VICTORIAN P-12 COLLEGE OF KOORIE EDUCATION, MILDURA CAMPUS
SCHOOL:
Victorian P-12 College of Koorie Education, Mildura Campus, is one of four campuses that comprise the Victorian P-12 College of Koorie Education. It is located 550km north-west of Melbourne. Of its 49 students, 47 are Indigenous.
PROGRAMS:
Accelerated Literacy. The school embraced the pedagogy of Accelerated Literacy (AL) in 2008, and became the first Victorian government school to implement AL across the school. This approach was adopted after considerable research into ways to improve low literacy outcomes. That year an external review of the school identified Literacy as a key area requiring improvement. The school leadership team wanted an approach that could create rapid but sustainable improvement.
The school's approach to AL was notable for the collegial and wide-ranging way in which it was explored, researched and implemented. Without a strong history of AL in Victoria, it was decided to access knowledge from South Australia. Salisbury North Primary School was used as an exemplar, and visits were made there to witness AL in action by many people from Victorian P-12 College of Koorie Education, Mildura Campus, including the principal, all staff, several parents, a Committee of Management member and the Community Liaison Officer. Dare to Lead's Chris Harvey then provided Professional Development to the school in Mildura, not just for teachers but for non-teaching staff and community members as well.
"I know that the teachers at this school share my sense of excitement at the changes we are witnessing through the implementation of this program," principal Barbara Wilson said. "It is not only powerful and sustainable, it's actually life changing."
OUTCOMES:
Progress in Literacy, 2008, after commencement of Accelerated Literary Program:
- The average growth on the BURT Word Test was 12.5 months over nine months
- The average improvement on the TORCH test was 25.25 percentiles over nine months
- Students in Years 1 and 2 achieved or exceeded expected literacy growth by as much as 100%
COMMUNITY COMMENT:
"In 2008, with LAECG support, the literacy program was implemented at the school, and it is proving successful. The observation of protocols and inclusion of the LAECG early in the process has meant that we, as a community, could ensure that the program was suitable and would meet our needs and we were able to share what was happening with the broader Koorie and school community. The Mildura LAECG recognises that the success of the program is due in large part to the successful partnership that exists between the VCKE and the LAECG and the local community. The LAECG commends the VCKE on its efforts to work in full and equal partnership with the community." - Simon Fewings, Chair, Mildura Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
"Our Committee of Management has been fully engaged in the community inclusion process to determine our priority goals and we have worked with the school staff, parents and the LAECG to identify and implement strategies to lift our literacy results. We have been full partners in this journey." - Gloria Clark, Chair Committee of Management, Victorian P-12 College of Koorie Education, Mildura Campus
MORE INFORMATION:
Barbara Wilson, Principal 03 5023 2321 or Wilson.barbara.d@edumail.vic.gov.au
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