Principal's Report

Report from Westall SC

 Acting/ Principal

The 2026 school year is continuing to run smoothly, with stable attendance, positive student wellbeing indicators, and strong engagement across sub-schools supported by targeted learning and wellbeing programs. Enrolments have increased slightly, bringing our total student numbers to 654 with our Westall English Language School (WELC) making up 48 of those enrolments. Attendance remains strong overall, with nearly half of students attending at 95–100%; however, there are attendance margins for improvement, which are discussed further below.

Recent parent-teacher conferences were very well attended, showing a significant increase in family engagement compared to previous years. Early NAPLAN results indicate strong growth across all domains, with Year 9 students exceeding key school targets. Teaching and learning programs, curriculum development, and professional learning initiatives continue to progress, with a strong focus on strengthening classroom practice and student outcomes. 

Significant upgrades to school facilities are also underway through VSBA works which include roofing, storm water and general building works. Overall, the school remains focused on maintaining strong attendance, improving learning outcomes, and supporting positive engagement and wellbeing for all students.

New 2026 Awards Night

I am pleased to announce an exciting addition to our 2026 school calendar — the introduction of our annual Awards Night, to be held at the Clayton Church at the end of the year, with the date to be confirmed.

This special evening will provide an opportunity for our whole school community to come together to celebrate the achievements, growth, and contributions of our students across the year for year 7-11. The event will recognise overall academic excellence and personal best awards, community service awards, WELC awards, Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP) awards, high attendance recognition, Westall Way awards, and will also provide an opportunity to acknowledge our student leaders across the College.

As part of this change, the Semester 1 and Semester 2 Awards Assemblies that have traditionally been held during the school year will no longer take place. Instead, student recognition and awards presentations will be combined into this single annual event.

We believe this new format will create a more meaningful and memorable occasion for students and families alike, and we look forward to sharing further details with the community as planning progresses.

2026 NAPLAN Success

I am pleased to share with our school community that our 2026 NAPLAN results have shown significant improvement across all assessment domains in Year 7 and Year 9, when compared with last year’s results.

These improvements reflect the collective efforts of our students, teachers, and support staff, as well as the strong focus we continue to place on explicit teaching, literacy and numeracy development, and targeted intervention programs across the school.

Particularly encouraging is the strong growth demonstrated by our Year 9 students. Growth data measures the progress students make over time by comparing their Year 9 performance with their results from Year 7. This allows schools to see not only how students are achieving against national benchmarks, but also the extent to which they are improving throughout their secondary schooling. Our Year 9 growth data indicates that students are making strong academic progress, particularly in the key areas of literacy and numeracy.

I would like to sincerely congratulate our teachers for their dedication and commitment to student learning. I acknowledge the outstanding work of our English, EAL, and Mathematics teaching teams, whose consistent focus on high-quality instruction and student support has contributed significantly to these strong outcomes.

These results are a testament to the hard work of both staff and students and reinforce our shared commitment to continuous improvement and academic excellence. We look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.

We do not yet have a full breakdown of all results from the Department of Education reporting platforms; however, the information currently available is outlined below.

Year 9 NAPLAN Data

• Reading: 59% of students achieved in the Strong and Exceeding categories, compared to 51% in 2024 when they were in Year 7 (8% growth).
• Spelling: 76% achieved in the Strong and Exceeding categories, compared to 69% in 2024 when they were in year (7% growth).
• Grammar & Punctuation: 52% achieved in the Strong and Exceeding categories, compared to 47% in 2024 when they were in Yr7 (5% growth).
• Writing: Data is yet to be confirmed.
• Numeracy: 68% achieved in the Strong and Exceeding categories, compared to 49% in 2024 when they were in year 7 (19% growth).

Please note that a full breakdown of our NAPLAN results will be provided to the school community once all data has been collated, including Year 7 results.

AEU Industrial Action – Impact on Semester 1 Reports

In addition to information previously provided via Compass by Ms Lyndal Yardas, who leads Assessment and Reporting, I wish to inform our school community that, as part of the current Australian Education Union (AEU) industrial action, there may be some impact on Semester 1 reports.

Teachers remain committed to providing high-quality teaching, assessment, and support for all students. However, due to industrial action, written comments on student reports may not be included as part of our continuous reporting approach. Achievement standards, assessment data, and reporting against the curriculum will continue to be provided in line with Department requirements.

I acknowledge that written comments are valued by families as an important source of personalised feedback regarding student progress. This decision has not been made lightly by staff and reflects broader concerns across the profession regarding workload sustainability and increasing demands placed on teachers.

Our staff continue to work diligently to support student learning and wellbeing every day, and I thank them for their ongoing professionalism and dedication to our students and school community.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support during this period.

The Importance of School Attendance

Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in helping children succeed at school. Research across Australia shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve better learning outcomes, develop positive friendships, and feel connected to their school community.

Australian students attend school on average 92% of the time. However, one in four students misses more than 20 days of school each year. Missing this amount of school can have a significant impact on learning, wellbeing, confidence, and future success.

Currently, our collective school attendance data remains positive; however, there is always room for improvement.

A summary of our attendance data is outlined below:

• Our average attendance rate to this point in the year is 88.6%, which is slightly higher than earlier in the term.

• Year 8 has the lowest attendance at 85.5%, while Year 12 has the highest at 94%.

• At this stage of the year, 30% of students are tracking towards 20 or more days absent. While this compares reasonably well with similar schools and state averages, it is still too high.

Research clearly shows that every day counts. There is no “safe” level of absence. Even small amounts of missed learning can affect student progress over time. The effects of non-attendance are cumulative and build from year to year.

Why Attendance Matters

Students who attend school regularly are more likely to:

• achieve stronger outcomes in literacy and numeracy
• feel socially connected to teachers and peers
• develop confidence and positive learning habits
• build friendships and social skills
• develop the habits required for senior studies and post-school pathways

Students who miss school regularly may experience:

• gaps in learning and falling behind achievement levels
• lower outcomes in NAPLAN, Victorian Curriculum levels, VCE results or VCE-VM / VPC completion
• feelings of isolation or disconnection from school
• increased anxiety about returning to school
• a greater risk of disengagement from education over time

Attendance patterns established in the early years are especially important, as positive habits often continue into secondary school. It becomes more difficult to change attendance behaviours as students get older.

Family Responsibilities

Families play a critical role in supporting school attendance. Children are more likely to attend regularly when families value education and maintain consistent routines.

I ask parents and carers to:

• ensure children attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell
• ensure students arrive on time and ready to learn
• provide explanations for absences promptly
• avoid taking holidays during school terms where possible
• support positive attitudes towards school and learning
• communicate with the school if challenges arise

Research shows that parental involvement, encouragement, and consistent routines strongly influence student attendance and achievement.

Student Responsibilities

I ask students to:

• attend school every day
• arrive on time
• participate positively in learning
• respect others and contribute to a safe environment
• speak to a trusted adult if they are feeling worried or struggling

Feeling connected, safe, and supported at school helps students engage more successfully in their learning.

School Responsibilities

As a school, we are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where every student feels valued.

Our school will:

• provide engaging and personalised learning programs

• promote positive relationships and student wellbeing through the Westall Way framework

• respond to bullying and safety concerns to ensure an inclusive environment is maintained

• monitor attendance and implement a range of interventions, including SMS notifications, phone calls home, staged response letters, attendance management plans, Student Support Group (SSG) meetings, and referrals to Department supports

• work in partnership with families to support students experiencing attendance difficulties

We recognise that many factors can affect attendance, including health, wellbeing, family circumstances, transport, and other challenges. Our goal is to work collaboratively with families to support every child.

Working Together

Improving attendance is a shared responsibility between families, students, and schools. By working together, we can help every child feel connected, confident, and successful.

Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring your child attends school regularly and makes the most of every learning opportunity.

The link below provides access to an Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership article, Attendance Matters, which offers a detailed overview of the importance of student attendance.

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/research-evidence/spotlight/attendance-matters.pdf

Jason Tickner

Acting/ Principal

Westall Secondary College