Learning & Teaching
Semester 2 ARC Conferences
Many thanks to parents and students who attended the Academic Review Conferences last week. We had great attendance and some really worthwhile conversations with parents and students.
In my ARC conferences:
Students shared their improvement goals and strategies to improve their motivation
I was able to demonstrate to parents how to use Maestro rubrics and engage with the data dashboards.
We discussed progress in each subject and talked about the blockers to improving their engagement and performance.
Students shared their future aspirations for school and beyond
I was able to support students to take better care of their wellbeing and was able to refer some students to our wellbeing team
I made several referrals to the pathways team to change student course selections.
Students were able to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that both help and hinder their progress.
One highlight from these conferences were the discussions instigated by examining the Student Engagement Scale. It was an effective way for students to objectively identify their level of engagement in their classes and to understand what they need to do to improve in and out of class. We are interested in continuing to improve this scale to help our students take control of their studies. We know that their efforts more than any other factor that will improve their learning and achievement.
Year 12 Exam Revision
As the Term nears the end and Year 12 students complete Unit 4, our mind turns to preparation for the upcoming VCE exams starting with the VCAA English Exam on Tue 28 October for all Year 12 VCE students.
We encourage students to continue (or start) revising for their exams. But not all revision is equal, and some practices have more evidence of impact than others.
Research suggests that revision strategies significantly impact Year 12 exam performance, with consistent, spaced practice and self-testing being more effective than cramming. Effective revision involves reviewing class modules and past exam material, focusing on weak areas, and using resources like podcasts and research for deeper understanding.
Here is a summary of revision activities students can engage in. Active Revision Strategies have much more positive impact than Passive Strategies.
NAPLAN Highlights
We are proud of all our students for their performance in NAPLAN tests. Here are some of the highlights from the cohort data.
Year 7 and 9 students out-performed the state, network and similar schools. The year 7 students performed particularly well also achieving outstanding numeracy results.
Our English and Maths teams are examining the data carefully to plan future curriculum and to shape our intervention support programs.
Unfortunately, the government has cut the tutoring funding to schools that it has provided over the past 5 years and, in 2026, we will have a much reduced bucket of money to support students in tier 2 intervention programs. The best outcomes and most significant growth for students will come from teaching excellence in our classrooms - most particularly the Maths and English classes.
Year 7 - Percentage of students in the Strong and Exceeding NAPLAN Proficiency band
Year 9 - Percentage of students in the Strong and Exceeding NAPLAN Proficiency band
Natalie Manser
Assistant Principal
mar@wantirnacollege.vic.gov.au