PRINCIPAL REPORT

From the College Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,

You may recall that, in August, I wrote a piece in Highlights which referred to research by Professor John Hattie.  In it, he suggested that the impacts of lockdowns on learning in secondary schools may not be the disaster that some may have portrayed, although he, like we, did note that individual students may have experienced significant negative impacts. 

I am pleased to say that our NAPLAN data would seem to be consistent with Hattie’s observation. Remembering that there was no NAPLAN testing last year, since 2019, in three of the five domains assessed (Reading, Writing, Spelling, Numeracy, Grammar and Punctuation) our median results went up, some significantly, whilst one declined very slightly, and one showed some decline. In the context we have been in, this is very pleasing.

Furthermore, the Department of Education uses the percentage of students in the top two NAPLAN bands as a key metric for assessing school performance. Schools are compared to ‘like’ schools, that is, schools with similar characteristics in terms of size, rurality, % of families with language other than English background, and socio-economic status. 

I am pleased to say that, on this measure, we out performed ‘like’ schools on four of the five domains, whilst in the fifth domain, we were a single percentage point behind those schools.

Again, given the context, these are extremely pleasing results.

I want to thank the parents and students for working so effectively to engage in, and support, learning in the way you have over the past 18 months. Your assistance and effort have been invaluable. 

I want to thank the staff who, through their heroic efforts, have meant these results were possible. They have worked themselves to the bone to ensure the best possible quality of education for our students during these challenging times. It is another example that, when we work in a productive partnership with a shared goal, great outcomes are possible. 

This data would suggest that there is hope that, when we finally return to some semblance of normality, our students’ future will not have been blighted by ‘lost’ years of schooling.

I wish you all a safe, healthy and restful holiday.

Yours sincerely, 

Richard Minack 

Principal