9 March 2018

By Olivia Shying

It’s second time lucky for Christ the King School, Newcomb, with its students recording impressive improvement two years running.

The Newcomb school has been recognised by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for substantial improvement from Year 3 testing to Year 5.

The My School website reports three areas of gains in student achievement, including overall gain compared to previous years, gain compared to schools with similar students based on the Index of Community, Socio-Educational Advantage level and gain compared with other students at the same average NAPLAN starting score. The school’s 2016 Grade 5 NAPLAN score improved by 122 point points, compared to the state average of 92. Students are expected to improve by 78 points between Year 3 and Year 5.

Principal Jose Blackley said the school’s growth in all areas had been ‘exceptional’. ‘This shows that we grow our kids really well,' Ms Blackley said.

‘We have recorded big growth right across the board. We’ve put a lot of work into changing the perception of maths and to engage kids. We use maths in the real world and teach children how to problem solve and use their maths skills outside of the classroom.’

Year 6 student Olivia Potter, who was among the cohort who achieved above-average growth, said initiatives such as ‘maths buddies’ had helped improve her interest in the subject. ‘I like it when I’m challenged in maths,’ Olivia, 11, said. ‘When I have to think really hard and it makes my brain hurt.’ Ayla Hargreaves, also 11, said a focus on creative maths games and activities made numeracy fun and exciting. ‘In maths we don’t have to do the same thing over and over again,’ Ayla said. ‘We learn different things and get to use them in fun ways that you might not think were maths.’
 

This article was originally published in The Geelong Advertiser 7 March 2018.