Principal's News

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Abraham Lincoln

At Sandringham College, we want every student to have the best chance to succeed. As teachers and leaders, we know that education works best when it is based on strong evidence about how students learn. In the past, schools and teacher training have often relied on good intentions rather than clear research. We now have access to evidence that shows exactly which approaches make the biggest difference for students.

The Victorian Department of Education has recently introduced the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0). This is an exciting step forward because it provides teachers with a clear, research-based framework that supports better teaching and better learning.

What the research and evidence tells us:

1. Use a knowledge-rich curriculum

A knowledge-rich curriculum is about making sure every student learns the important knowledge and skills they need at each stage of school.

Key features include:

• Selective – Choosing the right content that matters most.
• Coherent – Making sure learning connects across topics and year levels.
• Sequenced – Building knowledge step by step, from simple to more complex ideas.
• Clear – Setting out what students should know and be able to do at each stage.

2. Be aware and work to the strengths of how the brain learns

Research into how the brain learns highlights four areas that really matter:

• Paying attention and staying focused
• Building knowledge and memory
• Practising so knowledge is retained and recalled
• Applying learning to new situations

3. Use explicit teaching

One of the most effective ways to teach is called explicit teaching. This means teachers clearly explain new concepts, break down complex ideas, and give students guided practice until they understand. Students receive regular feedback, support, and opportunities to apply their learning with growing confidence.

What this means for our school

From 2026, Sandringham College will be putting these evidence-based practices into action across all classrooms. This will help reduce distractions and create stronger focus, so that every student can learn more effectively.

We will also be holding Parent Information Sessions in Term 1, 2026 to explain these changes and how you can support your child at home. Please keep an eye on COMPASS for details.

Leading Instructional Excellence

 Our school values the learning and development of our staff, and the positive impacts this has on student outcomes and school improvement.

I’m pleased to share that Cody Gunn and Vivienne McElwee recently successfully completed Leading Instructional Excellence at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.

This evidence-informed program strengthened their capacity to lead the implementation of explicit teaching across the school. 

Some of the key knowledge that they are bringing back to share with colleagues includes:

• Strategies to maximise student attention, focus and regulation
• Increased awareness around models of memory, and how to support students to more easily retain their new knowledge
• Proven approaches to support our staff to align their teaching with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0.

We look forward to them implementing the knowledge and skills from the program to continue to support student outcomes and wellbeing.

Mobile Phones in Schools – Reminder

The Department of Education’s policy requires that if students bring a mobile phone to school, it must be switched off and securely stored during school hours. At Sandringham College, this means phones must be locked in lockers for the whole day.

From Term 4, we will be reinforcing this rule with students. We ask for your support, as we have noticed a growing number of students carrying phones during the day, and this is having an impact on their learning.

What the research and evidence tells us:

Phones are a problem in classrooms:

• They distract students from their learning.
• Many features are designed for entertainment, not education.
• They can contribute to negative behaviour, including bullying.
• Using phones during lessons reduces focus, attention, and long-term learning.
• Students who try to multitask with phones perform worse academically.

School Rules on Mobile Phones

• Phones must stay in lockers all day.
• Phones cannot be kept in pockets or laptop bags.
• Phones cannot be used to pay at the canteen.

Canteen payment options:

1. Parents can order and pay online via Flexischools (Bluff campus only).
2. Students can order and pay with cash.
3. Students can order and pay with EFTPOS.