Greenwood College Business Plan
2015 - 2017
DIVERSITY – A COMMON THREAD
1 Plan for public schools and
accountabilty document. Plan for government schools 2012-2015 (Classroom First Strategy, Focus
2015/2016/2017: directions for schools.
2 Audit and Review documents:
Principal's Annual Audits, school based
3 Review data presented to
College Board Semesters 1 and 2
4 Operational planning, Framework
- School improvement planning document (Business Plan); Annual
adjustments
5 Annual Focus Areas
Learning area and specific improvement project plans -
developed by staff
Greenwood College 2015-2017 Business Plan
Our Business Plan 2015 – 2017 is a reflection of the College’s priorities and change initiatives that endeavour to ensure that every student at Greenwood
College learns skills that will equip them for lifelong learning. The plan incorporates the Department of Education and Train ing’s Directions for Schools and
the Director General's Classroom First Strategy with our focus on success for all students.
This plan places an emphasis on quality teaching and learning and the continued development of the already established positive and supportive pastoral
care focus. It is directed towards enhancing a student's interest, attitude and ability to appropriately use digital technology and communication tools; to
access, manage and evaluate information and to communicate with others effectively in society.
This plan endeavours to meet the academic, social and cultural needs of the diverse range of students at the College through significant strategic planning.
The Business Plan was created in collaboration with the Greenwood College Board and the staff at Greenwood College and forms part of a suite of
documents that include:
Focus Area and Learning Area Operational Plans
Workforce Plan
Financial Plan and
The Delivery Performance Agreement
A more detailed description of all College policies listed in this document
can be found on the College website.
College Vision
Greenwood College be the school of choice in our community,
providing an excellent education for all students in a safe and
caring learning environment that values diversity, celebrates
achievement and promotes respect.
Long term goals as determined by the College Board are:
To promote and enhance the reputation of Greenwood College within
the local community
Greenwood College be a vibrant community hub
College Ethos
LEARN Extend and develop within and beyond school
GROW Socially, emotionally and intellectually
CHANGE Education for change in life and develop resiliency
DIVERSITY – A COMMON THREAD
Our Principles of Teaching and Learning
Co-operate
Between our students, their
families and the broader
community. The development of
team-work skills is recognised
as essential for success beyond
school.
Achieve Student success is valued
and celebrated and cultural
awareness is promoted.
Respect Members of the college
community display respect
for themselves and others.
Engage The College provides a
stimulating learning environment
in which students actively
engage in authentic, challenging
tasks that place an emphasis on
the development of higher order
thinking skills.
DIVERSITY – A COMMON THREAD
QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
In a Greenwood College context this means:
Student achievement is central to all our endeavours, we embrace a student-centred learning community
Our strong improvement agenda is underpinned by clear targets for improvement in student achievement (evidence based decision making)
Our emphasis is on progress
We provide appropriate pathways to allow success for all (quality educational pathways for all students.
Target Strategies (What we will do)
Achievement at or above ‘like’ schools in all five NAPLAN test
areas (with/without LBOTE – Language Background Other Than
English).
Decrease the % of students below the national minimum standard
in all five NAPLAN test areas (with/without LBOTE).
Establish positive improvement trends in the progress made by
students between NAPLAN 7 to NAPLAN 9 in all 5 tests.
Maintain/increase achievement standards for students within
practical context of the curriculum.
Academic pathways set for lower school placement.
Learning areas review performance against state and like schools and national benchmarks.
Early identification and tracking of students with learning difficulties.
The Response to Intervention (RTI) team will implement targeted improvement strategies to assist identified
students experiencing learning difficulties who under achieve academically for a wide range of reasons.
Establish baseline data (SAIS – Student Achievement Information System and Reading Plus) for all incoming Year 7
enrolments
Monitor the progress of individual students and cohorts and adjust teaching practices in curriculum delivery in
response to individual progress.
In learning areas provision of effective remedial and enrichment strategies to support students with learning
difficulties through tailored support programs and resources.
Monitoring and review of IEPs (Individual Education Plans) by Curriculum Manager, Year Co-ordinator, staff and
parents.
Learning area plans reflect how students will transpose theoretical concepts into practical contexts.
Focus on monitoring and improving student achievement in practical areas.
Increase in the % of Year 10/11/12 students in Category 3 in all
compulsory OLNA (Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment) test
areas.
Graduation Rate 90% (2016 only). The measure may need
adjustment after May 2016.
Maintain the percentage of ATAR students with one or more
scaled scores of 75% and above to 15%.
Increase the Attainment Category (ATAR >= 55 and/or Certificate II
or higher) above 90 % (2015 only, not applicable 2016/2017).
Strengthen existing processes and support frameworks to enable stringent monitoring of ATAR (university focus)
student progress
Provision of comprehensive and relevant vocational, educational and training programs in Years 11 and 12.
Set high expectations in rigorous subject/course counseling processes from Year 10 to Year 11.
Ongoing review and course development for identified SAER (Students at Educational Risk) students in Years 11/12.
Strengthen existing processes (monitoring and tracking) and support frameworks (revision workshops) in monitoring
assessments.
DIVERSITY – A COMMON THREAD
Target Strategies (What we will do)
A minimum of 90% of Year 12 applicants seeking entrance to
university are successful.
Standardised exam score equal to or greater than 5 year average
in ATAR courses.
Provide OLNA revision classes.
Introduce Foundation courses.
Developing an effective support framework to maximise the
opportunity for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students
to achieve their maximum academic potential.
Aim for greater than 55% of IEC graduates receiving Level 4 in
Writing in Progress Map Levels.
Designated coordinator to track academic progress of Intensive English Centre graduates in mainstream.
Continuation of literacy tracking from lower to upper school for EAL students.
Specialized courses for EAL (English as an Additional Language) lower school students in English.
Modify teaching and learning programs for EAL students.
Students placed into streamed IEC classes according to English competency maintained for six months.
Teachers to implement new edition of progress maps for IEC students to inform planning and assessment.
DIVERSITY – A COMMON THREAD
QUALITY TEACHING ENVIRONMENT
In a Greenwood College context this means :
• Quality teaching is recognised as the most significant factor affecting student outcomes
• Opportunities for the analysis of and reflection on, student outcome data are prioritised
• Identifying and responding to the needs of individual learners
• A commitment to aligning teaching strategies to best practice
Target Strategies (What we will do)
Quality teaching practices informed by the use of student
achievement data.
Tracking individual student achievement and progress data (individual to school wide).
Teachers will adjust teaching programs in response to needs identified in school/system assessment data.
Prioritise a collective and collaborative approach to effective
teaching.
Foster a culture of continuous professional growth
All teaching staff, as members of Professional Learning Communities, contribute to shared approaches (CARE –
Cooperate, Achieve, Respect, Engage) to effective teaching and learning practices.
Create an environment that supports the development of teachers as leaders in instructional excellence.
Recognise that collegial feedback is a valuable opportunity for teachers to reflect on and improve their classroom
practises (through the establishment of robust peer observation processes).
Promote a community of engaged learners.
Develop an agreed set of expectations and standards in relation to the work habits, participation and engagement
elements of the reporting attribute data.
Retaining an emphasis on engagement as part of the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) based professional
learning.
Professional learning for staff on the use of strategies to differentiate learning in the classroom.
Students are encouraged to become confident, creative and
productive users of information and communication technologies.
Staff will integrate information and communication technologies to
offer flexible learning opportunities and to improve the efficiency
of their teaching and learning process.
Up skilling of staff in ICT (Information Communications Technology) general capability.
Development of links between implementation of ICT in learning areas and the ICT general capability in the
Australian Curriculum.
Learning area representation on the ICT Committee.
Moodle professional learning and ongoing support available to all staff.
DIVERSITY – A COMMON THREAD
SAFE AND CARING COMMUNITY
In a Greenwood College context this means :
College works to maintain a learning environment that is safe, respectful, tolerant and inclusive
We strongly promote positive, supportive and caring relationships between staff, students and parents
Parents and families are recognised as part of the College community and partners in their children’s education
Target Strategies (What we will do)
Social and emotional well-being of staff and students within a
perceptive and considerate college culture.
Foster and maintain a high standard of pastoral care mechanisms across the college
Continued resourcing of key personnel to support health and well-being of students and staff
Continue to access external support where appropriate
Providing opportunities for students with diverse interests and
skills to participate in intra and extra curricula experiences.
Maintain and strengthen intra and extra-curricular programs, eg, excursions, camps, competitions.
Maintain 80% of students not receiving a negative behaviour
report until 2017.
Increase Certificates of Commendation and Students of the Term
(SOTT) by 15%.
Reduce the number of students with multiple suspensions.
Maintain a culture of positive behaviours within the school through acknowledging and celebrating expected
behavior from the school population including three SOTT activities per year.
Students case managed, monitored, placed on Individual Behaviour Plans (IBP) and other relevant options identified
and implemented. Positive reinforcement.
Maintain overall attendance average of over 90%.
Maintain an average attendance rate of 90% or more for each of
the six year groups.
Maintain or increase the percentage of students that attend school
at or above 90% (regular) of the time.
Recognize, maintain and celebrate students with 100% attendance; per term, per semester, full year.
Acknowledged via newsletter articles year assemblies, whole school assemblies. Year Co-ordinators to organise
reward activities on multiple occasions per term.
Maintain culture of an ‘attendance competition’ between year groups.
Increased connections to the broader community.
Improved communication with the community (via the school’s website, newsletters, PR, marketing).
Strengthen our links to our sister school in China.
Establishing Greenwood College as a vibrant community hub through promotion and enhancement of the College’s
reputation in the local community.
Pursuing strong collaborative ties with parents and members of the broader community.
Support mechanisms to promote effective key transitions Provision of curriculum based transition programs to all incoming enrolments.
Organisational support, provided through the college’s back to basics initiative.
Utilisation of peer support networks (7 Mates).
Continuity of pastoral care for IEC (Intensive English Centre) graduates.
Team approach to ensure the emotional well -being of senior students.