Principal's Report

2021 Student Attitudes to School Survey 

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school.  

The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist the school to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, bullying and life in general.  

There are also some questions about student health and wellbeing. Understanding health and wellbeing needs is important to support students to learn and thrive at school. The Department is providing this addition to the core survey to allow the school to capture this information to support students. 

Students will be asked about resilience, family relationships, community connections, health (including mental health), access to health services and physical activity. 

This year, the AtoSS will be conducted over the period 10 May – 11 June.  

What are the benefits? 

In our experience, young people enjoy having their say. We have been running this survey for nearly 20 years and it has been invaluable in helping schools understand student views. We will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience. 

What are the risks? 

While we do not anticipate many risks of participation, some students may find some of the survey questions too personal and sensitive in nature. Should you agree for your child to participate, they are still free to skip questions or to withdraw at any stage if the survey makes them upset or uncomfortable. 

The survey been approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee. The questions are selected from validated survey instruments, are strength-based, and tailored for each year level group. 

What will my child be asked to do? 

Your child will be invited to complete the survey online during class time using a purpose built secure online survey tool.  It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child. Please note: 

• Student participation in the survey is voluntary and students may withdraw at any time. 
• The survey will take around 20-45 minutes to complete. 

How is my child’s confidentiality protected? 

Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey from their teacher. The student login is an assigned identifier that may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. Personally identifiable data will not be recorded in the survey response file. This ensures that the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times. 

How will results be reported? 

The survey results will be reported back to the school in an aggregate form throughout the survey period. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that no individual student can be identified. We will share the results of the survey with parents, in documents such as the School Annual Report. 

Options for participation 

Participation in this survey is voluntary. If you do not wish for your child to do the survey, please opt out via email to: brentwood.sc@education.vic.gov. Please do so before 10 May, stating that you wish to opt out of your child’s participation, along with their name and year level. 

If the school does not receive a Refusal of Consent email from yourself before the survey commencement date, it means that you give your consent for your child to participate in the 2021 Attitudes to School Survey. 

A copy of the survey that we are asking your child to complete is available from the school. Please contact the office if you would like to see the survey before making your decision about whether you would like your child to participate.  

If you would like more information, please contact the Department of Education and Training at attitudes.school.survey@education.vic.gov.au. 

NAPLAN  Testing Arrangements 11-13 May

NAPLAN testing will be undertaken by all Year 7 and 9 students onsite commencing Tuesday 11 May. The testing schedule for this week has been provided for your information below. Please note that testing will be administered in timetabled classes and any students who are absent for any of the tests will have an opportunity to sit the test on Friday of the same week.

Naplan reports with individual students’ results will be made available to families in September.

For more information please visit https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/the-tests

Year 9 NAPLAN certificates of achievement

A new feature of the NAPLAN assessment is being launched this year, with the award of Year 9 Certificates of Achievement.

The new certificates aim to celebrate and recognise the importance of both excellence and learning growth.

Beginning in 2021, Year 9 students who achieve outstanding results or who significantly improve their results in NAPLAN tests will receive a NAPLAN Certificate of Achievement.

The certificates will be awarded for two categories of achievement:

• Category one: the achievement of excellence through getting a result in the top band for reading or numeracy, or both.
• Category two: the achievement of outstanding learning growth through improve by two or more bands between the NAPLAN Year 7 and Year 9 tests for reading or numeracy, or both.

For more information about the new certificate and measures for learning growth, refer to Year 9 NAPLAN certificates of achievement on the Department’s website.

Peter Rhodes and Sonja Ardley

Associate Principals