Context+of+my+Action+Research

Flemington Primary School is a well established school with an enrolment of 415 students. The school is located close to the Melbourne CBD and has an SFO of 0.27 and a LBOTE index of 0.18.

In relation to student learning, our recent School review found that over 2006 to 2008, our School had a slight increase in enrolments, a slight decline in overall parent satisfaction, and held high levels of Year 3 and Year 5 percentages of students at or above the national minimum Standards across Reading, Writing, Spelling, Numeracy and Grammar and Punctuation. Our NAPLAN results were well above State benchmarks. The reviewer concluded that "//o////verall these results show that Flemington Primary School has students performing well in Mathematics and upper level English with some need apparent to further consolidate the Early Years areas in Reading//".

In the area of Student Engagement and Wellbeing, the data showed that while the school and staff had made considerable efforts to develop a whole school positive learning environment, the data indicated there was further improvement needed. Our Year 5 and Year 6 student perceptions of Student Morale and Student Distress were below the 50th percentile and the scores for the key teaching areas of Teacher Empathy, Teacher Effectiveness, and Stimulating Learning were all well below the 25 percentile. The gender breakdown showed that females were consistently lower on each of these areas of items across the board. In fact the females at the school rated all areas much lower than the males and only Learning Confidence and Classroom behaviour rated above the 25th percentile for the females.  Our Parent Opinion data also rated Approachability below the state median and Stimulating Learning as well.

The conclusion was that there should be additional work done in these areas. The Staff Opinion Survey data when combined with the Parent and Student data showed some need for improved wellbeing and engagement actions across the board.  The reviewer also noted //"// //Of concern is the discrepancy between class responses".// The reviewer recommended that "//Teaching Teams utilize POLT survey data to better understand student needs and views".// Also, the reviewer recommended that we //"f////urther explore the Student Attitudes gender differences as to reasons why Females rate much lower on most items than Males//".

In relation to the Attitude to Schools Survey, teacher empathy is defined as "the extent to which teachers listen and understand student needs, and assist with student learning". The questions that make up the score were - 1. My teacher(s) listen to what I have to say 2. My teacher(s) really want to help me learn. 3. My teacher(s) provide help and support when it is needed. 4. My teacher(s) explain things to me clearly. 5. My teacher(s) help me to do my best. 6. My teacher(s) understand how I learn.

The area of stimulated learning is defined as "the extent to which teachers make learning interesting, enjoyable and inspiring. The questions that make up this score are - 1. My teacher(s) make the work we do in class interesting. 2. My teacher(s) make learning interesting. 3. My teacher(s) are inspiring to listen to. 4. My teacher(s) make school work enjoyable.

As Leading teacher in Educational Leadership - Strategic Planning and Literacy, this is an area I want to pursue in developing the 2010 Annual Implementation Plan. For further information on the Department's explanation of interpreting attitudes to school data etc see below.