2016 Annual Report Aboriginal students at the College in Years 10-12 which education for our more senior students. We continue to Introduction reflects 23% of the College population. There were 93 investigate alternative programs for our students. Year 10 Aboriginal students at the College in 2016 which The purpose of this report is to present data and infor- is a significant increase in numbers compared to previous Socio-Educational Status mation that aligns to our 2014–2016 College Plan. The years. This group did impact on College data with regard major focus of the report is to present information that In 2016, the College had an Index of Community So- to attendance and achievement. directly relates to the College vision and priorities and to cio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) of 924. The current provide an assurance that the key objectives of the College As a Senior College with a significant number of Year 11 average across Australia is 1000. More detail is available are being addressed. It is an opportunity to report to our and 12 students, we have carriage for another significant on the My School website: www.myschool.edu.au College community and the Department of Education on group of students who transition between school, training Our students represent 24 nationalities and entered from all aspects related to the progress made by Geraldton and work options. These students are reported in the 23 schools. 82% of our Year 10 cohort came from our Senior College (GSC) in the achievement of positive out- census however they are not counted for the purpose of major feeder public education secondary school which is comes for our students. In doing so it is important to give resource allocation. Most of this 16-18 year-old pop- John Willcock College, a Year 7-9 public school located in a brief insight into important contextual information. ulation are ’refusers’ who did not commit to any of the Geraldton. Student transiency was 29.2% in 2016 which is engagement options available to them. There is an on- a decrease of 6% from 2015. Student Data going concern that this number continues to grow and in order for us to continue to make efforts to engage with Staffing The February census return showed that a total of 936 these students so that they undertake the options availa- students were enrolled at GSC in 2016. This number was ble to them to be active participants in our community, With 58.1 full time equivalent staff in 2016, the College 4 more than the same time in the previous year, which it requires significant commitment of College resources. is well staffed, with the 68 staff being responsible for consisted of 362 Year 10s, 346 Year 11s and 224 Year 12s. This is not sustainable or achievable in the future. delivering a diverse range of programs. They were assisted by 32 support staff employed in a variety of roles but There were similar proportions of male and female students In interpreting information presented in this report, mainly in the area of Special Educational Needs (SEN) in each year group. Eighteen (18) students were enrolled consideration must be given to the impact ‘refusers’ and and Aboriginal education. Two teachers and four support to board at the Geraldton Residential College at the start those reluctantly returning to school have on our data staff are Aboriginal. of the school year. Fifty seven (57) students were identi- for attendance, retention, behaviour and fied as having a learning difficulty or diagnosed disability achievement. with 24 students being identified as Special Education As the major Midwest regional school for Needs students, receiving a Disability Resource Allocation. senior students, it is worthwhile noting that Almost all these students were integrated into main- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data stream programs at the College which reflected the focus reports that a significant number of the Ger- of the Special Education Needs (SEN) support program at aldton Local Government Area population the College. has not completed education to Year 12. This The College has the largest senior secondary Aboriginal is a trend that will change with the increased population of all schools in WA with the number of school leaver age and the College’s efforts in Aboriginal students at the College in Years 11 and 12 in providing a more flexible senior secondary 2016 being 126. In the February census, there were 219 Geraldton Senior College 2 2016 Annual Report All teaching staff met the professional requirements to The ongoing implementation of the Academic Standing be developed to ensure students are maintaining focus teach in Western Australian public schools and can be Policy continues to ensure students entering their final on their studies, especially those undertaking an ATAR found on the public register of the Teacher Registration year are enrolled in more appropriate courses through program. Resources will need to be allocated to this area Board of Western Australia. the monitoring of the progress of those students on to ensure the College retains a quality ATAR program for conditional standing. its students. Student Achievement Year 12 Participation in an ATAR program was higher than 2015 Median Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank WA Certificate of Education with 54 students undertaking an ATAR program. Whilst WA Public this number was 3% lower than expected based on In 2016, 221 Year 12 students were eligible to achieve the School Like-Schools Schools achievement data, this is an area that the College needs Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). Of 2014 67.7 57.2 75.6 to look at more closely, encouraging students to under- this number, 190 were successful which resulted in 85.1% 2015 66.5 63.4 76.0 take a more rigorous program of study in order that they of the cohort achieving their WACE. The impact of students achieve their potential. A small number of ATAR students 2016 71.7 64.0 78.2 being required to meet Literacy and Numeracy stand- also achieved a VET Certificate II. The median ATAR of The above data shows the improved results of ATAR ards through Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment 71.7 was higher than in previous years however there are students at the College in recent years when compared (OLNA) impacted significantly on WACE achievement in strategies being discussed in an effort to increase this to like schools in particular. Strategies have been put in 2016. Despite all efforts by the College to ensure stu- indicator of student ATAR achievement. The new Col- place to maintain and improve this data. dents were prepared for these tests, data shows that our lege priority of Quality Teaching and a focus on student Aboriginal students struggled to cope with the type of 84% of all students enrolled in a VET Certificate achieved achievement will allow the College to interrogate how testing required. a full qualification which was an outstanding success this result can be improved. Other strategies will need to Geraldton Senior College 3 2016 Annual Report for the College and reflects the more extensive student to select from entering senior school at the College in although in 2016, the level of success was not as high monitoring process that has been put in place. Ongoing 2016. A number of these courses provided students the than in previous years. Ongoing discussions occur as to collaboration between VET staff at the College and the opportunity to complete a full certificate as part of their the counselling process when analysing the number of development of positive relationships with Registered studies whilst others accessed a certificate qualification students who change courses throughout the early stages Training Organisations and their delivery staff has resulted through an offsite VET program. The number of D and of their study program. in improved performance in this area. E grades achieved by students in Semester 2 continues to be high, and this is an area that is being targeted for The Attainment Rate for 2016 increased from 89% in Student Achievement Year 10 improvement in 2017. The College continues to develop 2015 to 94%. This ongoing improvement in achievement strategies in an effort to transition students better from The ongoing situation of having a second transition point is to be celebrated and every effort needs to be made Year 9 into Year 10 and again from Year 10 into Year 11 for public school students in their secondary schooling to retain the Attainment Rate at this level which reflects in order for higher levels of success across courses being in Geraldton is unique and creates additional challenges the success of students in their chosen program of study. achieved. A new transition program was put in place for in student adjustment to another learning environment. This supports the pathway program that has been put in Year 9 into Year 10 in 2016 and this appears to be showing The fact that this break continues to be critical for all place at the College to support success for all students. positive outcomes for the students. students and in particular for those with a poor history of The College celebrated the achievements of our Abo- attendance, low literacy and numeracy skills and com- riginal students in the Clontarf program, the Gigaman Academic Standing Year 11 mitment to their learning necessitated collaboration Gawala program, the Follow The Dream: Partnership with John Willcock College and the local public primary 2016 was the fourth year in which the Academic Standing For Success program and the school-based Warlugurra schools. The College liaised with all primary schools and policy was in place for Year 11 students.