives t encurage and increase the level f student attendance. The principal and staff members mnitr attendance and cmmunicate frequently with students and parents regarding the imprtance f regular attendance. Rewards are used as a strategy fr attendance with all students. 4
The schl has a dcumented pedaggical framewrk. Anita Archer s Explicit Instructin 1 is the signature pedaggy used at the schl aligned with the reginal expectatin. All staff members are cmmitted t the develpment f effective teaching and learning practices acrss the schl. The principal acknwledges that further wrk, Prfessinal Develpment (PD) and supprt are required fr cnsistent practice and understanding acrss the schl. The Parents and Citizens Assciatin (P&C) is a small hard wrking grup f parents and interested cmmunity members, wrking tgether t supprt student learning utcmes. The P&C recgnise the imprtance f building prductive partnerships with lcal businesses and lcal rganisatins. The P&C fundraising effrts are currently directed at reducing the student csts fr a schl camp. 1 Archer, A. L., & Hughes, C. A. (2011). Explicit instructin: Effective and efficient teaching. Guilfrd Press. 5
2.2 Key imprvement strategies Refine the current imprvement agenda t ensure a sharp, narrw and deep fcus with achievable, measurable targets, timelines and resurcing. Engage and wrk with a leadership mentr r cach t supprt the building f a successful team t drive the imprvement agenda. Develp a whle-schl assessment, interventin and mnitring framewrk t track the prgress and prgram effectiveness, and deply resurces effectively. Develp data literacy skills thrugh prfessinal learning pprtunities and regular data cnversatins. Develp a strng culture f cllabratin and teamwrk. Reshape the pedaggical framewrk t reflect a pedaggical alignment with the schl and reginal pririty. Prvide pprtunities fr staff members t build their capacity t cnsistently and effectively deliver the schl s fcused imprvement agenda. 6