Principal's Report

Dear Families,

Happy hump week!

Last week, School Council endorsed our 2025 Annual Report to the Community, and I wanted to share the great achievements over last year. Each year, Staff, Grade 4 - 6 students and Parents complete surveys related to school Learning and Wellbeing.

One of our school’s goals was to further strengthen teaching practice through school embedded Learning Walks and peer observations, supporting a culture of feedback and continuous improvement. Through the consistent, collaborative approach to teaching and learning it ensured high-quality lesson design and effective implementation of key teaching strategies. This is reflected in the School Staff Survey, where “Teaching and Learning Practice Improvement” increased from 64% in 2024 to 74% in 2025, and “Collective Efficacy” rose from 80% to 89%. “School Climate” results also strengthened significantly, moving from 70% in 2024, to 83% in 2025. 

A strong culture of high expectations and continuous improvement underpins a positive learning environment where every child can thrive. This is reflected across the broader school community, with Parent and Caregiver Survey results for “School Ethos and Environment” increasing from 59% in 2024 to 75% in 2025, and Staff Opinion Survey results for “Collective Focus on Student Learning” rising from 70% in 2024 to 82%. Student endorsement of “Sense of Connectedness” also improved from 71% to 82% across the 2024 - 2025 period, highlighting strengthened trust, alignment, and collective efficacy. 

As a Respectful Relationships Lead School, Fitzroy North continued to prioritise student voice and agency while targeting improvements in student perceptions of bullying. This work is reflected in Attitudes to School Survey data, with positive endorsement of “Management of Bullying” increasing from 68% in 2024 to 86% in 2025. 

In 2025, the school continued to strengthen its teaching and learning program through the authorisation process for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. Following a successful consultancy visit, Fitzroy North Primary School is now an accredited International Baccalaureate World School, providing students with authentic opportunities to apply the learning attained through explicit teaching in a manner that is aligned with the Victorian Curriculum and focused on developing the attributes of lifelong learners. This focus drove significant improvements in student engagement, as reflected in the Attitudes to School Survey (AToSS). Between 2024 and 2025, “Stimulated Learning” increased from 72% to 82%, “Differentiated Learning Challenge” from 79% to 86%, and “Student Voice and Agency” from 55% to 78%. “Motivation and Interest” also showed growth across this period, increasing from 72% to 84%. 

I wish to thank the teachers and the community of Fitzroy North for their work both within and outside the classroom and to take a moment to celebrate what you have all achieved in 2025. Through these deliberate and sustained efforts, Fitzroy North Primary School continues to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where every child can thrive.

Kind regards

Nick England

Acting Principal