I am always amazed by the pace of each term- they seem to fly by. As we approach the last week of Term One, I would like to thank you for your continued support as we work together as a community in elevating our expectations and transforming the young people we raise and teach. The first term of each year is always busy, and the students College calendars fill quickly. Many incredible events have taken place because of the hard work and dedication of staff and students, and I am grateful that we can offer these opportunities. These offerings are integral to what builds our community and your support at events is vital for us to work in close partnership.
On Tuesday our staff were fortunate to work alongside the Central Coast CSBB Secondary schools in a professional learning capacity around themes of consistency in allocation of grades. This presentation was delivered by NESA, our NSW education governing body and it reinforced the important practices that we maintain at the College. Staff Development Days are integral to improving our teaching practice, the learning opportunities for the students, and how we report on their achievement. These days ensure that we are providing the very best education and standards we can for the students.
One of the key takeaways from the day was the importance of reporting on our students learning and outcomes and ensuring that our staff and community alike have a greater understanding of what these grades mean for students, the feedback we provide and the support we can offer the community in understanding these.
Our academic reports have always included the breakdown of the common grade scale to show what the student has achieved in the semester. These grades provide a point in time snapshot of where the students are based on the outcomes and content taught.
How we grade has changed over time, and I know the understanding of what a grade means has also been further developed for teachers. It is important that we understand the grading system, what it means for the students and most importantly what the students do next. Below are the NESA Common grade scale descriptors that we use at the College to support our reports. It is important to note that grades do not represent a number, a pass or fail, but a description of where the student’s achievement level is based on two areas.
- depth of knowledge and understanding and
- the range of skills that are typically demonstrated.
Common Grade Scale | NSW Education Standards
This will be a topic of discussion for our Parent Engagement meeting early next term. At this meeting, we will discuss the importance of the NESA grade descriptors and changes in curriculum reform. The Year 12 Mid-course reports will be available late next week. Look out for this on Compass under your child’s profile.
With the last week of the term closely upon us, I would like to wish everyone a safe and restful break.
Regards,
Alex Walters
Assistant Principal, Student Achievement
