Teaching and Learning Update
Assalaamu Alaykum WRWB,
The Niyyah Project remains a core pillar in our commitment to embedding Islamic principles within a purposeful and distinctive educational approach. The MFIS Teaching and Learning Framework remains central to our Professional Learning Programs, with a particular focus this year on holistic assessment practices. Additionally, Wednesday afternoons offer vital time for teachers to collaborate on lesson planning and wellbeing, ensuring a balanced and supportive professional environment.
As part of our ongoing commitment to academic excellence, the school has introduced primary and secondary Teaching & Learning Coordinator roles across our campuses, with a strong focus on improving student achievement in literacy and numeracy. This investment reflects our commitment to academic rigour, consistency across campuses, and sustained improvement in literacy and numeracy outcomes.
These leaders work closely with teachers to strengthen classroom practice, ensure consistency in curriculum delivery, and monitor student progress through careful analysis of internal and external assessment data. Through structured coaching, lesson observation, and professional learning, these roles are intended to support teachers refine instructional strategies so that every student is challenged, supported, and progressing toward their personal best.
We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 2025 HSC cohort. Many students achieved their personal best, with our largest ever cohort of 222 MFIS students completing the HSC and earning an impressive 89 Band 6 results and 277 Band 5 results. Congratulations to Gazi Araf Ahmed, who achieved the highest ATAR of 99.55.
More than 27% of our students attained ATARs above 80, opening pathways to a broad range of university degrees including Medical Science, Engineering, Education, and Construction Management. It was a pleasure to welcome our 2025 alumni back to school for a celebratory morning tea, where they reconnected with teachers and peers.
In 2025, we strategically partnered with Graham Wright Educational Consultancy for the first time, providing individualised ATAR projections based on each student’s assessment results. These projections proved to be remarkably accurate, closely aligning with the final ATARs. By making these trajectories visible, we empowered students to take ownership of their academic progress, fostering a culture of personal accountability and steady growth toward their personal best. Insha’Allah we will continue with our partnership this year.
For our current Year 12 cohort, parent-teacher afternoons took place in Week 4, following the release of each course’s first assessment results. Students are encouraged to use their daily study periods to review course content, focusing on past exam papers provided by teachers and available on Teams. This revision process helps students identify gaps in their understanding, providing them with opportunities to clarify concepts directly with their teachers.
As part of NAPLAN preparation, students had the chance to complete unscored Omnibus tests, allowing them to build confidence with the online format, question types, and navigation tools before the official NAPLAN assessments. The 2026 testing window will begin with the Writing test on Wednesday, March 11. The Reading test will follow on Thursday, March 12, Conventions of Language on Friday, March 13, and Numeracy on Monday, March 23. Please ensure your child has wired, compatible headphones, as some questions will be delivered via audio.
Secondary students should also ensure their laptops are fully charged. We’re pleased to let you know that the NAPLAN revision books, which were a compulsory purchase as part of the Five Senses Bookpacks, are now being fully integrated into classroom learning. These books are essential tools, and students are using them daily to build familiarity with NAPLAN-style questions. If your child hasn’t brought them to class yet, please ensure they have them so they can take full advantage of this important revision support.
In our commitment to meeting the diverse needs of all learners, we are pleased to introduce the Non-ATAR Pathway at Greenacre Secondary, starting in Year 11 this year. Students on this pathway are undertaking Board Developed Courses, including English Studies, Mathematics Standard 1, and Studies of Religion. For the first time, we are also offering Board Endorsed Courses, such as Work Studies, Marine Studies, and Sport, Lifestyle, and Recreation, providing enriched pathways for success beyond the ATAR.
Building on the success of the Year 7 Enrichment Class at Greenacre Secondary in 2025, the program is now expanding to include both Year 7 and Year 8 at Greenacre Secondary, as well as Year 7 at Hoxton Park. These Enrichment classes promote holistic development by offering deeper learning experiences beyond the standard curriculum. They foster advanced academic understanding, creative thinking, and essential social skills, while also building confidence, independence, and a lifelong love for learning.
We are pleased to announce that the Learning Support Enhancement Project, piloted last year, is now fully implemented. With an expanded learning support team, we are working to ensure students develop their literacy and numeracy skills, both of which are fundamental to academic success. QuickSmart is being used to enhance numeracy, while the Redo Writing program supports literacy, ensuring every student receives targeted, evidence-based instruction. By strategically timetabling these lessons, we maximise learning in these core areas. We know that literacy and numeracy are vital foundations for academic achievement, and we are committed to ensuring every student reaches their full potential. Each term, students are identified based on their assessment results and receive support to help them close gaps and achieve their best.
The school will maintain its academic scholarships for students in Years 6 through 12. Beginning in 2026, students at each campus will be ranked independently, and scholarships will be awarded based on these campus-specific rankings. Since we use data directly from internal assessments, all students are automatically considered, and no separate application is required. For further details, the updated Scholarships and Bursaries Policy can be found on the Parent Portal.
Our Year 7 to 11 students have enthusiastically adopted their 1:1 devices, replacing traditional textbooks and fostering digital literacy, an increasingly essential skill in today’s world. To ensure safe and purposeful technology use, we have introduced Linewize and Classwize, allowing teachers to monitor and manage student device activity in real time. Parents can also support healthy digital habits through Qustodio, a device management platform that enables them to set screen time limits and guide balanced usage. For more information, parents are encouraged to contact our IT team.
Malek Fahd Islamic School remains a leader in the Islamic Schools Debating Competition, a dynamic program that involves over 100 students from across the Islamic schooling network. This initiative empowers Muslim learners to build confidence and refine their skills in argumentation, equipping them to passionately advocate for the issues they care about most. Please reach out to the Teaching and Learning Coordinator at your campus if you would like further information.
Ms Tulin Bragg, Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning
