Changes to Curriculum Provision for 2021
The effective and innovative use of time is a critical issue for schools seeking to improve student learning and achievement. The key driver of improved student achievement is quality of teaching. Therefore, it is critical that we provide the most suitable environment for effective teaching.
5 Period Day
Since the start of 2019, Teaching and Learning has been reviewing curriculum provision at Glen Eira College. Feedback indicated any changes to curriculum provision would need to support improving pedagogy and reduce transitions. With this in mind, we looked to learn from others who had experimented with longer periods. We are grateful to the many schools that we contacted that have 4 and 5 period times, for their time, expertise and sharing of resources.
As a result of the work to date, it was concluded that changing to a 5 period day (approximately 60 minutes per lesson) will improve teaching and learning outcomes for our students and teachers from 2021 onwards.
In changing to a 5 period day, it will provide:
- Additional time to engage with all elements of GEC’s SABRE Instructional Model (Starter – Aim – Body – Review – Evaluation) each lesson
- Time to be able work more closely with students (one-on-one)
- Time to support differentiation including EAL & ILP students
- More scope to engage in deeper learning more consistently.
The change is going to:
- Decrease the number of sessions per day
- Decrease the number of transitions between classes
- Increase the lesson length of each timetabled lesson to approximately 60 minutes
- Provide students with more class time to practice what they have learnt in the lesson.
Consultation is currently being undertaken to review Team and possible timetable structure models.
Year 9 Electives
Planning is currently being undertaken to introduce Year 9 electives for The Arts and Technologies Learning Areas for implementation in 2021. Year 9 students would need to make four selections. This will provide Year 9 students with the opportunity to select subjects in their areas of interest, improve rigour and student engagement. We are planning to review this change throughout 2021 and may expand student choices to other learning areas in future.
Clinton Chiumello
Teaching & Learning Leader