Teaching at NHS

Why Do My Kids Go Home Early On Wednesday?

At Northcote High, we are committed to providing a guaranteed learning experience for young people. One big part of our journey towards this has been a change in the way our teachers work. Learn more about how our teachers work collaboratively on Wednesdays to design engaging learning experiences for students by clicking on the document. This document is used as part of our teacher induction program.

Want to know more? Contact Ms Kerren Diamond at diamond.kerren.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

Feedback and Assessment Changes

Feedback Assessment and Reporting is changing at Northcote High School in 2016 as part of our commitment to effective student feedback. Reporting now involves students and parents receiving formal Assessment Feedback through the myNorthcoteHigh portal after the completion of designated learning tasks by the students. During the semester, students in Years 7 to 10 will complete a range of assessment/learning tasks – three of these learning tasks will be formally reported on to students and parents. At Years 7 – 10, these will be identified as Common Assessment Tasks or CATs. At VCE learning tasks will be identified as School Assessed Coursework or SACs. Where possible, VCE subjects will have three SACs per semester although this may vary according to the subject’s requirements. Students and parents will be able to access the Assessment Feedback for each of these three SACs or CATs through the myNorthcoteHigh portal. The aim of the new Assessment Feedback process is to provide information to students (and parents) in a timely manner, which can be acted upon rather than waiting until the end of semester.

Important changes

• End of Semester reports will still be available but will be significantly simpler as they will not contain assessment task results or teacher comments.
• All assessment task information will be communicated on myNorthcoteHigh
• Task and overall grades such as Outstanding to Ungraded will no longer appear on tasks or the Semester Report. Northcote High School believes that the use of grades distract from identifying the next steps for learning. Students will be able to see their achievements on a task rubric that reflects the continuum of skills and knowledge as outlined in the Australian and Victorian curriculum for years 7 to 10.
• Year 11 and 12 students will receive a Total Mark for each SAC for example 23/30
• All students receive a personalised improvement focused comment for each assessment task (CAT or SAC)

An enlargable diagram of our new Feedback, Assessment and Reporting structure can be seen in the picture below.

Mr Josh McDonald