Principals Message

2026 Student Attitudes to School Survey Results

Each year, students in Years 4–6 participate in the Victorian Government's Student Attitudes to School Survey. The survey provides students with an opportunity to share their views about school life, including their sense of belonging, wellbeing, relationships, safety, engagement, and learning experiences.

I am delighted to share that Trafalgar Primary School has once again achieved outstanding results.

While we always look closely at areas for improvement, the most significant story in this year's data is not one of dramatic change. Rather, it is the continued strength and consistency of our results over time. Trafalgar Primary School continues to perform at a very high level across a range of student wellbeing and engagement measures, placing the school well above state averages and similar schools in many key areas.

Particularly pleasing were our results in:

• Sense of Connectedness – the extent to which students feel they belong at school and are accepted by their peers and teachers.
• Managing Bullying – students' confidence that concerns are addressed appropriately and that school is a safe place to learn.
• Emotional Awareness and Regulation – students' ability to understand and manage their emotions.
• Stimulated Learning – students' engagement and interest in classroom learning.
• Student Voice and Agency – students feeling that their ideas matter and that they have opportunities to contribute to school life.

These results are important because they tell us that students feel safe, connected and supported while also being engaged in their learning. Research consistently shows that students learn best when these conditions are present.

What makes these outcomes particularly noteworthy is that Trafalgar Primary School has maintained this level of performance for many years. Sustaining high levels of student wellbeing, belonging and engagement requires deliberate work from staff, strong partnerships with families, and a school culture built on clear expectations, positive relationships and a commitment to every student.

Importantly, we do not see wellbeing and learning as separate priorities. They work together. Students are more likely to thrive academically when they feel safe, connected, valued and supported. Our goal has always been to provide both an excellent education and a strong sense of belonging for every child.

Cameron Nicholls

Principal