Teaching and Learning

While Sandringham College is already proud to boast outstanding academic results, we are determined to get even better by staying abreast of the latest educational research. To support the professional learning that our staff undertake at school, we are keen to learn from other schools in Victoria who are achieving exceptional results.

With this in mind, a small group of English and Maths teachers and I visited Ballarat and Clarendon College on August 15th to learn about their use of evidence-based strategies to achieve excellence.  The school is an independent school in Ballarat that consistently tops the state in VCE results. They are known internationally for being leaders in using scientific evidence about how humans learn to achieve incredible academic outcomes for students. 

At the heart of their success story is the establishment of consistent, predictable classroom routines across the college, the implementation of a challenging knowledge-rich curriculum, and the consistent use of explicit instruction informed by a deep understanding of how humans learn. The visiting team found the day to be extremely valuable and inspiring. They have relished sharing the learning with colleagues back at Sandy. 

In Term 4, our two Campus Principals, as well as our Year Level Leaders, will visit Rosebud Secondary College, who are state leaders in the use of positive classroom expectations. They have established clear, consistent routines that create a predictable, safe learning environment for every student. Their approach ensures high standards are upheld with consistency across all classes, supporting both student success and teacher effectiveness. 

As Term 3 comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful teachers and ES staff for their commitment to ensuring that Sandringham College is a place of teaching and learning excellence, and I look forward to working hard in the terms and years ahead to strive for even higher highs for our young people.