Colyton High School

Location: Western Sydney

Colyton High School is a proud comprehensive high school with a current enrolment of 682 students including 69 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and 38 EALD students. Colyton High School is committed to providing comprehensive quality learning opportunities for all students providing an innovative and engaging curriculum within a developing Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) environment. Students are offered a diverse range of academic courses of study, supported through the delivery of school and TAFE delivered VET opportunities utilising outstanding trade training facilities. The school offers gifted and talented, sporting, creative and performing arts programs. The school embraces technology at all levels and students have good access to in-school technology in addition to a growing, ‘Bring Your Own Device’ environment. There is a strong emphasis on student leadership programs and effective student representation. The school runs a highly successful Personalised Student Assistance (Norta Norta) program to assist literacy and numeracy acquisition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Colyton High School is part of the Colyton Learning Community, producing successful middle school programs with partner primary schools. The school proactively builds and benefits from strong parent partnerships as well as community partnerships with local businesses, tertiary education institutions and non-government organisations.

How has your school used its Gonski funding?

The school is using a combination of the Socio-economic Background $1,185,127 Aboriginal Background $67,811 and Low Level Adjustment for Disability $113,161 allocation to support a range of curriculum initiatives including Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL), Positive Education, strengthened Learning Support, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Transition Programs (to Work and Higher Education) and Student Leadership and Cultural Programs

The school is using the Professional Learning and Beginning Teachers $71,941 RAM allocation and Socio-Economic Background $14, 122 RAM Allocation to build staff capacity as more effective and more engaging teachers. Programs include research based teaching and learning models such as Reading To Learn, Curiosity and Powerful Learning, Differentiation, Choice Theory and Positive Schools.

The school is implementing a range of strategies utilising the Socio-Economic Background $165,700 RAM Allocation to build genuine learning partnerships with the community. This includes improved communication strategies with parents, partnerships with TAFE, Western Sydney University, Beacon Foundation, Fusion, Community Junction, St Marys RSL and Penrith City Council.

How has Gonski made a positive difference for students?

Provided considerable wellbeing support for students with more effective case management of individual students and targeted support for groups. This led to a significant improvement in school tone and reduced the dependence on long suspensions. Resources added to the school included a third Deputy Principal, Head Teacher Wellbeing and full-time in school Youth Worker. It has strengthened the school focus on teaching and learning by contributing to a more planned and purposeful professional learning program, the implementation of researched-based teaching and learning models to boost student engagement and improve student outcomes - there were improvements in NAPLAN numeracy data which were against the state trends (decline). There has been a significant boost in targeted and individual learning support including engagement of speech pathologists, occupational therapist, additional Learning Support Officers and Learning Support Teachers. This has improved access to curriculum for many students

What could your school do with Gonski funding in the future?

Ongoing Gonski funding would ensure the improvements in student wellbeing are sustained and the enhanced teaching and learning initiatives lead to real and sustained improvements in student performance in the HSC and NAPLAN tests.