Coaching our VCE students to optimise their achievements in 2024
At Tintern, we are committed to implementing ways to maximise the growth of our VCE students, in both academic learning and development of broader personal and social capabilities, so they can move to their desired future pathway successfully.
Early in Term 1, our Year 12 students met with their Pastoral Mentors and a member of our Senior College/Management team to participate in coaching conversations about their current study practices, personal factors which influence their wellbeing, desired pathways beyond school and, therefore, their goals for Year 12. A follow up session was held towards the end of Term to check in with the Year 12 students on their progress with their goals. We trust that the reflection, goal setting and action planning has been a motivating process that has promoted deeper thinking amongst our Year 12s around achieving goals and opportunities for optimal growth.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN testing for our students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 was conducted during Term 1 from 13-22 March.
We will pass on to parents and carers information about their child’s NAPLAN achievement when it has been released by the relevant authorities later this Term. These results are based on the new National Standards which were introduced in 2023.
Education Ministers had agreed to change the way NAPLAN results are reported to parents and carers, now that all students are taking the tests online, and with the move to an earlier NAPLAN period in March. New Proficiency Standards with four levels of achievement for each year level have replaced the previous 10-band structure and the old National Minimum Standard set in 2008 when tests were on paper. Resetting the measurement scale and restarting the time series once all schools are online was a recommendation of the 2020 Independent Review of NAPLAN. NAPLAN continues to measure student achievement in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation. The new Proficiency Standards will be included on all NAPLAN reporting.
The numerical NAPLAN bands and the National Minimum Standard will be replaced by the following four levels of achievement:
- Exceeding
- Strong
- Developing
- Needs additional support.
The descriptors for each category will make it clear to parents what their child’s literacy and numeracy skills are at the time of NAPLAN testing and will support discussions with our teaching staff around their child’s progress.
Secondary Program and Subject Selection for 2025
As part of Tintern Grammar’s commitment to ensuring students make informed choices, we are holding two information sessions relating to the options available for our Year 10 and 11 students of 2025.
The first of these sessions to note in your diaries is our Guiding your Future event, which is an online presentation scheduled for Wednesday 12 June. This event, designed for current Year 9 and 10 students, will explore how Senior subject selection is best informed by an understanding of the Senior qualifications on offer at the School and the potential career pathways available to students. Further information will be sent to Year 9 and 10 families regarding this event closer to the time, with an EdSmart form requesting your expression of interest in the event and will include a live link to join the online meeting.
As a follow up to this evening, a VCE/VET Subject Showcase Evening will be held in Term 3 on Tuesday 23 July 2024. The information sessions mentioned above will assist students to select the most suitable pathway and subject choices for 2025.
Alison Bezaire | Director of Studies
