Senior School Focus

Staff in the Senior School have continued developing ideas from the whole school sessions into their departmental meetings and professional conversations. At the start of the year, we heard from Professor Michael Anderson about how we can encourage creativity in the classroom. This was followed up with departmental discussions. In addition, we were privileged to have Anthony Seldon visit and talk to staff about the Future of Education. As a leading educator in the UK, this was a valuable opportunity for staff. A small project, “Follow a Student For a Day”, has allowed some staff to see the Senior School from the students’ perspective, highlighting how lessons are engaging and active.

Teachers have also been accessing external professional learning opportunities and conferences, such as:

• 2022 ICT Management and Leadership Conference

• TechNow Conference

• Chemistry Workshop Macquarie University

• Students as Change Partners: Student Self-Determination and Autonomy

• Building Learner Agency

• Youth Sport & Athletic Development Seminar with Prof. Jean Cote

• AISNSW Curriculum Leadership Conference: Riding the Waves of Curriculum Reform

• Executive Functioning in the Classroom

• Effective Pedagogy Workshop

• Deepening the Learning in Technology

• Visual Arts Practical Marking Experience

• Indonesian Batik Workshop

• AISNSW PDHPE K-10 Conference

• National Indigenous Education and Boarding Symposium

• World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education

• AISACT Workshop #1: Coaching for School Improvement

• Dr Conti Professional Learning

• Berry Street Education Model

• Feedback for Professional Growth

• 2022 Embedding RESEARCH Literacy in Schools

• AISACT 2022 Colloquium

• History Study Days

• 2022 Stage 6 History Teachers’ Day (HTA)

• Australian Geography Teachers Association Conference

• Trauma Informed Education

• IB Global Conference, Singapore

In addition, teachers running IB courses are required to complete IB training in their subject, and many Category 1 and 2 courses were completed this year. Four teachers have completed their Graduate to Proficient portfolios. Three teachers have embarked upon the ISTAA Experienced Teacher process, and three people have started TQI Highly Accomplished Accreditation. This process is essential for building skills and ensuring professional growth for staff.

A small group of staff in the Senior School are looking at coaching and have been upskilling themselves to coach others. Several keen staff members undertook to coach in the year’s second half to refine their practice. This initiative has been supported by Mark Dowley from Brighton Grammar School, guiding our thinking in this important space.

Finally, departments were asked to develop professional learning for their teachers linked to their departmental goals. This has been hugely successful in driving change at a departmental level. Topics such as strategies to improve writing, developing rubrics, embedding cultural perspectives, and encouraging student autonomy have all been featured as areas of focus and are making a difference for students. These departmental goals are often featured in teachers’ personal goals, which are part of the Professional Growth cycle.