Message from the Principal

Thank you to our families for the very quick response to the Student Learning Conferences scheduled for Week 5 of this term. With more than half of our staff already fully booked across all available time slots that we available for the entire day, families value the opportunity to engage directly with their student and teachers in conversations about learning. Thank you for supporting this new mode of interviews to maintain the student’s learning agency as a key part of this conversation.

For parents and carers who would like additional information outside of the scheduled conference times, you are welcome to contact your child’s teacher directly for further updates regarding their learning and progress. Some staff who teach elective subjects also still have availability for interviews. We ask that parents remind students to be prepared for these subjects so that the time can be used to facilitate meaningful conversations about learning and progress in these classes.

For families who may have missed previous communication, the purpose and format of the Student Learning Conferences are outlined below.

What is the purpose of a Student Learning Conference?

Student Learning Conferences provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate ownership of and agency in their learning.

What will happen during the conference?

Each student will lead a 12-minute conversation for each subject, sharing their learning with their teacher and parent or carer. Students will reflect on their progress, identify their strengths and areas for growth, and discuss the next steps in their learning.

How will students prepare?

In life, important conversations and meetings require preparation. Whether it is an interview, a presentation, or a professional conversation, preparation helps us to communicate with greater confidence and purpose.

To prepare for their Student Learning Conferences, students will complete a Notes Sheet for each subject.

Students will:

Be provided with some in-class time to prepare their Notes Sheets for each subject, while also being encouraged to use time outside of class.
Be supported by teachers throughout the preparation process, including through questioning, reflection, and discussion about their learning.
Reflect on their progress and identify learning goals and next steps.
Complete their Notes Sheets before the conferences and upload them to the relevant Teams Assignment for each subject. These will be used as a reference during the conference.

The intention is for students to lead these conversations. While teachers and parents/carers will provide support and encouragement, the student should be at the centre of the discussion.

Following the release of Semester 1 reports last week, I would also like to acknowledge the significant learning growth achieved by our students across the school.

Holistically, from Year 7 through to our senior phase of learning, our students have achieved strongly across a range of academic measures. We have seen a significant lift in B–A academic results, reflecting the commitment of our students and the quality of teaching, feedback, support, and learning opportunities provided by our staff.

While academic achievement is important, our focus remains on support the individual growth for every student. We want every learner to understand where they are in their learning, recognise the progress they have made, and identify the next steps required to continue improving.

Attendance also remains an important focus for our school community. I am pleased to share that across Semester 1, Balmoral maintained a whole-school attendance rate of 89.9%.

Thank you to the parents and carers who continue to provide reasons for student absences and give the school appropriate notice regarding planned interstate or overseas travel where an attendance exemption may be required. This information assists us to support students effectively and plan appropriately for their learning.

There is much to look forward to across Term 3, with an exciting range of learning opportunities, celebrations, events, and support available to our students. I look forward to seeing our students continue to grow in confidence, agency, achievement, and belonging throughout the term ahead.

It is going to be an exciting term at Balmoral, and I look forward to celebrating the many successes and opportunities that lie ahead.

Timothy Barraud

Principal