23 November 2018
The new Semester Report was released at the end of Semester 1, enabling the School to comply with the statutory expectation that schools report against the Achievement Standard from the Australian Curriculum by using a 5 point scale, twice per year. Our new report format provides consistent content, language and style across both the Junior School and Senior School.
This has prompted discussion with teachers, students and parents around the grades and how they are to be interpreted.
When many of us went to school, a ‘C’ grade possibly had a very different meaning to that of today. For many, a ‘C’ grade means you are not putting in the effort, that you could be doing better, that perhaps you are coasting.
I would like to assure you that a ‘C’ grade is very much what we would like our students to be achieving. This means, based on the Australian Curriculum end of Year Achievement Standard, your son is achieving at the standard we would expect for his age group. This is a good thing!
A ‘B’ Grade means that your son is achieving at a standard that is above the end of Year Achievement Standard for his age. This is not unusual, and many students may have a particular academic area of strength.
An ‘A’ Grade however is quite exceptional. This means that your son is achieving at a level which far exceeds the End of Year Achievement Standard. E.g. a Year 3 student who has an A grade for English will be performing at a Year 4/5 level in many areas.
Students begin each school year at very different stages in their learning and development, meaning that it is unrealistic to expect all students to be at the same point in their learning at the end of the year. Nevertheless, every student should be expected to make excellent progress in their learning – regardless of their starting point, and as a School we are committed to every student making progress with their learning, regardless of their starting point.
Mrs Ceri Slinger
Head of Junior Years – Learning and Teaching Excellence