‘Learning anywhere, anytime’
The Australian Curriculum is designed to help all young Australians to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. Presented as a developmental sequence of learning from Foundation - Year 10, the Australian Curriculum describes to teachers, parents, students and others in the wider community what is to be taught and the quality of learning expected of young people as they progress through school.
The three-dimensional design of the Foundation – Year 10 Australian Curriculum recognises the importance of disciplinary knowledge, skills and understanding alongside general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities.
Disciplinary knowledge, skills and understanding are described in the eight learning areas of the Australian Curriculum: English, Mathematics, Science, Health and Physical Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, The Arts, Technologies and Languages. The latter four learning areas have been written to include multiple subjects, reflecting custom and practice in the discipline. In each learning area or subject, content descriptions specify what young people will learn, and achievement standards describe the depth of understanding and the sophistication of knowledge and skill expected of students at the end of each year level or band of years.
Link to Australian Curriculum website (http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/)
Curriculum at Namadgi School is based on the Australian curriculum. It includes the national curriculum’s capabilities to ensure that students not only acquire the essential skills of literacy and numeracy, but are also equipped with the resilience, problem solving, socialization and information communication and technology skills to participate as effective members of the twenty-first century.
Curriculum Units are developed by teachers using the approach of 'Understanding by Design' to ensure content rigour and the alignment of assessment practices with each unit's targeted knowledge and skills. Early each term, teachers publish outlines of content and skills in literacy, numeracy and the other six key learning areas of science, SOSE, The Arts, P.E and technology that students will be taught that term.
All students participate in the core subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and PE/Health.
Students are introduced to the elective subjects in Year 7 and given a taste so they can begin to make informed decisions surrounding their elective program in Years 9 and 10. Students have the opportunity to participate in art, woodwork, metalwork, cooking, dance, drama, textiles and IT.
Our teaching and learning programs at Namadgi are designed to ensure that students’ learning is inclusive, and relevant to their experiences, abilities, and talents. Our staff work with students, families, and our community to assist students to develop as informed and active members of our multicultural society.
Learning Support Programs
The Learning Support program consists of Inclusion Support Program (ISP) and Learning Support Unit (LSU). We have six Learning Support Units across the school, three in primary and three in secondary.
Namadgi School offers all students the opportunity for a quality education regardless of individual differences. Placements for specialist programs such and LSU are managed through a central panel process.
Learning Support Units
The Learning Support Units consist of six classes. The student work in multi-age cohorts in all LSU settings. Each class is supported by a teacher and learning support assistant.
Students accessing the LSU engage in educational programs that meet their individualised needs. Students participate in academically rigorous activities that develop their literacy, numeracy and personal and social competencies. Sciences, Humanities and the Arts are presented through Inquiry pedagogy and aim to engage students in real world experiences. Social and Life skills are embedded throughout the program as are Physical Education and ICT.
Staff at LSU work in close partnership with external service providers such as Occupational and Speech Therapists. Students in LSU can also access the mainstream for participation and inclusion activities with their peers as well as for extension in areas of academic strength and interest. Students in the LSU are active participants in Whole School events and have represented Namadgi school in areas of Science, Sports and at the ANZAC Day Peace Ceremony.
All LSU classes aim to build strong positive relationships with families and students, linking home and school so as to achieve the best possible outcomes of successful learning and active citizenship for all our students.