St Albans Secondary College

　　School Values

　　At St Albans Secondary College, we hold these values and guiding principles:

　　We show leadership by taking responsibility and being committed to our vision and to each other.We demonstrate respect, tolerance and fairness to each other.

　　We show integrity at all times by being open and honest.

　　We take pride in our achievements and strive for academic excellence.

　　We value critical thinking, creativity and risk taking in our learning.

　　About St Abans Secondary College

　　St Albans Secondary College opened as St Albans High School in 1956, the year of the Olympic Games in Melbourne.  The College is proud of its history as the original secondary school in the area, and of its continuing role as an educational focal point within the community.

　　St Albans Secondary College is located 18 kms to the north west of the Central Business District of Melbourne, within the City of Brimbank.  St Albans is easily accessible by public transport, particularly rail, and by car being only a 20-30 minute trip to the city centre via the Calder Freeway and Western Ring Road.  It is also in close proximity to Melbourne’s airports - Tullamarine and Essendon.

　　The College also includes in the curriculum, challenging programs in the performing and creative arts, sport and physical development, and information and communication technologies.  These programs enhance students’ learning in the eight Key Learning Areas, and together with intellectually rewarding extra-curricular activities such as interschool debating, student leadership programs, a university mentoring program, subject area competitions, and the TAFE Tasters program, students are provided with particular opportunities to develop their unique interests and talents.  In addition, the Individual Needs program supports the learning needs of students who require special support to achieve their potential.

　　St Albans Secondary College recognises the responsibility to its community to provide a safe, secure and supportive environment where students can learn and feel valued and respected as individuals.  The school is divided into three Sub Schools each with a team of Year Level Coordinators who monitor the academic, social and emotional progress of students by liaising regularly with teachers and parents.

　　Our Welfare Team, including a psychologist, health promotion nurse and a youth worker, compliments the work of the Sub Schools through a range of classroom, small group and individualised programs to meet the requirements and interests of teenagers.  Our Whole School Approach to welfare and discipline, together with an emphasis on social skills programs, support young people in their development into caring and socially responsible adults.

　　St Albans Secondary College is a community in which the staff and parents work together with, and for the benefit of, students.  Parents are encouraged to engage actively in their child’s education through membership of school committees, participation in classroom support programs, and through regular meetings and contact with teachers and Year Level Coordinators.

　　The College is an integral part of the educational community of St Albans.  Through our Transition Program, strong relationships have been fostered with local primary schools.  The school’s Work Education and Tertiary Orientation programs have established further positive links with local community groups and businesses, as well as with tertiary providers, especially Victoria University of Technology where many of our students complete their studies.

　　To enhance student learning, St Albans Secondary College has identified two major priorities for the next three years:

　　Implementing the Middle Years Reform Program

　　Improving organisational health and staff well being

　　CHARTER PRIORITIES

　　MIDDLE YEARS OF SCHOOLING

　　SCHOOL GOAL:

　　To improve student achievement levels in Literacy and Numeracy through improved curriculum, teaching and learning strategies and school organisation. The Strategies Plan will focus on the implementation of the Middle Years Reform Program.

　　DESCRIPTION:

　　Data from the Triennial Review indicates that students in Year 7 to 10 are still achieving below the Statewide benchmarks in attendance and in all strands of English and Mathematics. The 2001-2003 College Charter will use the Middle Years Reform Program as a strategy to improve the schools' benchmarks in English and Mathematics, attendance, and student engagement. The program will re-evaluate the curriculum, develop alternative learning and teaching strategies and review the current school organisation through the Middle Years Reform Program.

　　INTENDED OUTCOMES:

　　Implementation of the Middle Years Reform Program as outlined in the MYRP Action Plan, leading to:

　　Improved student achievement in Literacy and Numeracy

　　Improved student engagement

　　Improved student achievement

　　Appropriate school organisation and curriculum offerings to enhance student learning outcomes in the Middle Years.

　　ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES:

　　Year 7 – 10 real retention rates

　　Statewide and "like" school benchmarks for students in all English and Mathematics strands for Years 7 -9

　　Year 7 AIM and TORCH and Patmath tests

　　Year 8 TORCH and Patmath tests

　　Student Attendance data

　　Student Survey- Feelings about Yourself and School Student Survey Discipline and Welfare

　　Staff survey -School organisation and Curriculum

　　Professional Development for teachers re Thinking Curriculum,

　　Authentic Assessment and Team Teaching

　　Evaluation of Pilot Program 7/8 -  2002

　　INITIAL STRATEGIES:

　　The strategies in implementing this Charter Priority are outlined in the College's Middle Years Reform Program Action Plan

　　Review and publicise College Philosophy (mission statement)

　　Professional development for teachers Year 7 -9

　　Appointment of a Middle Years Coordinator

　　Goals and improvement areas to be developed by a Middle Years Implementation Team

　　Develop closer links with the feeder primary schools to better understand the needs of incoming students to enable the development of appropriate strategies to improve the indicative levels in English and Mathematics for students 7 -9 and their attendance, engagement and attitude to school-

　　Develop teaching teams for a trial group at Year 7 & 8 2002. These teams will adopt an inter-disciplinary, thematic approach to their curriculum.

　　Implement the TORCH and Patmath testing at Year 8 and to compare these tests with Year 7 tests in AIM, Patmath and TORCH

　　Compare the Year 7 AIM results with AIM (LAP) testing from primary schools

　　Review the organisational structure and subjects offered at Year 7 -9 to see if they are meeting the needs of all students Target the performance of boys in English for review

　　Establish some student profiles 7 -9 to track achievement against e curriculum

　　Adoption of an organization that is seen by staff and community to meet College philosophy

　　ORGANISATIONAL HEALTH AND STAFF WELL BEING

　　SCHOOL GOAL:

　　To ensure that the school’s management practices encourage effective communication and decision-making, both within the school and the wider community

　　DESCRIPTION:

　　The school’s Staff Opinion Survey results over the 3 years of the previous Charter (1998-2000) based on the 24-point survey, indicate concerns in all areas covered by the survey:  professional growth and interaction, morale, supportive leadership, and goal congruence.  The 1999 results were generally above statewide benchmarks.  However, results for 1998 and 2000 show that these indicators of organisational health and staff well being are generally below statewide benchmarks and require further investigation and action.

　　PRIORITY:

　　To improve school morale and staff well being.

　　INTENDED OUTCOMES:

　　Improved school morale and staff well being.

　　Improved communication within and between groups.

　　Improved professional growth for individuals and groups.

　　Improved career support for staff, including a system of staff appraisal and review.

　　Development of a school vision or mission statement.

　　Improved student achievement and engagement in learning.

　　ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES:

　　Annual Full Diagnostic Staff Opinion Survey.

　　Annual Parent Opinion Survey (Customer Responsiveness, General Satisfaction).

　　Student Engagement Survey.

　　INITIAL STRATEGIES:

　　Development of a three year strategic plan for organisational health and staff well being integrating professional growth and interaction, school morale, goal congruence, and supportive leadership.  This plan will identify tasks in each of these strategic areas, who will do them, how they will be undertaken and timelines.

　　Establish a broadly representative organisational health and staff well-being planning team.

　　Conduct and analyse the results of the Full Diagnostic Staff Opinion Survey.

　　Present results to staff and establish focus groups to confirm that results accurately reflect staff concerns.

　　Develop a strategic plan based on these results and staff response.