Calrossy Anglican School

Message from the Principal

“Feed Forward

There has been plenty of research around the importance of feedback to learners of all ages. Studies tell us that helping students to know how they are progressing assists in the steps ahead. 

 

Confidence is important to learning and constructive encouragement can promote persistence and growth.  Praise can be a good thing, when it is warranted.

 

However, there can be unhelpful feedback. Harsh criticism is not productive and can have the opposite effect to that intended, leading to defensiveness, avoidance or refusal to listen. Praise can also have a negative effect if it doesn’t promote future learning.

 

A danger around feedback is that the focus can be on the past, whereas the intent is to help growth in the future. Any message to a learner about progress should aim to build capacity to improve and grow. This is why I like to speak of ‘feed forward’, to remind myself that any input should be help students to focus on future learning. 

 

The problem with praise, whilst needed, is that it doesn’t necessarily help the learner what to do next, or what steps are needed to further improve. Cheap praise can have the opposite effect. Saying, “You are so talented!” or “So clever!”, may provide a temporary good feeling but doesn’t necessarily promote growth. The student has to know what they did well. Instead of saying, “You are so good!”, comments such as, “I like the way you so carefully researched that topic.”, can assist to link to future learning.

 

What this means in plain English is that we (parents and teachers) must provide feedback to students designed to assist them to improve. We should recognise the effort of our children when they give their best, even when they are not successful or make mistakes. With care, it is possible to improve learning through errors, making mistakes and even failing. We know that failure can lead to great progress, if supported with helpful feedback (or feedforward) on how to improve.

 

The NSW Curriculum Reviewer Professor Geoff Masters spoke last week at the Sydney Morning Herald Summit on feedback. He suggested that good schools must assist by:

 

  • Establishing where students are in their learning
  • Ensuring they are being taught and challenged at every stage, at an appropriate level
  • Providing feedback to know how students are progressing

 

Feedback, done well, will assist our learners to move forward, grow and progress, something we want to support in schools like Calrossy. As are reminded in the Bible through Proverbs:

 

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. - Proverbs 19: 20. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 12:1

 

Feedback for Schools – Perspectives Survey

Not only students need from feedback. Schools must remain open to receiving constructive information on what is going well and what requires attention. In my early years at Calrossy many parents were helpful in providing different views that assisted me to learn about our school. It isn’t always easy to hear but it is constructive in looking forward. Constructive ‘critical friends’ are a most valuable asset. 

 

Thanks for those who share their thoughts. I believe that we are a very good school in lots of areas but I am not averse to hearing of the problems as I do not suggest that we (or any school) is perfect.

 

Every member of our school community will shortly receive an invitation from the Association of Independent Schools (from Clara Cheung) to take part in a comprehensive survey on our school. Questions include those on school leadership, learning, wellbeing and other aspects of Calrossy life. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes. The de-identified feedback will be very useful in determining priorities for our school and providing valuable feed-forward to help us grow and develop. 

 

Award for Thomas Burke

I was delighted that Tom Burke (CAS 2018) last week received the Sir Adrian Solomons Memorial Law Bursary, awarded by Everingham Solomons in Tamworth. The award will support Tom in his legal studies at Macquarie University and provide him with practical experience in  his training in law.  

 

Open Day

We enjoyed a very positive day opening up the William Cowper Campus for prospective students late last week. The most encouraging  aspect of such a day for me is the way that our current students demonstrate such passion and commitment to hosting the potential enrolees. Our students are the best advertisement for Calrossy and continue to