There is a new 4 part documentary on our ABC channel called “Revolution School” with the first episode screened last week.
I think this is a must watch show for anyone interested in schooling. The ABC took cameras into a normal secondary school for about a year with the aim of finding out how this school “turned around”.
I should declare that the school has the support from Melbourne University Graduate School of Education. The university has a project now in its fifth year where it forms a partnerships with a select group of schools (usually around 15) seriously interested in improving student learning and well-being. The network is a 3 year commitment with a yearly fee of $15,000 and 0.5 of an experienced or leading teacher, called a success coordinator, dedicated to the project.
This revolution school is one of these schools.
One of my assistant principals Penny Jayne and I saw the possibilities of extending our work with Harvard University in Boston around using formative assessment data to improve teaching and learning (Data Wise). We started our partnership with Harvard in 2011 by attending a leadership institute and Penny will be accredited as a data wise coach in 2016.
We applied to join the Melbourne University 2016 – 2019 network and Elsternwick Primary was successful. The staff have selected a Maths Improvement Project and I look forward to the outcomes of the partnership over the next few years.
I have moved on as Principal from Elsternwick Primary but am in regular contact with the success coordinator and so can answer some queries people may have.
its good that channels are directing society in the right way , and when it comes to kids i always stand for them and appreciate such efforts by people , may the whole world gets educate .. Amen
the staff really tried hard to confront their fears and anxieties and change their practice – plus set an expectation and hold to that – well done I say!
lets view tonights show and continue the conversation.
Having watched the first show Helen I think they are trying to get the kids to learn something without giving up on them (no spelling yet).