Acting Deputy Principal 

At our last staff meeting I introduced to staff a new document entitled Supporting Student Success in the Classroom the Virgilian Way. The aims of this document include;

• Creating consistent and supportive learning environments throughout our College.
• To support, form and shape staff pedagogy and practices to create liberating experiences for our boys.
• To continue to challenge and explore what good learning looks like for our students.

Within this document we highlight the importance of best practice in boys’ education. We are specialists in boys and we know that boys need; 

• Clear and explicit instructions. For some boys one to two instructions are all they can process at one time.
• Templates/Visual aides: Scaffolding, show/model the way forward.
• Expectations and guidelines for how things should be done.
• Tasks broken down into manageable chunks. 
• Routine, structure and consistency. 
• Learning Intentions/Success Criteria to be readily available/explicit (on board and/or in SIMON Lesson Plan)
• A variety of opportunities and access points in which to engage in their learning
• Student centred and inquiry based.
• Prepared, purposeful and passionate teaching.
• Teachers who engage with each student.

All of which we know will support boys in achieving successful outcomes within their studies. This is however, one side of the equation. The attitude and mentality a young man brings to class has a significant influence. The mentality that the work is too hard, and I simply cannot do it, is flawed. Teachers are equipped with the various ways to engage and support our boys, their willingness and motivation also needs to be on display. I always encourage boys to ask questions and seek clarification when they are unsure. We all learn differently, so identifying what works best for you is vital. Study habits, routine and work ethic are elements which also influence successful outcomes. Study routines at home provide the opportunity to work on the challenging aspects. Boys who look over their subjects the night before are giving themselves a head start, a warm-up so to speak in how they will begin that lesson. They will be already aware of the content and what it is they are exploring. Going the extra mile is always required in achieving successful results.

In supporting Student Success in the Classroom, our Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences which will occur on day one of Term 2 are an extremely valuable opportunity. The mindset within these meetings must be of a positive one focused on improvement. Having an open discussion about your areas of struggle or difficulty and putting measures in place to rectify this, comes from the dialogue during these conferences. So, I encourage all of our young men to be present at these conferences and to be active in the conversation which is aimed at supporting their success.