ENGLISH

Welcome back to the wonderful world of English. A particular welcome goes to our Year 7s and other students joining the school for the first time. 

In 2025 we also welcome several new staff who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to McKinnon: Chrisoula Anton, Jake Batty, Ben Chaney, Liam Edis, Romy Greenberg and Mara Sears. 

We also welcome back Clare Cocciardi, Liz Pentland and Megan Snell from long service leave.

2024 saw excellent VCE results in the English faculty, with our Year 12 results ranking McKinnon as one of the highest achieving public schools in Victoria, helping the school rank as the highest scoring non-select entry public school in Victoria. Our 2024 NAPLAN results were also exceptional, particularly our Reading results which stood as the highest level of growth in the state. These results reinforce McKinnon as the school of choice and reflect the dedication and hard work of our students and dedicated teachers from Year 7 through to Year 12. Congratulations to all students and staff for achieving such terrific outcomes.

In line with the school Annual Improvement Goals, the English faculty will continue to focus on the fundamental skills of this subject and arguably all school outcomes and social interactions: writing and reading. Whether it be in school assessments, online or in the workplace, our ability to effectively express ourselves through clear and engaging writing has never been more important.

Outside the classroom, we have an exciting year ahead of theatrical performances, excursions, presentations from authors, writing workshops and much more. Writer Of The Month will begin soon and we have more exciting arrangements for Book Week coming soon. Speak to your English teacher and keep an eye on Compass for information. 

Students in Years 7-9 are reminded that they must bring a wide reading book to each English lesson. A strong culture of reading continues to be a valuable aspect of our students’ intellectual development, and we hope that it will also strengthen the culture of writing at the school. The library is open for borrowing throughout the term, with the librarians happy to recommend a good book.

We look forward to a fantastic year with the school community exploring texts, challenging ideas and thinking creatively.

Sam Florence

English KLA Manager