Teaching and Learning

As we near the end of the school year, we are proud to share the significant progress our students have made in both Mathematics and Reading. This growth reflects the collective effort of our staff and students, and a shared commitment to using the best available evidence about how students learn.

Throughout 2025, our staff have continued to refine and strengthen our approach to explicit instruction. This model ensures that teachers:

• Teach new knowledge clearly and directly
• Model and demonstrate the thinking, processes, and strategies required
• Scaffold learning so students can move confidently from guided practice to independence
• Provide structured opportunities for supported practice and timely feedback

This shift has been deeply supported by our work with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) 2.0. Staff have built a strong understanding of the Elements of Learning, giving them a clearer picture of how students learn best. This has helped guide:

• Lesson design that aligns with cognitive science
• Purposeful sequencing of knowledge and skills
• Clear routines and predictable lesson structures
• A consistent focus on reducing extrinsic cognitive load so working memory can be used for learning

With a stronger grasp of the limitations of working memory, staff have introduced routines and structures that support attention, reduce distractions, and make learning more accessible to all students. These include decluttered learning spaces, consistent front-of-room layouts, explicit learning intentions, and regular retrieval practice to strengthen long-term memory.

The impact has been powerful. Our data from across the year shows strong student growth in both Mathematics and English, with students demonstrating improved confidence, deeper understanding, and greater independence in applying their knowledge.

We commend our teaching staff for embracing this work with professionalism, curiosity, and a willingness to evolve their practice. Their commitment has created a more consistent, evidence-informed experience for students across the school.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to continue this journey by reviewing and updating our knowledge curriculum. With growing research highlighting the importance of building deep, connected knowledge alongside the skills outlined in the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, we will be strengthening our programs to ensure students have the rich foundational knowledge they need to understand, apply, and transfer their learning.

I would like to congratulate our students and families on embracing these changes with us – we are so lucky to have such a supportive community.