From the Headmaster
The industrial revolution set an important pattern for education in the early 20th Century. With the rapid increase in demand for skilled and educated workers, a model of mass learning was quickly implemented. The by-product of educating the masses was that classrooms became standardised in textbooks and content, teaching methods, and classroom design. Thankfully, much has changed, and particularly in the past ten years, a greater emphasis on the learning needs of individuals has emerged.
Girton Grammar has a proud history of inclusive education, fostering respect for the learning diversity of each member of our community. We know from the research and experiences all over the world, as well as Australia that communities that respect educational diversity are shown to be much stronger for it.
To strengthen our provision of services, I am delighted that from 2020, Inclusive Education in the Senior School at Girton Grammar will be expanded to provide clearer and personalised pathways for all students, including the introduction of alternative VCE pathways.
Two “Hubs” will support students in a more structured way with improved academic pathways and social and emotional support that more strongly aligns with the curriculum.
The Care Hub, previously known as HQ, will provide social and emotional support to students. While the Care Hub will be accessible to all Girton students as needed on an ad hoc basis, we are also seeking to provide structured support to students who have a known difficulty in school engagement, especially those with a professionally diagnosed condition such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and those requiring social and emotional skills training. The aim is to maximise each student’s ability to attend school, and their potential to function independently at school.
Also, a new Pathways Hub will focus on providing students with an alternative Education Pathway. Students from Years 7 to 12 can access the services in the Pathways Hub and will follow individualised education plans, which can include a combination of VCAL, VET or VCE subjects. The programs that can be accessed via the Pathways Hub are evidence-based and recognised by industry. They include the Certificate II in workplace skills, which is part of the VCAL program, and industry-specific skills via partnerships with local organisations such as Bendigo TAFE.
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) will be renamed and will continue to provide academic support within the mainstream curriculum and to students in both the Care Hub and the Pathways Hub. Services offered will continue to be based on detailed annual academic screening that all Girton students will undertake.
Ultimately, what we will have in place is a continuum of evidence-based practices, ranging in scope and intensity from universal practices for all students (differentiated classroom teaching) to targeted support for a smaller number of students and more individualised support for specific identified learning needs.
I am delighted that Mr Nigel Vernon will oversee the daily running of the two Hubs and that Ms Amanda Lilburne has accepted the position as Head of Senior School Inclusive Education (including LRC) and Ms Belinda Vernon will be the Head of Junior School Inclusive Education.
When it comes to inclusive educational practices, we know that the more inclusive we are, the more it builds a school’s capacity to educate all learners effectively and this evolution in our learning support services is an exciting one for the School.
Matthew F. Maruff
Headmaster