Curriculum
The Blueprint for Government Schools
The Blueprint for Government Schools provides the framework for an effective Victorian government school system - a system with effective teachers, effective leaders and effective schools.
The Preferred Future - "...all government school students are entitled to an excellent education and genuine opportunity to succeed, irrespective of the school they attend, where they live or their home background."
Click here to go to the Department of Education Blueprint website.
The Student Learning element of the Blueprint drives curriculum in schools.
The Victorian Essential learning Standards forms a major part of this element.
Victorian Essential Learning Standards
Syndal South Primary School’s curriculum is aligned to the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS). VELS defines what students should know and be able to do at different stages of learning from Prep to Year 10. They are also used to plan student learning, assess student progress and report to parents.
VELS identifies three core and interrelated strands for the Prep to Year 10 curriculum. They provide a sequence of development a student should progress through at school in terms of essential physical, personal and social, discipline-based and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills.
Physical, Personal and Social Learning
Knowledge, skills and behaviour in:
- Health and Physical Education
- Personal Learning
- Interpersonal Development
- Civics and Citizenship
Discipline-based Learning
Knowledge, skills and behaviour in:
- The Arts
- English
- Languages other than English
- The Humanities
- Mathematics
- Science
Interdisciplinary Learning
Knowledge, skills and behaviour in:
- Communication
- Design, Creativity and Technology
- Information and Communication Technology
- Thinking
Each of the three stands has a number of domains which describe the essential knowledge, skills and behaviour students need to prepare for further education, work and life.
An English as a Second Language (ESL) Companion and Students with Disabilities Guidelines provide program support for these students.
The implementation of VELS is being phased in over three 3 years (2006 – 20008)
Assessment and Reporting
Assessment at Syndal South is an ongoing process which involves both the student and teacher making judgements about learning.
Syndal South adopted the new Student Report Card in 2006; this program is used to generate the reports sent home to parents in June and December. Parents have the opportunity to formally meet with teachers at Parent Teacher Interviews in Term 1 and Term 3. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers at any stage of the year to discuss their child’s education.
Individual Learning Plans are written, in conjunction with parents and education consultants, for students who are not achieving at the age appropriate level. These plans are also used for students achieving well beyond the age appropriate level.
Click here to view the Department of Education Assessment and Reporting website.