Principal's Report

A College on the Rise

Our Vision Becoming Reality

A MESSAGE FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents, Carers and Members of our School Community,

It is with immense pride that I share the achievements recognised in Kurunjang Secondary College’s recently released 2026 School Performance Report.

The Victorian Department of Education has classified our college as HIGH performing overall, with both Learning and Wellbeing also rated HIGH and demonstrating improvement over time.

This is a significant achievement and an important milestone in our journey towards becoming the School of Choice.

Beyond the performance rating, these results tell a bigger story: one of student progress, purposeful improvement and a community united by high expectations and shared ambition.

The Work Behind Our Progress

Our aspiration to become the School of Choice has never been simply about being a school that families choose to attend. It is about being a school that families choose with confidence, knowing their children will experience excellent teaching, strong relationships, meaningful support and opportunities to succeed.

Over recent years, we have made deliberate changes to strengthen the quality and consistency of education across our college. We have sharpened our focus on evidence-informed teaching, curriculum planning and assessment, clearer expectations for learning and behaviour, and more responsive approaches to student engagement and wellbeing.

Central to this work is a whole-school approach to improvement: shared priorities, greater consistency in classrooms and collective responsibility for the success of every student. Our school leaders are aligning systems, professional learning and support with these priorities, while our teachers and education support staff bring them to life each day.

Our latest results provide powerful encouragement that this sustained work is moving us in the right direction.

What These Results Mean for Our Students

The report draws on measures many families will recognise, including NAPLAN, the Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS), teacher assessments, attendance and senior secondary outcomes. Together, these help us understand not only what students achieve, but how they grow, how connected they feel and how they experience school.

We are particularly encouraged by student growth in Reading and Numeracy and improvements in important aspects of wellbeing, including school connectedness, student voice and the management of bullying. The accompanying infographic provides a simple overview of the performance categories and key results.

Behind every measure is a young person: a student gaining confidence, mastering new knowledge, persevering through a challenge or developing a stronger sense of belonging. That is what meaningful school improvement must ultimately deliver.

Recognising the People Behind Our Progress

Achievements of this significance do not happen by chance. They require sustained effort, a willingness to reflect and improve, and a collective belief in what our students can achieve.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to our teachers, education support staff, administrative staff and school leaders. So much of the work that drives improvement happens beyond public view—in careful lesson preparation, collaboration about student learning, refinement of classroom practice, targeted support and the many everyday decisions made in students’ best interests.

Improvement also asks a great deal of our staff. It requires us to examine established practices, embrace new learning and remain committed when the work is demanding. I am deeply grateful for the professionalism, care and persistence demonstrated across our College.

I also acknowledge our students, whose effort, perseverance and contribution to school life are central to our progress. To our parents and carers, thank you for your trust, encouragement and partnership. Strong schools are built when families and staff work together with a shared belief in what young people can achieve.

Proud of Our Progress. Ambitious for Our Future.

While there is every reason to celebrate, we know there is more work ahead. We remain focused on strengthening academic achievement, improving attendance, lifting senior secondary outcomes—particularly VCE English—and ensuring every student experiences consistently high-quality teaching and support.

Achieving a HIGH performance classification is an important milestone. Sustaining and building on that performance is our next challenge.

We want our students and families to be proud of Kurunjang Secondary College and confident in the education, care and opportunities we provide. The progress recognised in this report gives us much to celebrate and even more reason to believe in the future we are building together.

Our vision is becoming our reality. And while we should be proud of how far we have come, I am even more excited about what we can achieve together.

Warm regards,

Aylin Gökmen

College Principal

Kurunjang Secondary College