[insert school name]

School Overview

In 2008, Merrilands College undertook Self Evaluation and Diagnostic Review. These processes helped the school to frame areas of improvement and to set future directions. As well as considering itself in isolation, Merrilands College committed to a tri-partite arrangement with Ruthven Primary School and Lakeside Secondary College for joint educational provision within the local area.

Arising from these processes and provision arrangements, there is a strong commitment in the Merrilands College 2009-2012 Strategic Plan to lifting student performance in all areas and at all levels. This can be summarised by the commitment to ensuring all students are at or above the relevant VELS levels at the key progress points. Analysis of results from the previous Strategic Plan period showed that the school has typically achieved an acceptable rate of progress in student learning, albeit at slightly below the age appropriate levels. Performance against national and state benchmarks had been inconsistent.

Text Box: It was widely accepted within our school community that the level of achievement required improvement across the school. Regardless, achievement levels in some areas remained high, notably in some VCE Studies. The key strategies for improvement were centred on sharing best practice within the school and incorporating best practices from outside, especially in the areas of literacy and numeracy. Additionally, it was determined that the Leading Schools Fund initiated Personalised Learning approach using ICT needed further consolidation. Emerging from this was the PLUS (Personalised Learning through Understanding Students) program and a continued commitment to the Scholaris learning management platform. For 2009-2012, there is a documented ePLan to concurrently develop the school’s ICT infrastructure together with the application of ICT to teaching and learning alongside the Strategic Plan.

With the combination of VCE classes from Lakeside and Merrilands in 2009, it is anticipated that results for both schools will improve as higher quality learning opportunities are provided for all students. This is in addition to an improved range of subjects being offered as well as there being separate Year 11 and 12 classes in all subjects. Joint programs have been planned with Ruthven PS. It is expected that 2009 will see significant progress towards new models of provision involving all three schools.

Text Box:

Student enrolments

The graph represents enrolments as at Student Enrolment Census date. Whilst there was a continuance of the decline of previous years as measured at this date, enrolments over the 2008 school year increased by almost 5%. This is due to high mobility in the area and an increased confidence in the school amongst parents who subsequently encouraged transfers into the school throughout the year amongst other families.

Parent Satisfaction – There was high satisfaction with the school amongst those parents surveyed. This was substantiated by anecdotal feedback and via the Diagnostic Review and Self Evaluation.

Teacher Satisfaction - School morale as measured by the Staff Opinion Survey was 62.8 compared to a State P-12 median of 63.4.

Teacher Absence – Data for total teacher absence was not contained within the 2008 School Level Report at the time this Annual Report was compiled.

Teacher Retention - Of the 43 teaching staff at Merrilands College at June 2007, 37 or 86% were still at the school at June 2008. This figure across all Government schools was 84%.

Teacher participation in professional learning – All teaching staff participated in individual professional learning throughout the year. Notably the Achievement Improvement Zones (AIZ) initiative, led by two staff granted Teacher Professional Leave involved all teachers

Teacher Qualifications – All teachers in Victorian Government schools are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. The requirements for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching can be found at; http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/content.asp?Document_ID=241.

Principal's Report

Having commenced as Principal at Merrilands College at the start of the 2008 school year, I was struck by the willingness of the staff, students and parents to improve the school and to commit to improving educational outcomes for all young people in the area. This willingness persisted despite the large workload required to undertake review, self-evaluation and professional development initiatives such as the AIZ whilst committing to regeneration proposals involving our school, Lakeside SC and Ruthven PS.

The cohesive and supportive manner in which the School Council directed much of this work was a hallmark of the school community. One quote emerged though these reflective times, that at Merrilands “We are family”.

On reflection, 2008 was a watershed year for the school, not just in that the decision was made to combine and relocate VCE classes, but more so in the determination to commit to a sustained program of change and development of education in the area. Throughout, the students showed leadership and maturity beyond their years. Student Leadership was a central tenet of 2008 and proved to be a significant factor in unity within our school as well as providing the grounding for future developments with other schools.

School Council President's Report

School Council was very pleased to be involved in the Self Evaluation and Diagnostic Review processes in 2008. These provided excellent opportunities for feedback and for input into the current status of the school. They also gave all members of the school community a worthwhile say in the future directions of the school.

School Council also conducted many parent and student forums on school regeneration. In particular, there were many to do with the combination of Year 11 and 12 classes with Lakeside. This was difficult and demanding for parent and student members of School Council, but proved to be worthwhile in that the transition was very successful for our students.

The student members of School Council represented the current students very well in all planning and negotiations regarding the regeneration proposals. They also ensured circumstances were as well planned and resourced as possible for future students of our school. The Graduation/Valedictory night was a wonderful success and stands as a testament to the leadership and school spirit of our students.

Merrilands College School Council operated very smoothly throughout what was a difficult period. We are pleased with the new directions that arose from 2008, especially the reorganisation of our school around the stages of learning and the development of PLUS plans for all students. We are confident that Merrilands College has looked back on past performance in a way that will enable teachers, students and parents to work more closely together to improve results across the board.

Student Progress & Achievements

Student Learning

In 2008 Merrilands P-12 College started preparing to move towards ‘Personalised Learning’ through the development of PLUS plans for each student across the college. These were connected to our curriculum documentation, incorporating VELS-(Victorian Essential Learning Standards), Polt-(Principles of Learning & Teaching) and Assessment & Reporting practices. These practices were also the focus of our Strategic Plan, aiming to improve student learning outcomes for all students.

The 2008 School Performance data indicates that our school as a whole meets the Minimum National Standards in literacy and numeracy. In 2008, 100% of our Year 3 students meet the Minimum National Standards for reading. There was no data for writing, spelling, numeracy, grammar or punctuation, as the cohorts sitting the NAPLAN tests were less than 10 students. Over 80% of our Year 5 students reached the National Minimum Standards in reading, writing, spelling, numeracy, grammar & punctuation. Improvements were made in reading and numeracy when compared to the 2007 data.

Over 80% of our Year 7 students achieved at or above the National Minimum Standard in reading, writing, spelling, numeracy, grammar & punctuation. Improvements were made in reading and numeracy, with a slight decrease in writing, when compared to the 2007 data. Over 80% of our Year 9 students achieved at or above the National Minimum Standard in reading, writing, spelling and numeracy, with about 78% in grammar & punctuation.

VCE/VET median study score – The data shows that our VCE/VET median study score has been increasing since 2006. The scores have averaged from about 25 in 2006 to about 27 in 2007 and about 28 in 2008. There has also been a slight increase in the satisfactory completion rates for VCAL and slight drops in VCE and VET, yet the VCE completion rate still remains high. Some students have left school to look for work.

Satisfactory completion rates –

VCE – 91% of eligible VCE students that completed in 2008.

VET – 60% VET units of competence were completed in 2008 as a percentage of those undertaken.

VCAL – 83% satisfactory completion of VCAL credits.

Student Engagement and Wellbeing

The average number of absent days per P-6 student increased slightly from 15.5 to 16.9 days and from 21.7 to 22.3 days in 7-12. The identifiable cause of this increase is longer term illness and trips overseas by students and their families.

Student connectedness to school remains high, even though it has decreased slightly from 2007. There was some concern from some students and their families regarding the college moving from a P-12 to a P-10 college following the co-location of Year 11 and 12 classes with Lakeside SC. As a result, a number of families chose to consider the move to other schools. Our families expressed a preference for the P-12 model of schooling via the Review and Self Evaluation as a “one place for all” schooling model.

Average number of absent days per student

Students' school connectedness

Student Connectedness decreased for Years 5 & 6 students from 4.37 to 4.18 from 2007 to 2008. It rose from 3.31 to 3.70 for Year 7-12 students in the same period.

Throughout 2008, the further involvement of students in a widespread student leadership program and our personalised learning approach gave all students more say in their school and their learning. Student voice and personalised learning increasingly led to stronger student-teacher-parent relationships such as our Parent/Teacher Interviews becoming Student-Teacher-Parent Interviews centred on the students’ personalised learning plans.

2007 Student destination data – The 2008 On Track data shows that the majority of students, once placed in University or TAFE, continued in that course throughout 2008. Of the students who left tertiary education and those who were seeking employment, all have found full time employment or entered a full time traineeship through an employer. These students have been able to use the skills they developed during Pathways programs and Careers counselling at school to seek and successfully undertake a career path for which they are suited.

Student Pathways and Transitions

The data shows, in comparison to 2007, a significant increase in Year 12 students pursuing university enrolment and an equally significant drop in students enrolling in TAFE/VET courses. The number seeking Apprentice/Trainee courses remained approximately equivalent over the same period. The number employed has decreased and the number looking for work has increased since 2007. The increasing interest in university courses can be attributed to the school raising the aspirations of students through counselling and careers advice.

The data also shows an increase in the retention rate between years 7 and 12 from 73.33% in 2007 to 75.41% in 2008. This may be attributed to the changing structure and teaching practice developing at Merrilands College as outlined at the beginning of this report.

Future Directions

Merrilands College has a sound future arising from our Strategic Plan.

There is a strong commitment to increasing student learning outcomes for all students based on the establishment of higher standards of achievement and higher aspirations for all students. Closely aligned to this are personalised learning structures and process that will enable greater collaboration between parents, students and teachers. Increasingly, the school is demonstrating how it can improve outcomes not to just the minimum standards, but to high levels of achievement in all areas and at all year levels. These features are summarised in the school’s mottos:

We Are Family

Achievement Creativity Excellence

Perhaps the single biggest factor impacting on the school is the high likelihood of stronger partnerships with both Lakeside SC and Ruthven PS. This is seen within the Merrilands school community as providing new opportunities for our students and for the students at the other schools that will be of significant benefit.

2008 proved to be a year of reflection and evaluation on past performance. 2009 and beyond will see the realisation of many of the plans and ideas arising from this. Increasingly, the future direction of the school will be intertwined with new directions for education within the wider community.

Financial Performance and Position

The school remained in sound financial status throughout 2008. Suitable financial dealings were put in place arising from the joint provision of Year 11 and 12 classes with Lakeside SC.

Financial Performance – Operating Statement Summary for the year ending 31st December, 2008
Revenue	2008 Actual
DE&T Grants	420, 584
Commonwealth Government Grants	16,960
State Government Grants	36,594
Other	46,483
Locally Raised Funds	150,417
Total Operating Revenue	671,039

Expenditure
Salaries and Allowances	55,795
Bank Charges	2,916
Consumables	123,729
Books and Publications	1,501
Communication Costs	16,013
Furniture and Equipment	203,350
Utilities	36,182
Property Services	118,872
Travel and Subsistence	419
Motor Vehicle Expenses	4,616
Administration	8,435
Health and Personal Development	1,705
Professional Development	14,222
Trading and Fundraising	27,304
Support/Service	45,365
Miscellaneous	40,876
Total Operating Expenditure	701,300

Net Operating Surplus/-Deficit	-30,261
Capital Expenditure	3,294
Please note that the above amounts do not include any credit revenue or expenditure allocated or spent by the school through its Student Resource Package

Financial Position as at 31st December, 2008
Funds Available	2008 Actual
High Yield Investment Account	227,537
Official Account	2,958
Other Bank Accounts( listed individually)	0
(insert)
(insert)
Total Funds Available	230,495
Financial Commitments	2008 Actual
School Operating Reserve	82,667
Co-operative Bank Account	0
Assets or Equipment Replacement < 12 months	0
Revenue Receipted in Advance	0
Building/Grounds including SMS < 12 months	20,000
Region /Clusters Funds/School Based Programs < 12 months	0
Provision Accounts < 12 months	0
Repayable to DEECD	0
Other Recurrent Expenditure (Accounts Payable)	17,500
Assets or Equipment Replacement > 12 months	50,000
Building/Grounds including SMS > 12 months	80,000
Region /Clusters Funds/School Based Programs > 12 months	0
Provision Accounts > 12 months	0
Co-operative loan >12 months	0
Beneficiary/Memorial Accounts	0
Total Financial Commitments	250,017