Ready, Set, School 2010 A report to school communities in Western NSW In recent years Western NSW 2009 HSC Achievements Region has focussed on developing great teachers All Rounders and putting in place a range (Band 6 in at least 5 subjects) of initiatives to improve the quality of education offered Bethanie Hain, Coonabarabran High School to students wherever they HSC Top Achievers live in the region. Megan Anderson, Dubbo College Senior Campus We have been at the 2nd in State, Business Services Examination forefront of introducing Daryl Firth, Dubbo School of Distance Education digital technology to 3rd in State, Metal and Engineering Examination classrooms, sharing curriculum and resources across schools and improving student literacy and numeracy Lauren Doyle, Dubbo College Senior Campus standards. 4th in State, Textiles and Design 2010 will be an exciting year. New initiatives under Audra Field, 4th in State, Primary Industries Examination the Smarter Schools National Partnerships coupled with a range of exciting regional projects will have a Wesley Rohr, Kandos High School direct impact on the quality of education our schools 4th in State, Metal and Engineering Examination provide. Jessica Westcott, Parkes High School th Undoubtedly, there are significant challenges for 13 in State, Personal Development, Health & Physical Education many schools in Western NSW Region. We have a responsibility to ensure that all students, including Tannica Ferguson, Dubbo School of Distance Education those in our remote and very remote schools and in 20th in State, Personal Development, Health & Physical those schools with low socio economic profiles, obtain Education a quality education. Distinguished achievers’ schools

Parents and teachers will notice some changes through Blayney High School 2010, the Year of Learning for Sustainability. Our Bourke High School schools and their structures will be different, we will Broken Hill High School collaborate between schools more and there will be Canobolas Rural Technology High School new ways of working with our school communities. Condobolin High School Coolah Central School Professional Learning in Western NSW Region is Coomealla High School expanding to support teachers working with students, Coonabarabran High School Cowra High School communities and parents during the early years of Denison College of Secondary Education education. The positions of Director Professional Denison College of Secondary Education Learning and Director Community Partnerships and Dubbo College Senior Campus Early Years will provide additional support to schools. Dubbo School of Distance Education Forbes High School As it is the Year of Learning for Sustainability, we will Gilgandra High School also promote the importance of environmental issues Gulgong High School and explore ways students and staff can contribute Kandos High School positively to the environment. Lithgow High School Molong Central School A cycle of evaluating schools and regional operations Mudgee High School Narromine High School is also being undertaken by our School Development Orange High School Officers. Initial evaluations will focus on secondary Parkes High School education and numeracy. Peak Hill Central School The The advances we have made in recent years have the Tottenham Central School region well prepared to face the challenges ahead. Warren Central School This report highlights some of the initiatives and Wellington High School projects implemented through 2009. Willyama High School

Carole McDiarmid PSM Regional Director Academic Performance • Identifying gifted Aboriginal students Common activities in modern classrooms in culturally appropriate ways include digitally illustrating and narrating The diversity of Western NSW Region and students’ original creative writing pieces, a variety of other factors influence the • Partnering local and regional writing scripts, stage directions, modelling performance of individual students. Aboriginal Education Consultative and filming claymation episodes and Groups competing with students from around the The National Assessment Program Literacy world in on-line maths games. and Numeracy (NAPLAN) enables schools These initiatives are having a positive to chart student improvement from year 3 impact. On-going professional learning for to year 5 to year 7 and to year 9. Student Services teachers helps ensure the classroom activities they develop are educationally We are proud that over 90% of students rich and focussed on syllabus outcomes. are performing at or above minimum Ensuring students feel safe and valued in their school creates a positive learning standards in year 3 reading, year 5 Complementary programs such as the environment. A broad range of student numeracy, year 7 numeracy, and year 9 roll out of laptops for teachers and year support programs are in place in every numeracy. 9 students, upgrading of school wireless Western NSW Region school. networks and bandwidth upgrades Over 85% of students met minimum enhance the opportunities available standards in the remaining assessment Among the successful strategies for through digital technology. points of year 3 numeracy, year 5 reading, supporting improved student behaviour year 7 reading and year 9 reading. in schools has been the adoption of Positive Behaviour for Learning. Positive Selective High School Provision The analysis of region wide NAPLAN Behaviour for Learning has been xsel is the Western NSW Region selective results shows our students improve at introduced to 50 schools in Western high school provision. The first 30 rates comparable to the State average in NSW Region. Participating schools report students commenced a selective school both literacy and numeracy through to attentive behaviour in classrooms, clear strand of English, maths and science at Year 7. understanding of expectations and a the start of 2010. genuine respect between students and Our challenge is to continue this teachers alike. The students were selected from over 180 improvement from year 7 to year applicants. 9. Our secondary curriculum team is Vocational Education and Training progressively implementing projects The staffing and organisational structures designed to address this challenge. Vocational education and training in of xsel were finalised late in 2009 with schools across Western NSW Region is the appointment of an xsel manager, Over 1,200 Western NSW Region about giving students the knowledge and a teaching and learning coordinator, students completed the Higher School skills to succeed in trades related careers. support officer and nine part time Certificate in 2009. teachers. Like the students, the teachers The level of industry involvement, are located in schools across the region. Of these, 138 were named as workplace experience and practical skills Distinguished Achievers (scoring above assessment ensure our students are job xsel will continue to grow as each cohort 90% in at least one subject) collecting a ready and have the skills that employers progresses through high school and a total of 218 band 6 results. expect. new intake of Year 7 students starts each year. Aboriginal Education Thirty seven high and central schools in Western NSW Region are now linked to a Closing the attainment gap between Trade Training Centre. Aboriginal and non Aboriginal students continues to be a high priority for Funding from the Federal Government Western NSW Region. The goal is for Department of Education, Employment Aboriginal student outcomes to match and Workplace Relations will progressively that of the broader school population. update existing school facilities to industry approved standards. A number of strategies are in place to achieve this goal. These include; The region also retained its status as a Registered Training Organisation after a • Personalised learning programs successful VETAB audit in 2009.

• Strengthening participation in Connected Classrooms sporting academies linked to academic performance There are now 126 schools in Western NSW Region fully equipped with • Continued development of the interactive classrooms. Classroom Aboriginal Knowledge and Practice teachers are developing quality resources Centre. A gathering of Western in all curriculum areas that make full use NSW communities will be held in of technology and engage and excite 2010 to celebrate the official opening students to learn the skills they need in of this centre the 21st century. The Early Years National Partnerships The Smarter Schools National Partnership Agreements on Literacy and Numeracy, The Western NSW Region Early In 2009 a number of significant Federal Low Socio-economic Status School Childhood Strategy continues to and State government initiatives have Communities and Improving Teacher enhance understanding among injected new funding and resources to Quality also made a significant impact. principals, teachers, service providers, support the work of schools across the parents and community about the region. • 11 schools were selected in Literacy range of experiences children have in and Numeracy National Partnerships their early years (birth to 8) and the The three elements of the Building the • Mudgee High School was selected as impact these have on their education. Education Revolution program have delivered: a Centre of Excellence and will work The importance of early childhood closely with other hub schools st expertise and knowledge is being • Primary Schools for the 21 Century - • A Highly Accomplished Teacher has included in school planning across the New or upgraded large scale been employed at Mudgee High region. infrastructure such as halls, libraries, covered outdoor learning areas, or School In 2010 this will be extended as classroom refurbishments in 159 • 99 schools across Western NSW stronger connectedness grows between primary schools. All new works Region are partners in the Low SES schools and communities. are expected to be completed by National Partnership. December 2010. Our commitment ensures more Low SES National Partnership schools successful experiences for children as • National School Pride - have pooled their resources to they start school. Best Start assessments Refurbishment and enhancement establish new support positions. Seven (conducted as students start projects for 192 schools. such partnership mentors will help schools on Kindergarten) then identify student as security fencing, landscaping, planning, data analysis and leadership strengths and needs. upgrades to staff and student development. Seven connected facilities, refurbishment of computer learning coaches will train teachers in The overall outcome is improved rooms and classrooms. results in the first years of primary using new technologies in classrooms. school leading to a positive education • Science and Language Centres - An Aboriginal pedagogies mentor experience. New or extensively refurbished will support schools to develop more science and language centres are effective teaching and learning programs. being constructed at 27 high and Two additional Teaching Learning central schools. Coordinators will support Literacy and Numeracy programs.

Expectations are high for schools in receipt of partnership funding. There is a strong emphasis on accountability and transparency and local school communities will see the impact of the partnerships reflected in classroom practices and school leadership.

For more information please contact the School Education Director in the following areas:

Bathurst School Education Group P 02 6334 8200 Bourke School Education Group P 02 6870 1777 Broken Hill School Education Group 08 8082 5700 Dubbo School Education Group P 02 6883 6300 Lachlan School Education Group P 02 6392 8400 Orange School Education Group P 02 6392 8400 Warrumbungle School Education Group P 02 6883 6300

Western NSW Region Office Level 2, 37 Carrington Ave Dubbo NSW 2830 P 02 6883 6300 F 02 6884 3787