Learning

At our school, we teach the NSW curriculum and offer many different subjects to support each student’s learning. We know that development of skills in literacy and numeracy are the building blocks for learning and for everyday life. Our teachers use effective teaching strategies to help students achieve their goals.

Why choose us for your child’s learning?

What students learn

Students learn a wide range of subjects in the NSW curriculum. They build skills, think creatively and prepare for life beyond school.

Our learning approach

Our school uses explicit teaching. This means we clearly tell students what they are learning, why it is important and how to do it step by step. Explicit teaching helps students understand new ideas by breaking them into smaller parts.

Learning at our school is student-centred, inclusive and practical. We are committed to equity and access. We support all learning styles and needs. Our teachers use proven teaching strategies. They take part in ongoing professional development to stay up to date with best teaching practice.

Our learning approach includes:

• real-world learning: hands-on tasks, group work and exploring new ideas
• technology: to help students learn and build digital skills
• flexible teaching: the right support for each student, with a focus on wellbeing
• community connections: through excursions and local programs.

Helping students progress

We support every student’s academic progress by:

• checking their progress and giving clear and timely feedback
• setting learning goals with each student
• giving extra help with personalised plans and support from specialist staff
• reporting on each student’s learning progress so parents and carers know how their child is doing

• providing targeted literacy and numeracy support in small groups
• making wellbeing part of everyday learning
• working with families to support learning at home and school
• helping students through transitions, like starting school or moving to a new stage of learning.

Learn more about additional learning support at our school.

Aboriginal student support

We are committed to closing the achievement gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. We know that we need to learn about, nurture and value the cultural identity of our Aboriginal students to help them be successful learners.

We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family members, parents and carers, and community members to our school so that we can get to know each other, learn about the local Aboriginal community and develop shared goals and plans for Aboriginal students.

The Aboriginal Education Policy confirms the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to improvement in educational outcomes and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Multicultural education

Our school welcomes students, families and community members from all cultural backgrounds. We appreciate difference and diversity. We aim to provide a culturally inclusive and responsive learning environment that benefits all students.

Our teaching and learning programs develop intercultural understanding, promote positive relationships and enable all students to participate as active Australian and global citizens. Our school fosters student wellbeing and community harmony by implementing anti-racism and anti-discrimination strategies that encourage engagement by parents and carers from all backgrounds.

The Multicultural Education Policy outlines the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to providing opportunities that enable all students to achieve equitable education and social outcomes and participate successfully in our culturally diverse society.

The Anti-Racism Policy confirms the department’s commitment to rejecting all forms of racial discrimination in NSW public schools and eliminating expressions of racism in its learning and working environments.

For more information refer to:

• Multicultural education
• Anti-racism education
• Interpreting and translations
• Translated documents.

Supporting English language learners

Learning English is essential for success at school and effective participation in Australian society. We can provide specialist support to help students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D).

For more information refer to: EAL/D education.

Supporting refugee students

Schools offer safety, support and security to help refugee students adjust to life in Australia and participate successfully in education. Targeted support strategies are provided to assist refugee students in NSW public schools.

For more information refer to: Supporting refugee students.

Anti-bullying

Bullying of any kind is not acceptable in NSW schools.

The NSW anti-bullying website brings together information and resources for teachers, students, parents and carers. It helps to identify, prevent and respond effectively to student bullying, including online bullying. It provides information about online safety and what you can do if your child has been bullied, witnessed bullying or been involved in bullying.

For more information on anti-bullying strategies for NSW public schools refer to the department’s Bullying of Students – Prevention and Response Policy.

For information on racial bullying and anti-racism education for NSW public schools refer to:

• Anti-Racism Policy
• Anti-racism education
• Racism. No way.

Homework tips for primary school

All schools have a homework policy developed in consultation with the school community. Homework reinforces work done in class and helps develop independence.

Homework is often a revision of what was covered in class. As well as regular weekly homework, your child may have assessments such as assignments or projects with due dates. A key to success is being organised.

Students in Years 3 to 6 work more independently. A lot of homework will be in English, mathematics, history and geography. However, it can be set from all areas of the curriculum.

Setting up for success

• Ask your child about their homework, know what they are learning about and when assignments are due.
• Use our  term assessment planner (DOCX 53.57KB)  to record when assignments are due, and exams are scheduled. This will help your child prepare in advance. Make ‘to-do’ lists to spread out the workload.
• Get into a routine of doing homework at a set time, ideally a little each day.
• Have a set place where children can do their homework, with the equipment they’ll need – pens and pencils, highlighters, scissors, glue, scrap paper, ruler, calculator, printing paper, a computer with internet access and a printer.
• If there’s no set homework, encourage your child to do some reading. For younger children, it’s great for them to read aloud to you. For older ones, ask them to tell you about what they have read. For more help with reading and comprehension, read our English tips page.
• Don’t jump in and give answers. Homework is about helping children become independent learners.
• Encourage your child to start assignments as soon as they receive them – this will reduce any night-before stress.
• Your child needs to do their own projects and assignments. There’s no point submitting work done by anyone other than the student. Teachers need to know what students can do independently – it’s the best way of planning lessons and providing additional support if required.
• Turn off TVs, mobiles and other devices so there are no disruptions.
• If your child is having difficulty with their homework, contact their class teacher for help.

• For help understanding terms used in English, visit English A to Z.

• For help understanding terms used in mathematics, visit Maths A to Z.

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Studying at high school

Once in high school, regular study becomes more important. Study time is completely different to doing set homework.

Students in high school should regularly review work covered in class, summarise key ideas and do additional reading and research on topics, as well as practise tasks such as essays and maths problems.

Suggestions for effective studies

There is no one ‘best’ way to study. Students often find different methods and times to study to suit themselves. The key is regular study, not cramming before a test or exam.

Some suggestions for effective study time include:

• no mobile device use – no social media, messaging or calls during study time
• finish any homework for the day before starting study – remember they are separate
• focus on one topic at a time
• highlight class notes or handouts
• prepare summaries in your own words to revise concepts and skills learnt in class
• draw diagrams, mind maps or brainstorms to show the main ideas and links between them
• explain a topic or key concept to someone else
• prepare glossaries of technical language for the topic or course, include examples of appropriate use
• memorise short quotes
• read summaries aloud – you can record yourself and play them back while travelling
• write key concepts on flash cards with an explanation on the back to use for quick recall testing
• read widely about topics being studied – add any new information or quotes to your summary (remember, when you use words or passages from a source such as a book, article or website you must reference them and use quotation marks).

The best study is active study – not just reading pages and pages of notes. Try creating summaries and lists, drawing mind maps, practising answering questions, teaching someone else about a topic and so on. Active study helps move content from short-term to long-term memory. When reading over notes, try to read them aloud.

Study timetable

A study timetable can be useful to help high school students plan time each week revising work covered in class.

This is an  example of a completed study timetable (DOCX 56.59KB)  for a Year 11 student.

Make your own study timetable

• Download or print our Study timetable (DOCX 52.96KB).
• Fill in regular activities such as school, sport, part-time jobs and so on. Don’t forget to include meal times and time to travel to activities.
• Students should discuss how much time to spend studying with their teachers. Older students will be spending 1 to 2 hours on each subject each week. This will increase as they get closer to the HSC.
• Think about the best time to study. Some kids prefer to get straight into it after the after-school snack, to get it out of the way. Others like to chill before dinner and get into their school work in the evening. Identify the most effective time.
• Block out chunks of time on the Study timetable to study at the identified most effective times. Some subjects will require more time than others – use the advice of the class teacher. Don’t forget to consider the school timetable when you are creating a study timetable – it might be a bit much to do 2 hours of physics on the same day as a double period. Don’t forget any subjects – even the ‘easiest’ will require revision in Years 11 and 12.
• Colour code the chunks of time for different subjects.
• Allow a break of at least 5 to 10 minutes each hour.
• Trial the study timetable for a fortnight and see if it is realistic. There’s no point having a study timetable that isn’t followed.
• Be realistic, some days there will be a pile of homework or family events which means a day off study. If your child can stick to their study timetable 70 to 80% of the time, they are on their way to success.