Ithaca Creek State Schl Executive Summary
1. Intrductin 1.1 Backgrund This reprt is a prduct f a review carried ut at Ithaca Creek State Schl frm 25 t 27 August 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: Lugg Street, Bardn Metrplitan The schl pened in: 1885 Year levels: Prep t Year Six Current schl enrlment: 493 Indigenus enrlments: Students with disability enrlments: Index f Cmmunity Sci- Educatinal Advantage (ICSEA) value: 1 per cent 2.2 per cent 1168 Year principal appinted: 2008 Number f teachers: Nearby schls: Significant cmmunity partnerships: Unique schl prgrams: 19 classrm teachers Bardn State Schl, Rainwrth State Schl, Oakleigh State Schl, Twng State Schl, Ashgrve State Schl, Hilda Rad State Schl, Mt Neb State Schl, The Gap State Schl, The Gap State High schl Red Hill Kindergarten, Munt Ctha Cluster Pre-prep transitin prgram, Age Apprpriate Pedaggies prject with Griffith University 2
1.3 Review methdlgy The review was cnducted by a team f three reviewers. The review cnsisted f: a pre-review audit f the schl s perfrmance data and ther schl infrmatin cnsultatin with the schl s Reginal Directr a schl visit f three days interviews with staff, students, parents and cmmunity representatives, including: Principal Deputy Principal, Head f Learning, Student Services Manager Supprt Teacher Literacy and Numeracy (STLaN), Student Supprt Teacher and Guidance Officer 19 classrm teachers, teacher librarian, languages teacher Five student leaders and 18 students Business Services Manager (BSM), BSM/administratin fficer, administratin fficer and six teacher-aides Schl Cuncil chair, Parents and Citizens Assciatin (P&C) president, swim club chair, tuckshp cnvenr and 27 parents Lcal State Member Directr f a lcal kindergarten and Outside Schl Hurs Care (OSHC) chair 1.4 Review team Bert Barbe Daryl Hanly Esta Thiris Internal Reviewer, SIU (review chair) External Reviewer Internal Reviewer, SIU 3
2. Executive summary 2.1 Key findings Students, staff and parents speak highly f the schl and value its small schl culture. There is a psitive, caring relatinship between staff and students. This is evidenced by the manner within which staff, students and parents interrelate acrss the schl. The leadership team is cmmitted t finding ways t imprve n current student utcmes. Schl perfrmance data has been analysed and the leadership team is aware f trends in student achievement which have infrmed the imprvement agenda. The schl s brad imprvement agenda includes reading, writing, numeracy, science, attendance and clsing the gap. Cmmunicatin ccurs thrugh a variety f mediums acrss the schl cmmunity. Cmmunicatin with staff ccurs thrugh staff meetings and with the wider cmmunity thrugh the schl newsletter and schl website. Parents indicate that mre cntemprary cmmunicatin media wuld be appreciated. In-class mdelling is prvided fr teachers by sme schl leaders and student services team members. Mst teachers interviewed said they wuld welcme schl leaders t undertake regular bservatin f their teaching, discuss their wrk with them and prvide timely feedback. The schl is cmmitted t prviding quality learning fr all students. Schl leaders explicitly encurage teachers t tailr their teaching t individual student needs and readiness. The schl recgnises the diverse range f learners acrss the schl and acknwledges the need t develp a whle-schl strategy. The principal, schl leaders and teachers express the belief that highly effective teaching is the key t imprving student learning acrss the schl. Schl leaders and a number f the teaching staff have a cmmitment t researching and implementing evidence-based strategies fr imprving student utcmes. The schl has adpted a range f research-based strategies, which have infrmed the pedaggical framewrks. Staff recgnise the need fr further refinement. 4
The schl has a significant partnership with a lcal kindergarten. A dcument has been develped utlining partnership elements including psitive transitin f children and families, pedaggical sharing and teacher visitatins between the kindergarten and the schl. 5
2.2 Key imprvement strategies Develp a clearly articulated whle schl imprvement agenda which is narrw, sharp and accmpanied by apprpriate and cllabratively determined targets, timelines, resurcing and prfessinal develpment fr all schl persnnel. Strengthen the schl s cmmunicatin strategies t ensure that all staff, students and parents have a clear understanding f the strategic directin f the schl. Cllabratively develp and implement a frmal systematic caching and feedback prtcl acrss the schl. Cllabratively review whle-schl differentiatin practices based n lngitudinal data analysis t determine whether current practices are imprving utcmes fr the full range f students enrlled at the schl. Cllabratively clarify and embed the pedaggical framewrk t ensure cntinued fit fr purpse and wnership f the framewrk at all levels. 6