Student Support

Castlemaine Secondary College has a diverse student population that is supported by a range of Tier 1 (universal) strategies in our classrooms every day. These Tier 1 supports are based on best practice in Inclusive Education, and include;

Consistent entry and exit routines
Use of our SWPBS matrix to teach and re-teach expected behaviours
Using our SWPBS acknowledgement system to recognise students who are making positive choices
Our School-Wide Instruction Model uses explicit teaching practices in each lessons to model the skills students need to apply in a lessons, and provides opportunities for guided and independent practice
Providing students with differenitated tasks and adjusting how students access information, complete classroom tasks or demonstrate their knowledge
Planning brain breaks during lessons to support sustained focus

Our key initiatives support all students in accessing their education, and ensures that our classrooms are supportive of all learning needs.

Preparing for 2027

In Term 4, the Student Support team will work with Sub-School teams to support the transition of students into new year levels - ready for Step Up and 2027 classes. This work will include updating the Diverse Learner Database to ensure that student information is up-to-date and available for staff to access as they plan their Step Up lessons. Students who require Individual Education Plans and Student Support groups will also be identified to help new Year Level Leaders with planning for Term 1. The Student Support team will be involved in handover meetings with each sub-school to ensure that new teams understand the learning needs of those students who require individualised supports to access their education at Castlemaune Secondary College. Students with DI Tier 3 funding will be provided additional transition supports throughout Term 4 to prepare for 2027, with staff supporting students to get to know their new teachers and timetables.

Individual Education Plans and Student Support Groups

In 2027, there will be changes to the implementation of Individual Education Plans and Student Support Groups at Castlemaine Secondary College in-line with policy changes from the Department of Education. Individual Education Plans will be developed for the following cohorts of students:

DI Tier 3/PSD funded students
First Nations students
Out of Home Care students
Students with an open referral to the Navigator program
Flexible Learning Option students
Students who require an individualised program in order to access their education at Castlemaine Secondary College.
Students completing a scored Unit 3/4 subject and are applying for Special Exam Arrangements through the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority

Student Support Groups are required each term for the following cohorts:

DI Tier 3/PSD funded students
Out of Home Care students
Students with modified timetable arrangements

Student Support Group meetings are also required as needed to develop and update Indiviudal Education Plans.

There are many students at Castlemaine Secondary College with a diagnosed disability or learning difficulty who require adjustments in order to access the curriculum, but an Individual Education Plan is not required. To document the learning needs of these students, we have developed the Diverse Learner Database. This database can be accessed by all staff and provides an overview of a student's diagonsis, their literacy and numeracy skills (based on PAT and NAPLAN data), the adjustments they require in the classroom, the documentation we have stored on Compass and any additional notes that will be helpful to their teachers. This database will be updated regularly throughout 2027 to ensure all information is up to date, and utilised by staff to inform the teaching and learning within their classroom. In Term 4, sub-school teams will be checking that information from current IEPs is included on the Diverse Learner Database to support the transition into new year levels.