Literacy & Numeracy
At our college, Literacy and Numeracy are core priorities that underpin success across all learning areas. We are committed to ensuring every student develops the essential reading, writing, and numeracy skills needed to thrive in their education and beyond. Our approach focuses on supporting individual needs, carefully monitoring progress, and promoting continuous learning growth for every student.
Literacy
We provide targeted and structured literacy support, particularly in the early years of secondary school, to build strong foundations and confidence.
Our key literacy strategies include:
- Dedicated Literacy Classes in Years 7 and 8
Students who need additional support participate in a specialist Literacy class in place of Language. These classes focus on building essential reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension skills, ensuring students develop the foundations required for success across all learning areas. - MacqLit Decoding Program
We implement the MacqLit (Macquarie Literacy) decoding program, an evidence-based intervention designed to support students who require additional assistance with reading. This program explicitly teaches decoding, fluency, and comprehension, helping students become more confident and capable readers. - Monitoring Progress with PAT-R
We use the Progressive Achievement Test in Reading (PAT-R) to assess and monitor student reading development. This data enables teachers to identify strengths, target areas for improvement, and tailor teaching to support individual learning growth. - NAPLAN Analysis
Analysis of NAPLAN data plays a key role in monitoring both individual student progress and whole-cohort growth. This information helps us evaluate the effectiveness of our teaching programs and guides future planning to ensure continued improvement. - Whole College Writing Strategy (from 2026)
During 2026, we will be introducing a whole-college writing strategy to further strengthen student writing across all subject areas. This initiative will provide a consistent approach to teaching writing and support students to develop the skills needed to communicate effectively and confidently. - A Focus on Learning Growth
We are committed to fostering continuous improvement and celebrating progress. Our goal is to ensure every student achieves meaningful learning growth and develops the literacy skills required for future success.
Numeracy
Developing strong numeracy skills is essential for everyday life and future career pathways. We support numeracy growth through high-quality teaching, targeted support, and ongoing assessment.
Our numeracy strategies include:
- Monitoring Progress with PAT-M
We use the Progressive Achievement Test in Mathematics (PAT-M) to track student progress and identify individual learning needs. This allows teachers to provide targeted support and extension where required. - NAPLAN Analysis
NAPLAN data is also used in Numeracy to monitor individual and cohort growth, helping us refine our teaching programs and ensure students continue to develop essential mathematical skills. - Supporting Individual Learning Growth
Our focus is on ensuring every student makes progress. Teachers use assessment data to inform their teaching, providing appropriate support and challenge so all students can experience success and build confidence in Numeracy.
Literacy Learning Specialist
Kristelle Sherwood
kristelle.sherwood@education.vic.gov.au
Numeracy Learning Specialist
Sharon Rossiter
sharon.rossiter@education.vic.gov.au
