News

Coronavirus - Department of Education statement

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:22:42 AEDT

The department is working with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international novel coronavirus situation.

Get up-to-date information about the department's response to novel coronavirus.

2019 school budget allocations

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 09:14:37 AEDT

Like all NSW public schools, this week we will receive a School Budget Allocation Report with our funding for 2019. The report will help us manage our total budget delivered through the Resource Allocation Model (RAM).

The RAM supports schools through needs-based funding to ensure a fair, efficient and transparent allocation of funds. Our school has the flexibility to make local decisions based on the specific needs of our students.

We will use our 2019 funding to support students and improve educational outcomes. The school executive will continue to work with the school community as we implement the school plan using this needs-based funding.

Learn more about the 2019 RAM funding.

Premier highlights the value of public education

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:15:20 AEDT

Kiama and Parramatta public schools hosted the launch of Education Week today.

The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, with (from left): Education Minister Rob Stokes; State Member for Parramatta, Geoff Lee; Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott; student performers and comperes, and the Principal of Parramatta Public School, Gail Charlier (far right).

Public education can be the springboard to the top job in New South Wales.

That was the message from the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, as she launched Education Week celebrations today at Parramatta and Kiama public schools.

"I know that all schools across the state today are highlighting and celebrating what we all value in public education – where someone like me who couldn't speak a word of English when she started school has somehow ended up being the Premier of NSW," she said.

Ms Berejiklian said she had met many possible future leaders during her visit to Parramatta Public School and "couldn't be prouder, as your Premier, to witness the outstanding achievements of all the students across the state".

The dual school launch, linked via a live simulcast, focused on the theme of Education Week, Today's schools – creating tomorrow's world, which highlights how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

For the first time the launch was hosted entirely by primary school students and featured student performances from Eastwood Public School violinist Justine Zhang, Bossley Park High School soloist Ezra Loau and dancers from Hoxton Park Public School.

Year 8 students from Kiama High School – Alira Morgan, Jannali Morgan and Olivia Talbott – opened the celebration with an Acknowledgement of Country performed in language.

Keynote speeches were delivered from Kiama by Terara Public School Year 6 student Lucy Boundy, Molly Chapman, a Year 8 student at Dapto High School, and Nowra East Public School instructional leader Vishanti Govender.

Lucy told the launch that education was about opportunity: "Opportunity to learn, opportunity to improve and opportunity to make a difference."

In detailing her early struggles with learning, Molly said a more hands-on approach to study at her high school had a huge impact on her.

"I learn more effectively by seeing and doing things because it gets in my head more easily and pictures are worth a thousand words. Thanks to school, I'm exceeding in almost everything I touch," she said.

Education Minister Rob Stokes highlighted the "incredible legacy" of public schools on society, a role contemporary education and educators would play in the future.

"We are in a period of vast technological, social and economic change, and with that the role of education becomes more important, even bigger, and the challenge for teachers and students becomes more complex," he said.

"We need to provide training in those skills that recognise the future is uncertain and to train and encourage young people not just to be ready for the change that is coming but to be excited by it."

Education Week 2018 - Today's schools creating tomorrow's world

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:17:25 AEDT

The future of education will be showcased in NSW public schools from August 6 – 10 as students, teachers and parents across the state celebrate Education Week 2018.

Education Week kicks off on Monday, August 6, with a simultaneous launch at Parramatta and Kiama public schools livestreamed on YouTube so all government schools and their communities can join in.

This year's theme, Today's schools – creating tomorrow's world, highlights how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

For the first time the Education Week launch will be hosted by primary school students and will feature a dancing robot, student performances and a film highlighting how schools are working with their communities to solve real-world problems.

A highlight of the week is the Game Changer Challenge, in which 16 teams of students from schools across NSW will compete in a three-day design program, working alongside leading industry professionals to create the school of the future.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said today's students were learning at a time of great change.

"From the far west to our metropolitan hubs and everywhere in between, our state's schools will celebrate not only what we've achieved, but the future we are creating," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We are living in a time when the traditional walls of the classroom are opening up to new worlds of learning, paving the way for students to connect and collaborate with their peers regionally and globally."

Education Minister Rob Stokes said there had never been a more exciting time to be involved in schools with technology reshaping the way students learn and billions of dollars being invested in new school infrastructure.

"The NSW Department of Education is continually striving for improvement and innovation so that the young people in our care learn in a world-class education system," Mr Stokes said.

"The NSW Government is supporting that vision through a record $6 billion in funding to build the classrooms and schools of the future."

The Secretary of the Department of Education Mark Scott said ensuring today's students had the skills they would need to "not just survive, but thrive" in the future underpinned the department's evidence-based approach to learning.

"I am incredibly proud of the innovative teaching and learning that is being done across our State's public schools to ensure that every student can perform to their full potential," Mr Scott said.

"We don't know what the future will hold, but we do know that we are focused on equipping today's students with the skills and knowledge they will need to lead fulfilling lives in the future."

Well done to the SWAY team

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

Well done to the SWAY team!

SWAY http://sway.org.au/ is an oral language and literacy program based on Aboriginal knowledge, culture and stories. It has been developed by Educators, Aboriginal Education Officers and Speech Pathologists at the Royal Far West School in Manly, NSW.

SWAY Training was held at Batemans Bay Public School in April 2018. Educators from Kindergarten and Preschool ( Mundarra), Noah's Inclusion Service and Mogo Preschool attended the 3 day Training.Participants shared ideas, engaged and motivated each other. Lois Birk ( AEO at Royal Far West School) visited Mogo Preschool and connected with community.

Bourke PS Partners in SWAY

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:25 AEST

SWAY team from Bourke PS come to Manly

RFWS had the enormous pleasure of welcoming a group of 5 staff from Bourke PS to do SWAY training at our Manly site during term 1. This onsite training is being followed up with regular mentoring and small group work demonstrating how to implement strategies to develop language skills in the school setting. We are using our amazing interface, specially designed for us by NICTA for the virtual part of the SWAY package.

CLSA Chairman's Trust Supports SWAY for another year!

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:25 AEST

We are very excited to announce that CLSA Chairman's Trust has agreed to fund our SWAY program for an additional 12 months. This grant of $115,000 will enable us to complete this wonderful program, including the development of a comprehensive SWAY website, and to trial the full program at Bourke Public School as well as to continue to mentor Bowraville Central. Go to the SWAY tab for further information.

The SWAY team hear about the additional 12 months grant

Give IT a Go!

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:25 AEST

RFWS have just launched a new website designed to help schools to incorporate technology into their classroom programs for students with literacy difficulties. The site is a "work in progress", with links to useful websites, tutorial clips prepared by RFWS staff and work samples by our wonderful students. You can even book an Adobe session to discuss how you can use technology. Why don't you Give IT a Go?

University evaluation shows SOLVE IT to be highly effective in engaging students in learning

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

A recently completed study by the University of Western Sydney found SOLVE IT to be an effective way in which to re- engage students in learning. Findings included:

All students, teachers and parents believed that the students' involvement in the program (i.e. SOLVE IT) had improved their learning in general, in literacy ad in other areas across the curriculum
Parents and teachers noted an increase in students' motivation to learn and a change in attitude to learning with an increase in independence and enthusiasm
Students, teachers, tutors and most parents were very positive about the use of technology as a motivating factor
Many students changed their views of themselves as learners, which provided motivation for them to see learning and education as potentially impotrant ot their future
The program provided opportunities for students to feel special in a positive way and provided social and emotional support on an individual basis.

To read the evaluation in full click here (pdf 975 KB).

RFWS Partners with Bowraville Central through LEEP

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

A LEEP Ahead! Today a team at Royal Far West School had a video link with staff from Bowraville Central and the community preschool to discuss working together to introduce the SWAY program into the preschool and school. The SWAY program - Sounds, Words and Yarning - has been developed at RFWS in collaboration with community, speech pathologists, Aboriginal staff, an Aboriginal academic and special educators. SWAY is an early literacy program that develops pre-literacy skills using speech pathology and educational straegies in a program that embeds Aboriginal culture. Thanks to funding from Credit Lyonnaise, we are currently developing a localisable form of SWAY. Following community consultation this week at both sites, we hope to send a team to Bowraville to get to know our partners and their context.

LEEP Takes Off!

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

RFWS has just been awarded a Chairman's Trust grant by Credit Lyonnaise to develop their LEEP program - Local Excellence through Effective Partnerships. The project aims to develop the early literacy skills of rural and remote preschoolers and kindy students. LEEP will include several components:

An early literacy package, building on an existing, partly developed program written by a team at the school as part of a Quality Teaching Indigenous Project. This program, SWAY (Sounds, Words and Yarning), was developed after a great deal of consultation with Aboriginal educators, parents and community members as well as an Aboriginal academic specialising in linguistics. The development team was made up of Aboriginal teaching and support staff, a speech pathologist, speech pathology students and a special educator.
The published SWAY package, which will be available online, as an app on tablet computers and in kit form, will provide teachers and parents with activities to develop early skills fundamental to the development of strong literacy skills. Lessons will target knowledge and manipulation of areas such as sounds, vocabulary, story telling. The package will embed Aboriginal cultural knowledge, be high interest, activity-based and easy to use.
Training of preschool and kindergarten staff in classroom-based actvities to develop early literacy skills. Training will be available online on demand,using a series of video clips, slide presentations and other resources.
Partnerships with rural and remote preschools to measure the efficacy of the program and to devleop the program further in response to need. Data pre and post LEEP implementation will be used to inform the ongoing development of LEEP.
Parent training will be a very important part of LEEP.

SOLVE IT is Finalist in Premier's Partnership Award

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

The SOLVE IT program was delighted to be a finalist in the Premier's Partnership Award 2012. This was in recognition of the amazing partnership between our enthusiastic, committed local volunteers, dedicated teachers at RFWS and the technical expertise of the Centre for Learning Innovation.

SOLVE IT virtual classrooms are now accessible through the RFWS website.

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

Click on the SOLVE IT tab at the top of the RFWS homepage. Follow the links to enter the SOLVE IT classrooms and speech pathology clinic.

SOLVE IT wins international Computerworld award

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre (CLIC) nominated SOLVE IT outreach service as a case study for an international award and has been names a 2012 Computerworld Honours Laureate. A NSW DEC representative has been invited to join the 2012 Laureates and industry luminaries for an Award Ceremony on June 4 in Washington. During the ceremony each Laureate will be presented with a medallion and five Laureates from each of the 10 Honours categories will be named as finalists for a 21st Century Achievement Award, with one finalist in each category then named an Achievement Award winner. For more information go to the Computerworld Awards site.

Congratulations to CLIC - and especially Raju Varanasi and Colin Wood; to the SOLVE teachers at Royal Far West School - Rangihutia Kerr (Coordinator SOLVE IT) and Lee Bersten (founder of SOLVE IT) and all of our amazing volunteer tutors (47 at last count!)

SOLVE IT - How effective is it?

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

In term 2 2012 the NSW Department of Education and Communities is going to evaluate the effectiveness of outreach learning using technology and trained, supervised volunteer tutors. The evaluation will consider a number of measures including student well being, engagement in learning, attendance and behaviour. RFWS will complement this evaluation by mapping the trajectory of student reading skills before, during and after the outreach program.

For more information about SOLVE IT have a look at this article in Side By Side magazine.

SOLVE IT in the news

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

SOLVE IT needs more volunteers. The Manly Daily came to visit to see SOLVE IT in action and to see why our volunteer tutors love coming to school.

New school shoes make a great start to the school year!

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:25 AEST

Thanks to "A Start in Life" we can offer our wonderful students new school shoes. Comfortable new shoes are a vital part of being ready to learn. As these girls show, there's nothing quite like new leather shoes to make you feel great.

RFWS SOLVING IT with rural schools

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 20:36:26 AEST

RFWS is provides individual reading support to students where local rural schools are unable to access volunteer tutors. To see a video about the presentation click on SOLVE IT .

For information please contact the SOLVE IT Coordinator, Rangihutia Kerr on 02 9977 2452 or rangihutia.kerr@det.nsw.edu.au