in the classroom
After examining evidence on literacy and numeracy improvement , the school implemented EDI in 2015 , which proved key to the school ’ s academic recovery .
SUPPORTING EDI ’ S ADOPTION Shifting to EDI required a whole-school approach . Strategies used to achieve this included :
• Training and mentoring of school leaders .
• Staff training through dedicated EDI modules , school visits to observe effective EDI practice , provision of a key EDI text , and an intentional coaching program .
• Professional instruction delivered by expert practitioners .
• Purchasing of class resources aligned to the EDI approach . These changes resulted in significant positive developments , including improved results on standardised academic tests , increased enrolments , positive parent feedback , enhanced teacher satisfaction , and recognition of teaching excellence from both the AIS and the University of Newcastle ’ s Education faculty .
IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE NAPLAN test data show averaged scores for all domains lifted across all relevant primary year levels from 2013 to 2019 :
• Year 3 – from 359 to 433
• Year 5 – from 478 to 493 Similar NAPLAN results improvements have been achieved in the secondary years from 2014 to 2019 :
• Year 7 – from 503 to 558
• Year 9 – from 546 to 581
Some domains evidenced standout improvements . For example , Year 3 average scores for reading jumped from 342 to 432 , spelling from 357 to 446 , and numeracy from 359 to 415 . For Year 5 scores , writing lifted from 412 to 470 and numeracy from 447 to 492 . Between 2014 and 2019 , Year 7 scores for reading increased from 500 to 549 , grammar 525 to 582 , and numeracy 496 to 588 .
The adoption of a synthetic phonics program for Kindergarten students , taught using an EDI approach , also led to significantly improved Priority Literacy Skills . In 2018 , for example , students in term 1 tested with 33 per cent foundational literacy skills , which by term 4 had increased to 82 per cent . In 2020 , students ’ Priority Literacy Skills shifted from 52 per cent in term 1 to 92.5 per cent by the end of year . These results confirm that the school ’ s literacy approach is succeeding .
INCREASED ENROLMENTS At the beginning of the improvement process , ACC Singleton was a Kindergarten to Year 10 school with 50 students . It now caters for Kindergarten to Year 12 with over 200 students . The changed teaching approach and resulting academic improvement correlates with a significant upturn in enrolments . Parent feedback surveys confirm the school ’ s focus on academic outcomes was the most significant enrolment driver .
ENHANCED TEACHER ENGAGEMENT ACC Singleton has developed a comprehensive and supportive instructional coaching model with two key goals – to drive ongoing
I feel like I ’ ve been born again as a teacher .
improvements in teacher performance and to support the timely and effective onboarding of new teachers .
Staff members expressed satisfaction as they embraced the new pedagogy and worked explicit teaching into their classes . A survey asking what the school ’ s journey with EDI had been like personally and professionally elicited responses typified by the statement : “ It has been a positive journey , well worth all of the hard work .” One primary teacher expressed her appreciation saying , “ I feel like I ’ ve been born again as a teacher .”
TIME FOR A CHANGE EDI ’ s merits have been borne out by decades of extensive research and the results of successful implementation in schools such as ACC Singleton . With its clear advantages over student-led , inquirybased pedagogical approaches , it ’ s high time education faculties in Western universities include this approach in teacher training . ■
Tim Shields is the Principal at ACC Singleton and was previously the inaugural Head of Senior School at St Philip ’ s Christian College in Cessnock .
Terry Harding has a Masters degree and a PhD in Education from QUT . He has taught in Christian Schools for 15 years and been the principal of five Christian schools around Australia .
The laTesT Teaching news across ausTralia
Education Review is Australia ’ s highly-respected industry publication , providing unrivalled coverage of the primary and secondary school education sectors to thousands of schools and teachers every day .
Comprehensive coverage of a variety of relevant topics | Latest updates in technology and enhanced teaching strategies | Can be used as a professional development resource | 8 issues per year | Interviews and opinion pieces from professionals in the industry | Written by an independent voice
Please call 02 9936 8666 to find out more .
educationreview . com . au | 23