Acting Principal's Report

Acting Principal’s Message

Class Structures in 2023

Last year, our staff were fortunate to work with leading educational consultant, Tracey Ezard. As part of her work, Tracey challenged staff to think about the aspects of our programs and operations that are possibly ‘up for a challenge’.

Staff have then gone through a process of looking at each of these challenges, prioritising and discussing next steps. One ‘challenge’ that was identified as a key priority was around our class structures and ‘multi-aging’. Multi-aging is an approach where students from multiple year levels are combined when creating classes – hence our current year levels in the 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6 areas of the school.

In reviewing the multi-aging approach, we took into account the traditions and philosophies of the school over 25 years, current research and trends, as well as the philosophies and experience of our current staff and community. We are very aware that multi-aging was a cornerstone philosophy of the school from before the current century began, with a passionate series of Principals, staff and community members creating a school that is a system leader in our wellbeing programs and inclusive practices.

During Term 3 of this year, staff were surveyed about how they believe the school should move forward, with multi-aging also being a key question in our community pre-review survey. The staff survey showed a clear desire from a large majority to move to a model that favours classes of single year levels only – with composite classes used where necessary to alleviate high class sizes. The community survey similarly indicated support for a change. 

It is worth acknowledging that there remain passionate advocates for multi-aging among staff and families; please be assured that your voices are still heard. While we are aware that we have some families who joined our school because of multi-aging, we are also aware that there are families in Box Hill South who attend other schools due to not wanting their children to learn in multi-aged classrooms.

Taking everything into account, next year Roberts McCubbin PS will be proceeding with single year level classes as the default at all year levels, with multi-age/composite classes used to reduce class sizes where necessary.

We will be making concerted efforts to maintain the positives from our multi-age classroom approach. As practical, teaching teams will meet as both multi-level and single level teams, in an effort to maintain links between year levels above and below. Likewise, students will still have opportunities to learn with students above and below their year level, with inquiry themes in particular remaining on a two-year cycle.

Our buddy program will continue to support tolerance and inclusion, with our Wellbeing, Junior School Council and Student Voice teams keeping a close eye on maintaining our strength in those areas.

Although split into single year levels for classes, we will maintain discrete areas of the school, made up of the Junior School (F-2), Middle School (3-4) and Senior School (5-6), with each area still housed in the buildings in which they are currently.

We understand that this decision will be met with a range of reactions from staff, students, parents and carers. We ask for your trust that we will make this a positive change for our school, while remaining committed to the values and ideals that have made our school a wonderful community for over 25 years.

2023 Class Placements

Staff will shortly begin work on placing students into classes for 2023. This is a very complex process that takes many weeks to complete, with staff striving to balance the needs of 350 students. As always, students and families will not find out about their new class until our 'Meet the Teacher' morning on Tuesday 13th of December.

Bearing in mind the announcement above, staff will now mostly only have two options to place students in classes for the following year (previously four at most year levels). This means that while we will continue to take into account reasonable requests for friendship placements or peer separations, in many cases we will be unable to guarantee any such requests.

As usual, students will be asked to provide teachers with some friendship placement preferences for 2023. Every effort is made to ensure that at least one, if not more, of these preferences are granted, although academic balance and social considerations are also carefully taken into account.

If parents or carers do have specific and reasonable requests regarding student placement for 2023, please email peter.watson@education.vic.gov.au by the 30th of November to have your request taken into consideration. Please note that due to potential movement of staff both between year levels or where staff may be moving schools or taking leave for 2023, requests for specific teachers are generally not possible.

Moving Schools in 2023?

A reminder that if your family is planning some new adventures for 2023 that may include moving on from Roberts McCubbin PS, we would very much appreciate your letting us know as soon as possible. 

Student enrolment numbers have a direct impact on staffing budgets so advance notice of departing families greatly assists our planning.

Likewise, if you are aware of families who are planning to join RMPS next year and haven't enrolled yet, please encourage them to do so at their earliest convenience.

Peter Watson

Acting Principal