ASHCROFT HIGH SCHOOL, NSW
SCHOOL:
Ashcroft High School is a government secondary school in the south-western region of Sydney. Of 617 students, 60 are Indigenous.
PROGRAMS:
Ashcroft HS has provided a number of highly successful programs for Indigenous students over recent years, including a Middle Schools Transition Program to aid the smooth transition of Indigenous students from feeder primary schools into Year 7.
Aboriginal Buddy Camp. This program has been run annually over a number of years, and involves Indigenous students from Ashcroft HS inviting a non-Indigenous peer and Indigenous Year 5 and 6 students from local feeder schools. The Buddy Camp encourages the sharing of cultural knowledge and explores Indigenous history of the local area where the camps are held. There is a strong focus on literacy and numeracy, while also creating an environment where primary students can develop rapport with Ashcroft HS staff, high school Indigenous students, Elders and other members of the Indigenous community.
Mentors/Leadership Program. Indigenous students in Years 9-12 are trained as mentors and leaders, and then share their leadership skills with primary school mentees. High school students relay cultural knowledge and understanding, provide support in literacy and numeracy programs, and develop social support connections with their mentees. Mentors and mentees meet three times per term for the duration of the school year. Mentees are also given the opportunity to visit Ashcroft HS for lunch and the last lesson of the day where they go along to class with their mentors.
OUTCOMES:
Attendance
2007 attendance rate for Ashcroft HS Year 7 Indigenous students who were part of the primary school mentoring program and involved in the Aboriginal Buddy Camp: 93.6%
2007 attendance rate for Ashcroft HS Year 7 Indigenous students who were not part of the primary school mentoring program and not involved in the Aboriginal Buddy Camp: 83.2%
Literacy (NAPLAN)
2007 Year 7 Indigenous students growth from Year 5: All students improved; 50% improved beyond expected levels.
Numeracy (NAPLAN)
2007 Year 7 Indigenous students growth from Year 5: All students improved; 55% improved beyond expected levels.
MORE INFORMATION:
Teena Haslehurst, Deputy Principal 02 9607 8011 or Ashcroft-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
|  |
|
