School context
This case study relates to 3 government schools – Aldercourt Primary School, Mahogany Rise Primary School and Monterey Secondary College – located in Frankston North, the 4th most disadvantaged postcode in Melbourne. Families in Frankston North face higher rates of intergenerational disadvantage, often including institutionalised trauma. Students are more likely to experience, be witness to and be impacted by behaviours such as substance misuse, family violence and sexual abuse. These experiences can contribute to a range of barriers to education, including mistrust of adults, absenteeism, food and housing insecurity, and an inability to regulate emotions. A large number of children start school developmentally vulnerable on at least one domain of the Australian Early Development Census.
Challenge
All 3 schools faced significant problems with student absenteeism, poorer learning outcomes and participation, and a high rate of early school leavers. Enrolments were declining in all 3 schools, in particular at Monterey Secondary College, with many families electing to bypass these schools in favour of higher performing, less disadvantaged schools elsewhere – further concentrating the disadvantage within the schools. Each school had its own separate vision and ways of working and at times competed with each other for enrolments.
Actions taken
Whole of community approach The Frankston North Education Plan was launched in 2018 to address these challenges, one part of a wider approach to Education Plans.
The Plan has facilitated partnerships between the 3 schools and service providers including Frankston City Council, Peninsula Health, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Our Place – an approach developed by the Colman Education Foundation, a philanthropic organisation.
The Our Place approach uses the platform of a school to deliver integrated education, health and wellbeing services.
The Plan created a unique authorising environment to implement a range of improvement strategies established a whole-of-community approach in which the schools work together and with community partners.
The Plan’s vision is that ‘every child and family will be successful in learning and life’.
Leadership and collective planning
Through the Department of Education’s Differentiated Support for School Improvement initiative, a dedicated executive principal and 2 leading teachers were appointed to work across the 3 schools over 4 years. These leaders focused on building the capability of school leadership and staff to improve all aspects of school planning, curriculum delivery and professional practice.
Collective school reviews took place, leading to the development of common School Strategic Plans and Annual Implementation Plans, establishing a shared purpose for the students of Frankston North. Together, the principals of all 3 schools implemented significant practice improvements, including a shared Teaching and Learning Coaching Program, which puts effective staff mentoring relationships in place from early years through to secondary. Consistent school expectations (Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be a Learner) were also established across all schools.
Building upgrades and modernisation
A $26.2m program of upgrades and modernisation works across the 3 schools was completed in 2021. At Aldercourt Primary School and Mahogany Rise Primary School, this included:
- innovative, flexible spaces that support modern teaching practices and allow the school to offer integrated family, health and wellbeing services
- a new early learning centre (ELC)
- a welcoming community area that invites parents and the wider community to share school resources
- consulting rooms and community spaces to offer a range of health, community and family services.
At Monterey Secondary College, improvements included:
- community and wellbeing facilities to improve services for students and their families
- a new health and sports science Centre of Excellence
- a competition-grade gym
- a revitalised community reception area.
Continuity of learning from birth to adulthood
Early years supports such as supported playgroups, parenting support groups and family engagement groups are available through the schools, as is access to adult education and community services. On-site ELCs at Aldercourt Primary School and Mahogany Rise Primary School enabled stronger collaboration between the ELCs and schools. Early Years Professional Learning Communities (PLC)s comprising Foundation teachers and ELC educators track student development (such as vocabulary and fine motor skills) from 3 years old, supporting children to have a better transition to school.
A Community Liaison role working across the 3 schools has boosted the connection between the home and school through parent/carer volunteers, while a Year 6–7 Transition role supports the transition of complex students. Monterey Secondary College strengthened its employment readiness program, with students having access to more than 10 Vocational Education and Training (VET) certificates running on-site.
Teaching and learning model
Connection and consistent application of practice improvement initiatives from Early Years to Secondary has been achieved through a common Instructional Model, an Assistant Principal and Middle Leaders Network and PLCs.
Through a partnership with the Berry Street Education Model, all staff are trained in Trauma Informed Practice (TIPE), a model that educates schools and their leaders in how to reinforce and sustain cognitive and behavioural change to re-engage young people in learning. A single TIPE team oversees practice across the schools, with all school staff implementing the TIPE strategies in daily practice.
The Assistant Principal and Middle Leaders Network ensures that teachers can share practice and learning through a common language and approaches. The Network has introduced a common Numeracy Strategy, Coaching Playbook, Learning Walks, joint staff workshops and curriculum days. Embedded PLCs meet regularly to collaborate and use student data to inform teaching and learning.
Health and wellbeing supports
OurPlace and the 3 Frankston North schools worked with Peninsula Health to establish a permanent health hub at Aldercourt Primary School, where families from all 3 schools can access allied health services such as maternal and child health and immunisations, or visit the Access team on a ‘walk-in’ basis to get referrals or help with questions. Additional staff and facilities across the schools are strengthening the whole-of-community approach to wellbeing and inclusion. Monterey Secondary College opened a new Wellbeing Centre while Mahogany Rise Primary School appointed a Wellbeing and Inclusion Leading Teacher.
Student engagement
The 3 schools have implemented a range of programs to promote student engagement. Schools implement the Berry Street strategies for student engagement, including brain breaks, spotting micro-moments and using Ready to Learn plans. The schools also offer a range of outside class activities such as lunch time clubs and extended school-day activities including cooking, runners club and breakfast club. Monterey Secondary College has 7 different engagement programs ranging from Urban Farm and Outreach to small groups that transition students back into mainstream classes. The VCE and VCAL certificate completion rate at Monterey Secondary College has risen to 100% in 2020, 2021 and 2022, reflecting improved student engagement in senior secondary learning.
Outcomes
Evidence is building that the long-term efforts being made through the Plan are having a positive impact on school performance, student outcomes, community confidence and enrolments.
The 3 schools have achieved significant improvements in school climate since 2019, with each school consistently outperforming similar schools and the state average in key measures on staff, student and parent surveys. For example, parent satisfaction is above average and increasing at all 3 schools. More students are reporting that learning is stimulating at each school. Student absences at Aldercourt Primary School and Mahogany Rise Primary School have fallen and are now below the average for similar schools, although absences remain a challenge at Monterey Secondary College. Wellbeing measures have increased, with students at all 3 schools feeling an above-average connection to their school. These gains have translated to higher enrolments at all schools, with significant increases at Monterey Secondary College (23%) and at Aldercourt Primary School (17%).
The majority of students in all 3 schools are now exceeding or strong in NAPLAN reading. Most of Mahogany Rise Primary School students are also exceeding or strong in NAPLAN numeracy. While these results are pleasing, NAPLAN results across the three schools remain behind the state average, reflecting the long-term challenges faced by students in the Frankston North area.
The early improvements achieved at the 3 schools was recognised at the 2022 Victorian Education Excellence Awards, with the Frankston North Education Plan receiving both the Outstanding School Improvement award and Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education, which recognises the most outstanding contribution to Victorian government school education.
