School Annual Report

for

Marshall Road State School

About our School:

Address:      Marshall Road State School,      Kurts Street,       Holland Park  4121
Phone:        3422 8222       Fax:          3422 8200              email:   admin@marsroadss.eq.edu.au

Marshall Road State School offers co-educational classes from Preparatory to Year 7.  In February 2009, the school enrolment was 457 students in nineteen classes.

2008 marked the third and final year of the school planning and accountability cycle.  A Triennial School Review focussed on the school curriculum framework was conducted in 2008 and a new School Strategic Plan 2009 - 2011 was developed.

Notable achievements over this period have included:

• The continued revision and implementation of the School's Curriculum Framework based on Essential Learnings which aligns all activity and resources within the school to the core business of curriculum delivery

• The classroom units developed by collaborative planning for implementation of the school Curriculum Framework have involved students in educational experiences which develop a love of learning and a commitment to lifelong learning. 

• Data such as that published below  bear testimony to improved learning outcomes for our students which are monitored by reference to internal and system wide measures of student achievement.  Appropriate intervention programs are coordinated through the Special Needs Committee for all students whose achievement is identified as being significantly above or below agreed upon benchmarks.

• Improved resourcing of learning experiences for students with particular emphasis on the enhancement of Information and Communication Technology provision.

• The development of a distinctive approach to learning incorporating an emphasis on environmental education and the utilization of the Permaculture resource at the school.

• The ongoing development of community involvement in the life of the school through initiatives such as Parent Liaison Officer, Class Parent Representatives, a School Management Advisory Council, Parents and Citizens meetings and activities, a community focus in curriculum planning, community access to school facilities, outside school hours care provisions, home and school partnerships in learning and parent awareness programs.

• Implementation of an appropriate enrolment management plan for the school to optimise entitlements without destroying the "small school" ethos of our school community.

As curriculum delivery is the core business and central focus of our school, facilities provision is geared to this purpose.  We attempt through the means available to us to maintain our facilities in a safe and presentable condition. Recently completed works include the repainting of B and D blocks; the installation of water tanks to C, D and Prep buildings; renovation of the school staffroom; extension of internet cabling to P1F and the installation of wireless access in the staffroom, Library and C Block.

Works to be completed in 2009 through the Building the Education Revolution, National School Pride and State Schools of Tomorrow Projects include:

• construction of a new resource centre

• construction of a new school  hall

• renovation of rooms D21 and D 22

• renovation of six B block classrooms

• installation of a new senior playground adjacent to the oval with shade cover

• installation of a new shade cover to the junior playground

• relocation of the school tennis court to the lower infant play court

• installation of new interactive white boards to B & D block classrooms complementing the four already in classrooms

In addition to the above, the Outside School Hours Care program will take delivery of a new demountable building to be located behind C block.

• Extensive development of the school gardens and permaculture.

The development of productive partnerships through networking with government departments, other educational institutions and community organisations to enhance the quality of educational experience at the school.  Worthy of particular mention is the schools involvement in the activities of the Freeway Schools Coalition centred around Holland Park State High School and its feeder primary schools, Marshall Road State School, Wellers Hill State School and Junction Park State School.

Provision of professional development opportunities which have enabled our workforce to develop the knowledge, skills, understandings and attitudes necessary for working collaboratively in teams to become a learning organisation committed to and having ownership of the strategic direction of the school.

The development of leadership density in the school where the experience, enthusiasm and expertise of all staff members is optimally utilized.

Continuing development of a Support-a-Talker Program.

Distinctive Curriculum Offerings:

• School Curriculum comprises a strong focus on Literacy, Numeracy coupled with  Integrated Studies, delivered through three units per year. Integrated Studies includes studies drawn from Science, Studies of Society and Environment, Technology, The Arts, Languages Other Than English (LOTE) and Health and Physical Education.

• Japanese in Year 6 & 7.

• Science Fair alternating yearly with an Arts Festival.

• Environmental Studies using the school Permaculture Area.

• Intervention Programme for Years 1 – 7.

• Ongoing development of the Instrumental Music Program and the employment of  a  specialist visual arts teacher to develop this curriculum area in this school.

• Extension Programme in Literacy and Numeracy

  Co-Curricular / Extra – Curricular Activities:

o    Music.

o    Choral – Years 1 – 7.

o    Instrumental – Years 3 – 7.

o    School Musical every second year.

o   Interschool Sports Years 4 – 7.

o   Swimming Club.

o   Ballroom Dancing with Dance Fever (P – 7)

o   Camps – Years 4 – 7.

o   Clubs – Permaculture,  Gardening, Chess, Board Games, Computers.

o   Tennis

o   Sports Clinics – past events include basketball, AFL, Rugby League, Touch, Cricket, Soccer.

o   Drama

o   Weekly Computer Lessons

Staff Development Priorities:

Curriculum Development remains the first priority of all staff.  Six days per staff member are allocated each year for the purpose of collaborative unit planning.  In these sessions, year level teachers work together to develop unit plans, assessment tools and reporting materials.

In 2008, professional development activities included, but not be limited to:

• Information and Communication Technologies

• The Preparatory Year

• The Learning Connections Programme

• English training for Early Years teachers

• Values Education

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development

• The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2008 was $16 668

• The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2008 was 100%.

Percentage of workforce engaged in professional development opportunities

Year	no	School %	State %
2005	40	77.5	78.5
2006	46	78.3	78.6
2007	39	82.1	80.9
2008	39	85	81

Average Staff Attendance - average attendance rate as a percentage based on unplanned absences of sick and emergent leave for periods of up to five days     -     95%

Staff Retention  -  a portion of teaching staff as a percentage retained in a program year from the previous year     -     96%

Staff Qualifications 2008

 

Highest Level of Attainment	Percentage of Classroom Teachers and School Leaders at this School
Master	8
Graduate Diploma	14
Bachelor Degree	68
Diploma	8
Certificate	2

Social Climate:

 The school has a very supportive school environment. Students are well behaved and motivated to learn. Teachers are experienced, motivated and multi – skilled and work very hard to help students to achieve high standards.  The responsible student behaviour plan, school dress code and school anti bullying policy are enacted across all school activities. 

A Student Council meets regularly to provide a forum to discuss student issues, School Captains, Sport and Music Captains assist students through the fulfilment of their duties over the course of the year. All students are “Buddied” with a younger/ older student and they team up weekly through a curriculum activity.  All year 7 students are group leaders for delivery of the Peer Support Programme conducted in Term 2 in multi age groups.

School Disciplinary Absences

* The enrolment figures are counts of full-time students.  2006-2008 enrolment data are sources from August (Census) Corporate Data Downloads, and 2009 enrolment data are sources from the February Corporate Data Download.