conservatorium high school annual school report · pdf fileannual school report 8147 . 1 ......

Conservatorium High School

Annual School Report

8147

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Our school at a glance

Students

Of the 150 students attending the school in 2011, 77 were in the junior school and 73 in the senior school. The student population was 50% male, 50% female; over 52% of students come from a non-English speaking background. The enthusiasm, dedication, work ethic and capabilities of our students are reflected in their academic results and musical achievements.

Staff In 2011 the school had 29 staff, of whom five were executive staff and seven administrative staff. In addition to the music faculty, the school’s Principal and Deputy Principal also have postgraduate qualifications in music performance and music-education and they actively participate in the music program. The school employed 140 tutors, largely drawn from the Faculty of Music of Sydney University, to teach primary and secondary instrumental studies, musicology, composition and chamber music.

All teaching staff meet the professional requirements for teaching in NSW public schools.

Significant programs and initiatives

As in previous years, the Conservatorium High continued to provide students with an extensive program of music-educational enrichment throughout 2011.

Choral and Orchestral Program engages the entire school in an hour & half of vocal work every week. Choral repertoire for all-of-school concerts is usually performed from memory.

Chamber Music Program develops students’ ensemble skills through a wide variety of judiciously chosen, graded repertoire studied under the expert guidance of professional musicians.

Ensembles Program affords students of orchestral instruments the opportunity to study and perform repertoire scored for medium-sized instrumental choirs.

Sight-Reading and Accompaniment Program addresses the importance of all students acquiring functional keyboard skills.

Performance Workshop Program com-bines performance, critical listening and instruction in aspects of performing-arts health care. It affords students the opportunity of performing for their peers, developing style critical and performance appraisal skills and appraisal of and practising pre-concert positive thinking and relaxation techniques.

Student achievement in 2011

In 2011 the Conservatorium High ranked fifth in the State in spelling and twelfth in NSW in reading according to NAPLAN results. In Numeracy, Year 7 students achieved 66.9 scale scores i.e., 11.4% above the statistically-similar group average and 20.7% above the State average.

The change from a written test to an online test necessitated a change in the reporting scale for ESSA results. This means that 2011 data cannot be directly compared with data from previous years and therefore no trend data nor the 2009 and 2010 percentage in levels will be displayed in SMART for 2011 results. In 2011 Year 8 students achieved 52.2% in Bands 5 and 6 compared to 22.2% in the state. No student achieved below a Band 4. The mean for "Communicating Scientifically" was 100%. CHS students performed well above the State average in all aspects of their School Certificate.

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Their achievement was 10.3% above the State average in English, 21.3% above in Mathematics, 11.8 % above in Science. Moreover, they were 10.8% above the State average in Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship, 16.1% above in Australian History, Civics and Citizenship and 12.3% above in Computer Skills. They performed better than the SSG in all areas of the School Certificate. 98.89 Top ATAR

35% of the cohort gained an ATAR over 90 59% of the cohort gained an ATAR of over 85 5% of the cohort was on the All-Rounders List 53 Band 6s achieved by 36 students 21 students nominated for Encore

Conservatorium High School students achieved Band 6s in the following subjects: Mathematics 2, General Maths, Maths Ext 1, English Advanced, English Ext, Music Ext, Music 2 and Biology.

Messages

Principal’s message

All schools are busy places and none more so than the Conservatorium High. As the secondary arm of the Conservatorium of Music, the State’s only specialist music high school delivers both the standard curriculum of studies concurrently with a special program of intensive music activities (Board Endorsed Course) that is unique to this school. Over the years, additional activities, all intrinsically worthwhile, have crept into the time-table and taken on the character of permanent accretions that put further strain our students’ already packed schedule of academic and music performance commitments. Something had to give.

While the school’s School Certificate and Higher School Certificate results were never less than

solid and quite a number were outstanding, it was apparent that the overcrowded timetable has been impeding our students’ achieving results fully commensurate with their abilities.

The timetable is to be substantially rejigged and some longstanding imbalances will be redressed, all with a view to ensuring that the overall academic achievement of the school can be further strengthened.

Dr Robert Curry

P & C message

The P&C is the parent body of the school, and welcomes all parents in becoming involved in P&C activities. In 2011, the P&C undertook three new initiatives designed to build the school community and enhance the role of the P&C. The first was a ‘family buddy program’ that links new families with existing families in order to help them feel at home at the Con High. The second was the provision of dinner boxes, organised by Linda Cumines, to feed the children between school and school concerts. The third was a sur-vey of parents regarding P&C activities, which also gathered suggestions as to other ways the P&C can help the school community. The survey was provided in English, Mandarin and Korean, thanks to the help of Jacqueline Chan, as an indi-cator that the P&C is enthusiastic to reflect the multicultural nature of the school.

Alongside these new steps, the P&C continued its main tasks of fundraising for the school and sup-porting the school in other ways. The main fund-raising effort was Café Cantata, providing drinks, snacks and meals for AMEB exam candidates and their families on Saturdays at the Conservato-rium. Café Cantata raised almost $9,000, thanks to the dedicated teams of parents, organised by

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Year Co-ordinators under the overall manage-ment of the P&C Secretary Nick Berg. The Trivia Night, organised by Janine Grace, raised more than $3,000. The P&C also runs the uniform shop at the school, thanks to two dedicated parents, Rosey Jones and Kathy Drayton. Although this is not primarily a profit-making venture, it was able to provide more than $6,000 into P&C’s raised funds. In consultation with the school, funds raised last year will contribute to the purchase of the rarer or larger instruments (such as the bassoon and the double bass) so that students can be encouraged to try these instruments out before families commit themselves to purchasing their own.

The P&C continued the new tradition of providing a Welcome barbecue for new families prior to the first 2011 House Concerts, and also provided suppers for school concerts, thanks to the time and effort of parent volunteers. The Buzz Book continues to provide the school community with a handy list of contact details of school families, P&C officers and key school staff. The Soloists Concerts, co-ordinated by Annette Anderson, again provided students with the opportunity of performing solo in a supportive environment at whatever level they are up to, thus gaining this valuable experience.

The P&C relies on the goodwill of the parent body in voluntarily contributing their time and energy, and we can be thankful that so many Con High parents are willing to support the school in this way. Particular thanks go to the executive, which from 2012 will be led by Linda Cumines. Meetings are held at 6.30pm on the second Tuesday of each month in school term time at the school.

Rev. Dr. Greg Anderson. P&C President - 2011.

Student representative’s message

In keeping with the successes of the 2010 Student Representative Council, the 2011 SRC sought to retain its positive social presence within the school community, with its output focused on benevolence and team building. As well as providing a platform for myriad fund-raising and social-activity concepts, the SRC's weekly meetings provided a forum for the student ideas, queries and complaints to be voiced and attended to. The very nature of weekly meetings allowed the SRC to develop as a cohesive unit, able to discuss all agendas thoughtfully with emphasis placed on feasibility and logic. The SRC's calendar included many charitable events; mufti and pyjama days, The World's Greatest Shave, Biggest Morning Tea, Jeans for Genes Day (affectionately termed Jean's for Jeans for Genes Day), frequent performances at Sydney Children's Hospital and creative input and coordi-nation of Rich Fowler's Romeo and Juliet, all providing much needed aid to important causes. In order to promote development of team-ori-ented skills and have a bit of fun, the SRC hosted extremely successful activities including The Amazing Race (with many thanks to Panayioti Karamanos for his overwhelming effort) and, in consonance with the tradition laid by its 2010 predecessors, the 2011 Con High Trivia Night (also many thanks to Mr Willey for providing us with the evening's dance entertainment).

2011 also saw the induction of House Captains into the SRC, allowing further input to be heard from highly esteemed leaders and peers, and extending the reach of students' voices.

Evan Harris. School Captain - 2011.

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School context

Student information

It is a requirement that the reporting of information for all students must be consistent with privacy and personal information policies.

Student enrolment profile

150 students were enrolled at Conservatorium High School in 2011.

Student Enrolment

Gender 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Male 90 76 73 72 76

Female 102 92 74 74 74

We have maintained a very good gender balance and continue to present a broad cross-section of the ethnic backgrounds of the modern Australian community

Student attendance profile

Attendance at Conservatorium High School remains high. In 2011 we began using a new software package that interfaces more effectively with ERN, Oasis and school processes; this has led to a marked improvement in our reporting and accountability procedures.

Sch

oo

l

Year 2008 2009 2010 2011

7 97.0 94.4 98.2

8 93.5 95.1 96.7

9 91.8 91.8 96.6

10 88.0 91.8 94.4

11 87.2 92.8 94.7

12 87.6 88.0 93.0

Total 87.2 89.4 91.6 95.4

Reg

ion

7 94.3 94.6 94.7

8 92.4 92.7 92.6

9 91.2 91.8 91.5

10 91.1 91.0 90.3

11 91.1 91.2 90.6

12 90.8 90.9 91.1

Total 91.5 91.8 92.0 91.8

Stat

e D

EC

7 92.3 92.6 92.5

8 90.0 90.5 90.1

9 88.8 89.1 88.8

10 88.7 88.3 87.1

11 89.4 89.1 87.6

12 89.4 89.8 89.2

Total 89.9 89.7 89.9 89.2

Management of non-attendance

The school runs three differentiated systems to manage student non-attendance. The first is a system of remedial responses to unexplained lateness/fractional truancy. The second is the Sydney Region SMSpresso attendance management system. The third is the software package: SENTRAL, which employs swipe cards and allows the generation of formal absence notifications. This last system, an Australian package, is quite new and subject to regular upgrades in response to users’ suggestions and requests for improvements.

Retention to Year 12

Conservatorium High School usually has a very high retention rate from Yr 10 through to the HSC. The 2011 data reflects a change in attitude on the part of a number of students who, with the full support of the school, realised their particular educational needs could be better met at other institutions.

School 83.8 78.4 91.4 91.9 81.5

SEG 80.1 80.6 82.9 81.8 85.9

State 60.8 60.3 61.0 62.7 64.4

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Post-school destinations

93% of Conservatorium High School graduates matriculated into tertiary study (27/29). One student was accepted into an Exchange Program to Japan and another is working for a charity.

Course of Study % of Students

Music/Music Education 52

Business/Commerce/EventMngmnt 15

Medical/Science/Nursing 14

Laws/International Studies 6

Arts/Visual Arts 6

TOTAL MATRICULATION 93

Year 12 students undertaking vocational or trade training

0% of Year 12 students undertook vocational or trade training in 2011.

Year 12 students attaining HSC or equivalent vocational educational qualification

100 percent of Year 12 students at Conservatorium High School attained the HSC in 2011.

Staff information

It is a requirement that the reporting of information for all staff must be consistent with privacy and personal information policies.

Staff establishment

Position Number

Principal 1

Deputy Principal(s) 1

Assistant Principal(s) 0

Head Teachers 3

Classroom Teachers 14

Teacher of Emotional Disabilities 0

Teacher of Mild Intellectual Disabilities 0

Teacher of Reading Recovery 0

Support Teacher Learning Assistance 0

Teacher Librarian 1

Teacher of ESL 0.2

Counsellor 1

School Administrative & Support Staff 6

Total 27.2

The National Education Agreement requires schools to report on Indigenous composition of their workforce.

There were No staff in 2011 that identified as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent.

Staff retention

Conservatorium High School has had 95% of our 2010 staff continue into 2011. One temporary staff member left the school to get married and pursue a family.

Teacher qualifications

All teaching staff meet the professional requirements for teaching in NSW public schools.

Qualifications % of staff

Degree or Diploma 100

Postgraduate 55

Doctoral Qualifications 10

Financial summary

This summary covers funds for operating costs and does not involve expenditure areas such as permanent salaries, building and major maintenance.

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Since 1990 the Conservatorium High School has shared the facilities of the State’s Conservatorium of Music with the music faculty of the University of Sydney. As a consequence of that co-location a number of school operational arrangements come under the purview of the DEC’s Strategic Initiatives and Asset Management Directorates which oversee co-ordination of the facility with the University’s Faculty of Music. Several budget lines show DEC funds set aside for this purpose and, as such, they do not therefore solely reflect the school’s net expenditure on operating costs. A full copy of the school’s 2011 financial statement is tabled at the annual general meetings of the School Council and/or the parent body. Further details concerning the statement can be obtained by contacting the school.

Pending the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, Memorandum of Agreement and/or a Service-level Agreement between the University of Sydney and the DEC (in train now for well over half a decade) the school holds in escrow monies from the State Non-Tertiary Music Grant that are to go towards acquittal of costs incurred in delivering the Board Endorsed Music Program.

Date of financial summary: 30/12/2011

Income $

Balance brought forward 2 168 586.34

Global funds 128 054.63

Tied funds 762 438.34

School & community sources 207 281.84

Interest 134 739.92

Trust receipts 393 200.20

Canteen 0

Total income 1 625 714.93

Expenditure

Teaching & learning

Key learning areas 76 660.47

Excursions 53 011.60

Extracurricular dissections 71 778.65

Library (See Note*) 9 405.32

Training & development 835

Tied funds 422 747.53

Casual relief teachers 13 835.47

School-operated canteen(*) 0

Utilities(*) 2 792.08

Maintenance 3 395.66

Trust accounts 138 248.33

Capitol programs(*) 28 926.85

Total expenditure 886 196.01

Balance carried forward 2 908 105.26

School performance 2011

The most significant point of difference for Conservatorium High School is the quality and variety of the school Music Program.

Music During 2011 the school improved its consistently high standard of performance of more challenging repertoire though the employment of a Conductor-in-Residence, Carolyn Watson. Ms Watson trained the choir and orchestra for all major concerts. Her professional expertise and experience in working with young musicians have drawn plaudit from the school’s many supporters. Sharing Ms Watson’s pedagogical approach and working most effectively with her was Ms Elizabeth Scott, a Kodály-trained choral

0.0

50.0

100.0

SC05-HSC07 SC07-HSC09 SC09-HSC11

Retention to Year 12 (SC to HSC)

School SEG State

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specialist who rehearsed the school choir for the Term 2 and 3 concerts.

Choral and Orchestral Concerts The year began at Speech Night with music celebrating the 50th anniversary of the death of Australian composer Percy Grainger, conducted by Mr Jeffrey Willey. The Term 1 concert Youth, Maturity and Old Age presented music from Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, Rossini and Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo. The Rossini was repeated at a successful concert presentation at the Conservatorium’s Open Day in April.

The Annual Concert included music by Beethoven, Strauss, Bernstein and Handel. Of particular interest was the Divertimento by Bernstein, a challenging orchestral work that the students and audience alike enjoyed immensely. The Valedictory Concert for departing Year 12s, a new attraction in the school’s calendar, was the highlight of Term 3’s musical highlight. Garnering great popular acclaim, the school’s performance of the Mozart’s Requiem in D minor (tertiary student soloists from the Sydney University’s

Faculty of Music) proved to be the highlight of the Con High’s 2011concert calendar. As always, the House Concerts, bringing the school year to and end in their new slot at the end of Term 4, proved to be as exciting and enjoyable as always - going out on a high note! Chamber Concerts The school’s chamber music concerts continued to present high-quality performances by our students with repertoire for small ensembles, both chamber music standards, jazz ensembles and some unusual fare. The final chamber music concert in the ballroom of Government House remained a favourite with our audience.

Other Concerts As previously, the school’s busy music-making year included Lunchbreak Concerts, featuring an exciting and inspiring concert by our Wind Sinfonia, ably directed by Mark Brown. Soloists’ Concerts, School Certificate Concerts, numerous competitions and other one-off events completed a hectic round of performances.

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Another highlight was the hosting of students from the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in a combined concert with orchestral, ensemble and choral items being presented. A music theatre experience presenting a brand new work written by one of the Music staff, Richard Fowler, provided the students with a fun, yet musically rewarding experience, mixing with professional music theatre artists in presenting a workshop version of Romeo and Juliet incorporated inside a larger musical entitled MegaStar.Com Jeff Willey Head Teacher – Music

Achievements

Arts

The Year 9 Visual Arts class entered all their animations (previously shown at assembly) into the V-Fest (Student Animation Festival). All applicants were considered excellent and they were all shown on the "big" screen at the festival.

Several Con High students were selected to be in The Arts Unit ensembles:

Dexter Cave, Rhys Little and Hana Matsuoka were in SWO.

Evan Atwell-Harris, Tom Collins and Alex Hirlian were in the Jazz Orchestra.

Jane Anderson, Kirrily Swatton, Jarred Mattes, Cameron Mackay and Gabriel Fischer were in the Symphony Orchestra.

Joh MacDonald, Gabriel Fischer, Kirsty Cairney and Alex Charlton were in SWE.

Kirsty Cairney was in Stage Band.

Michael Kallidis was in Junior Singers.

Chaylah Chivas was in State Choir.

Kinsey Alexander was in the Schools Spectacular Orchestra.

Evan Atwell-Harris, Tom Collins and Alex Hirlian were in the Schools’ Spectacular Stage Band and Alex Hirlian was a Featured Artist at that event.

Sport

Liana Tam (Yr 7) was named NSW Combined High School's Gymnastics Champion at the NSW State Championships in Newcastle, Division 3. She won 3 Gold Medals.

Ailie Yeh (Yr 7) - National Figure Skating Champion. Hana Matsuoka (Yr 7) - Eastern Suburbs Zone Age Swimming Champion, Regional representative at CHS Championships

Four students represented the Zone at the regional swimming championships. Hugo Bishop received the Pierre de Coubertin Award. Six students were chosen to represent the Zone at the Regional Cross Country Championships

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Other

English Competition

In the 2011 ICASS English competition, 6 High Distinctions were awarded to the following students: Kira Horneman, Imogen Jones, Lily Builth- Snoad , Lorraine Chung, Thomas Mahony-Brack and Jeffrey Zhang .

Three Distinctions and twenty credits were awarded. Distinctions went to Carl Bodnaruk, Toby Bowring and Sophia Kalo.

Kirsty Cariney achieved a High Distinction in the Writing competition

Six students, Maria Fedotov, Emma Greenhill, Felix Hoffman-Este, Jennifer Hou , Florence Le and Alex Yao, achieved Distinctions in the ICASS Writing competition.

Science Competitions

There were four High Distinctions awarded to students in the 2011 ICAS Science Competition: Carl Bodnaruk, Tim Johns, Connor Malonos and Jeffrey Zhang. Four more students earned Distinctions: Kira Horneman, Megan Young, Lorraine Chung and Thomas Mahony-Brack. And a further twenty-six students were awarded certificates of merit.

Students participated in the Eureka Sleek Geek DVD competition, Bridge Building Competition and the Brain Bee Challenge. The Conservatorium High School Team comprising Wendy Kong, Erica Chen, Kirsty Cariney, Kohki Iwasaki, Cowley Fu and Florence Lee made it through to the second round of the Australian Brain Bee competition. Of the over 9000 participants, Conservatorium High students were placed 10th from the thirty teams participating.

The Australian Mathematics Competition

Four of our students received High Distinctions: Queena Kuang, Jeffrey Zhang, Jiacong Xu and Leanne Fong.

Sixteen Distinction certificates were awarded to: Jessica Yao, Shanky Yip, Ricardo Valverde, Megan Yang, Joe Johnson, Andrew Jeffries, Jack Zeng, Josiah Fajardo, John Kim, Jolin Jiang, Pavle Cajid, Brendan Chung, David Erho, Martin Shultz-Moller, Alex Zhang and Diana Zhang.

There were forty credit certificates awarded.

Geography Competition

There were 9 High Distinction Certificates awarded to students. They include the following:

Carl Bodnaruk, Lily Builth-Snoad, Benjamin Ellis-Bloor, Kira Horneman, Joe Johnson, Pangiotis Karamanos, Roelyn Liang, Jack Zeng, Jeffrey Zhang.

Distinction certificates were awarded to Jane Anderson, Simran Bagga, Julia Gu, Benjamin Saffir, Kate Stephenson, Dorothy Wu, Shanky Yip, Lorraine Chung, Siyao He, Jennifer Hou, Tim Johns and Jessie Wang.

Excursion/Incursions

The Conservatorium High School participates in excursions and incursions to enhance and support classroom studies. They often provide practical experiences to extend learning in a particular area, for example, a visit to an art gallery or museum or perhaps the zoo.

In 2011 Science students went on excursions to Sydney University to look at the Biology and Chemistry laboratories, the Maritime Museum, The Australian museum, Taronga Zoo, Collaroy Rock Platform and the Botanic Gardens.

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English studies were enriched by a variety of activities in 2011. The Bell Shakespeare company visited the school and presented ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in the Choral Assembly. Theatre excursions included performances of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Bell Shakespeare and a production of ‘Hamlet’ presented by Sydney Theatre Company.

HSC Students were privileged to attend lectures by Raymond Gaita and Peter Skrzynecki, authors of texts being studied for the HSC. The ETA held study days for Advanced English Modules in at Darling Harbour and there were English Extension 1 also lectures held at Newington.

Anna Goldsworthy, author of ‘Music Lessons’ came and spoke to Stage 4 students.

2011 saw Visual Arts from years 10, 11 and 12 travel to Canberra to see the ‘Street Art’ and to participate in an educational tour of the Portrait Gallery. Students in years 10 and 11 visited the Picasso exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW. Year 11 went to the ‘Mad Square’ exhibition. Year 9 went to the Fish Markets and came away with ideas for making artworks through printmaking and painting. Year 7 viewed the Archibald prize, while year 10 helped out at the ‘Ice Bear’ sculpture at Circular Quay.

Year 10 Geography travelled to Bundeena for the compulsory site study, where they studied the threatened Mangrove ecosystem in the area.

Languages classes benefited from an excursion to Chinatown where they enjoyed a dim sum lunch and a cultural concert. Year 9 French went to the movies to view ‘Midnight in Paris’.

Student Wellbeing

The Welfare and Learning Support Team is composed of Mrs Irene Aronis (Beethoven House Adviser), Mr Ian Barker (Deputy Principal), Mr Mark Backhouse (Bach House Adviser), Mr Richard Fowler (SRC Co-ordinator), Ms Roslyn Isles (School Counsellor), Mrs Kate Kell (Head Teacher-Teaching & Learning), Mrs Louise Lander (Girls’ Adviser) and Mr Richard Mew (Brahms House Adviser). This group held regular weekly meetings and ensured that students with special needs received all due support from the school and the Department.

Programs and/or processes implemented to enhance student well-being include: the Senior Mentor Program, Study Skills Program for all Senior Students, SRC, Headspace connections, Year 12 exit survey, Year 10 transition interviews, Year 11 transition interviews, House Adviser interviews and the School and House Captain Leadership program.

We began the year with Team Building and Leadership training at Narrabeen. Students were grouped with their houses (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms) and respective House Captains, House Advisers and staff supporters were there to provide steady encouragement as students tackled the high ropes, archery, canoeing or the various sailing courses offered by the Centre.

Academic

In the National Assessment Program, the results across the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 literacy and numeracy assessments are reported on a scale from Band 1 to Band 10.

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The achievement scale represents increasing levels of skills and understandings demonstrated in these assessments.

Yr 7: from Band 4 (lowest) to Band 9 (highest for Year 7)

Yr 9: from Band 5 (lowest) to Band 10 (highest for Year 9)

In the School Certificate the performance of students is reported in performance bands ranging from Performance Band 1 (lowest) to Performance Band 6 (highest).

In 2011 the Conservatorium High School ranked

5th in the state in spelling and 12th in NSW in

reading according to NAPLAN results.

Literacy – NAPLAN Year 7

NAPLAN literacy results for the Conservatorium High School are expressed as percentages above the school’s statistically similar group (SSG).

READING

In all areas the school achieved well above the state’s results and significantly higher than the schools in its statistically similar group. The school’s Reading score was 35 or 6.2% above the SSG in Reading and 11% above the state results. The school’s Writing score was 36.6 scale scores or 6.6% above the SSG and 73.7 or 14.3% above the state.

WRITING

SPELLING

4 5 6 7 8 9

0 0 1 8 6 7

0.0 0.0 4.5 36.4 27.3 31.8

0.0 1.6 3.3 21.3 26.2 47.5

1.1 8.0 19.5 28.0 27.7 15.7

4.9 20.1 27.1 21.6 16.8 9.6

533.3Average score, 2011

Skill Band Distribution

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands

School Average 2008-2011

SSG % in Band 2011

State DEC % in Band 2011

Band

State DEC

569.1

SSG

604.1

School

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4 5 6 7 8 9

0 0 3 5 11 3

0.0 0.0 13.6 22.7 50.0 13.6

2.2 10.9 23.7 28.8 23.2 11.1

9.3 23.0 27.4 20.1 13.2 7.0

Average score, 2011

State DEC

514.9

SSG

552.0

School

588.6


SSG % in Band 2011

Percentage in Bands

Number in Band

Band

4 5 6 7 8 9

0 0 1 3 6 12

0.0 0.0 4.5 13.6 27.3 54.5

0.0 4.9 9.8 16.4 50.8 18.0

2.1 6.5 16.4 29.6 27.7 17.8

7.1 12.9 23.1 26.7 18.6 11.6


SSG % in Band 2011


State DEC

Average score, 2011 631.6 569.6 539.8

School SSG


Percentage in Bands

Band

Number in Band

12

The school’s spelling score was 91.8 scale scores or 17% above the state average and 62 scale scores or 10.8% above the SSG average. In Grammar and Punctuation, the school was 47.8 scale scores or 8.5% above the SSG and 84.4 or 16% above the state average.

GRAMMAR and PUNCTUATION

Numeracy – NAPLAN Year 7

In Numeracy Year 7 students achieved 66.9 scale

scores or 11.4% above the statistically similar

group average and 111.7 or 20.7% above the

state average.

Literacy – NAPLAN Year 9

Year 9 students greatly exceeded the State average in all aspects of literacy: they were 110.4 scale scores or 19.3% above in Reading and 129.2 or 23.6% above in Writing. They were 103.3 scale scores or 18.3% above the state in Grammar and Punctuation and 130 or 22.35% above in Spelling.


4 5 6 7 8 9

0 0 2 5 7 8

0.0 0.0 9.1 22.7 31.8 36.4

0.0 0.0 6.6 14.8 27.9 50.8

2.2 6.5 25.3 25.7 26.4 13.8

9.7 15.7 30.4 19.2 16.5 8.6

SSG State DECSchool

Average score, 2011 611.2 563.4 526.8


SSG % in Band 2011

Percentage in Bands

Number in Band

Band


4 5 6 7 8 9

0 0 0 6 2 14

0.0 0.0 0.0 27.3 9.1 63.6

0.0 0.0 0.0 14.8 14.8 70.5

1.1 6.7 17.5 25.6 21.4 27.6

5.5 19.8 25.6 22.1 12.5 14.4

School

Average score, 2011

Band

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011


585.1 540.3652.0


State DECSSG

13

READING

WRITING

SPELLING

5 6 7 8 9 10

0 0 1 3 4 10

0.0 0.0 5.6 16.7 22.2 55.6

0.0 1.1 13.3 40.0 25.6 20.0

3.0 11.1 22.5 29.5 22.3 11.6

8.7 22.1 25.9 22.5 13.1 7.7State DEC % in Band 2011


SSG % in Band 2011

683.6Average score, 2011

State DECSSGSchool

Band

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


573.2604.6


5 6 7 8 9 10

0 1 1 5 2 9

0.0 5.6 5.6 27.8 11.1 50.0

7.8 14.0 20.4 26.9 17.5 13.4

22.0 21.2 20.2 19.1 9.6 8.1

School State DECSSG

676.4 592.4 547.2

Band

Average score, 2011


Number in Band

Percentage in Bands

SSG % in Band 2011

.

5 6 7 8 9 10

0 0 0 1 4 13

0.0 0.0 0.0 5.6 22.2 72.2

0.0 1.1 7.8 16.7 31.1 43.3

3.1 8.0 20.0 30.4 27.4 11.1

8.6 15.2 25.0 26.2 17.4 7.6

Band


School SSG State DEC

Average score, 2011 711.1 581.2


Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011

611.4

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Against a statistically similar group they were also

well above the average in Reading by scoring 79

or 13% above the SSG and 84 or 14.1% above in

Writing. They were 66.1 scale scores above their

statistically similar group in Grammar and

Punctuation and 100 scores or 16.3% higher in

Spelling.

Outstanding results in Spelling were achieved: 72% were in the Top Band (10) in Spelling, compared with 11% in the SSG and 7.6% in the State. Moreover, outstanding results in Reading were also achieved, where the Conservatorium High school ranked 12th in NSW: 55.6% of students achieved the Top Band (10) in Reading compared to 11.6%in the SSG and 7.7%in NSW.

GRAMMAR and PUNCTUATION

Numeracy – NAPLAN Year 9

This year there was a substantial improvement in Yr 9 NAPLAN numeracy. CHS students achieved 67.6 scores or 10.8% above the SSG in Numeracy

and 111.7 scores or 19.2% above the state average.

Progress in literacy

The school is successfully implementing improvements in literacy in Year 7 and Year 9. Whereas in 2010 the Year 7 students at the Conservatorium High School were 9.1% above the state average in Writing, in 2011 students were 14.3% above the state average. In 2011 Year 7 students achieved 6.2% above the SSG in Reading compared to 3.5% in 2010. In 2011 they achieved 8.5% above the SSG in Grammar and Punctuation compared to 5.7% in 2010.

The achievements of year 9 were considerable. In 2011 these students greatly exceeded the state average in all aspects of literacy. In 2011 they were 19.35% above in Reading, ranking 12th in NSW, compared to 6.8% in 2010. In Grammar and Punctuation they were 18.3% above in 2011, a significant improvement on 2010. In Writing Year


5 6 7 8 9 10

0 0 2 6 3 7

0.0 0.0 11.1 33.3 16.7 38.9

0.0 0.0 12.2 33.3 22.2 32.2

4.5 8.5 21.5 38.5 19.5 7.5

13.6 17.7 25.6 27.3 10.7 5.1

601.6Average score, 2011 667.7

State DECSchool SSG

564.4

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011


Band

5 6 7 8 9 10

0 0 1 2 4 11

0.0 0.0 5.6 11.1 22.2 61.1

0.0 2.2 10.0 25.6 24.4 37.8

1.9 8.6 18.8 25.1 25.0 20.7

7.1 23.3 26.4 18.9 12.7 11.7


Band


581.5


Average score, 2011 693.2 625.6

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011

15

9 were 23.6% above the state average in 2011 compared to 13.6% in 2010 and in Spelling they were 22.35% above the state average, compared to 19.1% in 2010, with the Conservatorium High School in this area ranking 5th in NSW.

Progress in numeracy

Progress has also been made in numeracy. Year 7 Conservatorium High School students were 11.4% above our statistically similar group in 2011 compared to 7.7% in 2010, but 20.7% above the state average in 2011 compared to 40.9% in 2010.

There was also an improvement in Year 9. Although in 2011 year 9 were 19.2 % above the state average compared to 19.5 % in 2010, nevertheless they were 10.8% above the SSG in 2011 compared with being below the SSG in 2010.

School Certificate

In the School Certificate the performance of students is reported in performance bands ranging from Performance Band 1 (lowest) to Performance Band 6 (highest). Data from our statistically similar group (SSG) is used to assess the school’s success.

CHS students performed well above the state average in all aspects of their School Certificate. Their achievement was 10.3% above the State average in English, 21.3% above in Mathematics, 11.8 % above in Science. Moreover, they were 10.8% above the state average in Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship, 16.1% above in Australian History, Civics and Citizenship and 12.3 % above in Computer Skills. They performed better than the SSG in all areas of the School Certificate.

ENGLISH

The average score in English was higher than the SSG and 7.8 marks higher than the state average. At CHS, 85% of students received a Band 5 or 6, an 11.6% increase on 2010 results.

MATHEMATICS

The average result in Mathematics was 7.7 marks higher than the SSG, which was an increase of 10.4% from 2010 and 14.7 marks higher than the state.

1 2 3 4 5 6

0 0 0 3 16 1

0.0 0.0 0.0 15.0 80.0 5.0

0.0 0.0 1.4 22.5 61.3 14.8

0.5 1.6 5.4 40.2 46.4 6.0

1.1 4.7 12.3 49.3 28.4 4.2

State DECSchool SSG


Average score, 2011 83.4 79.4 75.6

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011

Band



1 2 3 4 5 6

0 0 1 4 10 5

0.0 0.0 5.0 20.0 50.0 25.0

0.0 2.1 9.9 30.3 38.0 19.7

0.2 10.6 22.3 24.4 27.9 14.6

0.8 28.2 29.7 18.9 13.6 8.7


State DEC

Average score, 2011 83.6 75.9

SSG


Number in Band

Percentage in Bands

SSG % in Band 2011

68.9

School

Band

16

SCIENCE

The Science results were 3.9 marks higher than the SSG and 8.7 marks higher than the state. At CHS, 70% of students received a Band 5 or 6.

AUSTRALIAN HISTORY, CIVICS & CITIZENSHIP

The results in this subject were very good. The average mark in Australian History, Civics and Citizenship was 11.3 higher than the state and 6.4 higher than the SSG. At CHS, 70% of students received a Band 5 or 6.

AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHY, CIVICS & CITIZENSHIP

There was a significant improvement in the CHs results in Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship in 2011. The average mark in Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship was 3.0 points above the SSG and 7.5 marks above the state average.

1 2 3 4 5 6

0 0 0 6 13 1

0.0 0.0 0.0 30.0 65.0 5.0

0.0 0.7 3.5 33.8 52.1 9.9

0.2 2.4 14.6 35.3 34.4 13.0

0.5 7.1 28.8 35.0 20.6 8.0



Average score, 2011 82.3 78.4 73.6


Band

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011


1 2 3 4 5 6

0 0 1 5 13 1

0.0 0.0 5.0 25.0 65.0 5.0

0.0 1.4 7.1 40.4 34.0 17.0

0.8 5.6 23.8 33.7 29.5 6.8

2.2 12.5 35.4 28.5 16.9 4.4

70.1

SSG State DEC

Average score, 2011 81.4

School

Band

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands

75.0



SSG % in Band 2011

1 2 3 4 5 6

0 0 0 17 3 0

0.0 0.0 0.0 85.0 15.0 0.0

0.0 0.7 14.2 58.9 22.7 3.5

1.2 7.0 23.4 36.2 25.9 6.2

2.5 15.4 33.1 29.3 15.4 4.3


Average score, 2011 77.2 74.2 69.7



Band

Number in Band

Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011

17

COMPUTER SKILLS

At CHS, 95% of students were highly competent in computer skills, which was 43.9% better than the SSG and 106% better than the state.

School Certificate relative performance comparison to Year 5 (value-adding)

This data indicates a targeted improvement in Yr 10 students who increased their average score difference by 3 points from 2010 in Australian Geography, Civics & Citizenship. There was noted value adding in English, Mathematics and Australian History, Civics and Citizenship.

Higher School Certificate

Results in the HSC are reported as a mark percentage and from a low Band 1 to the highest Band 6, the latter signifying a mark over 90%.

In Music 2, 66.7% of students were in the top Band 6 and 94% of students were in the top Bands 5 and 6. In Music Extension 100% of students were in the top 2 two Bands E3 and E4.



Average score, 2011

5.0

Band

0 1 19

86.3

0.0

81.9 76.8

Number in Band

Comp. Not

DemonstratedCompetent

Highly

Competent

95.0


Percentage in Bands


SSG % in Band 2011

88.7

66.1

46.153.1

33.6

11.30.0

0.3

0.8

English 0.3 2.6 1.1

Mathematics 3.3 3.4 1.7

Science -1.1 1.3 1.1

Australian History, Civics and Citizenship 0.7 3.6 1.4

Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship -3.2 -2.5 1.0

Computer Skills -2.9 -0.1 0.9

Note: By definition, the State average relative performance is zero

SSG Average

2011

School Average

2007-2011School 2011Course

Biology 75.3 77.7 76.0 71.5

English (Advanced) 79.6 81.2 81.5 79.1

English Extension 1 76.8 74.3 80.3 79.5

Mathematics 85.3 80.7 79.5 76.2

Modern History 75.5 77.9 77.6 73.1

Music 2 90.3 90.5 85.2 85.4

Music Extension 93.9 92.3 89.1

Course School 2011School Average

2007-2011SSG 2011 State 2011

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There was an improvement in Mathematics results over 2010, with 60% attaining a Band 5 or 6 in 2011 in General Mathematics compared to 40% in 2010 and 53.25% in the SSG (2011). In Mathematics, 80% gachieved Band 5 or 6 in 2011 compared with 53.2% in the SSG. In Mathematics Extension 1, 85.8% gained the top Bands E3 or E4 compared with 83.5% in the SSG and 60% in the school in 2010. In Mathematics Extension 2, 100% gained the top Bands E3 or E4 compared to 87.4% in the SSG.

In English, students exceeded the results in the SSG in the top Bands 5 and 6 and improved their results in English Extension 2. In French beginners, 80% were in the top Bands 5 and 6 compared to 51.7% in the SSG and 38.5% in the state. Students also exceeded the results in the top two bands in the SSG in Visual Arts and Chemistry. Year 12, 2011 improved their average score difference by 9 points from the 2010 data in the Science.

Higher School Certificate relative performance comparison to School Certificate (value-adding)

Minimum standards

The Commonwealth Government sets minimum standards for reading, writing, grammar and punctuation, spelling and numeracy for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

The performance of the students in our school in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy is compared to these minimum standards. The percentages of our students achieving at or above these standards are reported below.

Performance Band Low Middle High

School 2011 8.4 18.2 11.6

School Average 2007-2011 12.9 16.9 8.7

SSG Average 2011 4.7 4.7 2.1

Note: By definition, the State average relative performance is zero

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Reading

Writing

Spelling

Grammar & Punctuation

Numeracy

Percentage of Year 7 students achieving at or

above minimum standard (exempt students

included)

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Reading

Percentage of Year 9 students achieving at or

above minimum standard (exempt students

included)

Spelling

Writing

Grammar & Punctuation

Numeracy

19

Significant programs and initiatives

The school had exceptional HSC results in Music for 2011. There were 33 students attempting Music 2 and 29 students attempting Music Extension. 22 students achieved Band 6 in Music 2, 9 students achieved Band 5 in Music 2. 22 achieved Extension Band 4 in Music Ext, 6 achieved Extension Band 3 in Music Ext The school received 23 Encore nominations (4 in Core Composition and 19 in Performance) which represents about 70% of the candidature. 1 student was chosen to perform in the Encore concerts at the Opera House. The nine Year 11 students who were accelerated into Music 2 all achieved Band 6 results in Music 2. An outstanding achievement! 2011 also saw the introduction of vertical streaming in the aural classes (4 different levels for juniors and 3 different levels for seniors). This system was to help cater for the wide diversity of aural skills our students possess. Classes were aimed at skill level rather than an age cohort. 2011 also continued the practice of accelerating all students in Music by compacting the stage 4 curriculum into 1 year and consequently having our students study Music one year higher than their age cohort in other schools. This proved to be highly successful once again and the practice will continue into 2012.

Aboriginal education

Class programs in various KLAs educate students in Aboriginal history and culture consistent with the Aboriginal Education Policy of the DET. Significant work is undertaken in Stage 4 and 5 History and Geography and in the musicological endeavours of our senior students.

Multicultural education

Class programs in various KLAs educate students about the Multicultural nature of the world at large and Australia in particular. The multi-cultural make-up of our school provides an excellent model for the significant work undertaken in Stage 4 and 5 History and Geography and in the English, History and Musicology courses of our senior students.

Progress on 2011 targets

We have made considerable progress on all three of our 2011 targets.

Target 1 Provide two music streams in each Year Group to ensure pathways for entering students are calibrated to their level of ability Our achievements include:

Initial instigation of double streams in some junior years

Allocation of second stream (for implementation in 2012) in other years

Employment of another Music Teacher

Timetable requirements were met

Target 2 Provide students with more practical experience in cross-curricular activities (Rich Tasks), that exploit the nexus between academic and musical endeavours across various year groups. Our achievements include:

Construction of a Rich Task: “Romeo & Juliet /Megastar.Com” which worked across Music, TAS, Vis Art, English

TAS curriculum was adapted to facilitate the Rich Task

Involving 40% of the staff in Rich Task

Staging of a “Pitch”; a Stage Read of a musical script and a performance of a “musical theatre” piece.

Integration of Professional Mentors into the process to facilitate effective development and transference of skills from the school to the professional environment.

Target 3 Develop a more creative approach to the integration of technology in the Music Program. Our achievements include:

25% increase in use of technology (mostly recording, playback and computer equipment) in Music classrooms

20

Computer Music Lab has been refurbished, we await the commissioning of new Apple computers (currently on back order with DET)

Loan and installation of a complete 48 Track digital recording studio including, condenser microphones, mixer, ADAT multi-track, signal processing, monitoring and mastering equipment. (Sample accurate waveform editing equipment is on back order with DEC)

Continued enhancement of technology in composition component of Music courses

Key evaluations

It is a requirement for all NSW public schools to conduct at least two annual evaluations – one related to educational and management practice and the other related to curriculum. In 2011 our school carried out evaluations of:

Educational and management practice

To review the cumulative effect of excursions, incursions and other co-curricular programs on the delivery of academic and music programs.

Background

The ever-growing burden placed on the standard academic curriculum by the accumulation of co-curricular activities had been recognised for some time. The matter needed to be reassessed and managed. Staff were asked to keep a diary of all significant interruptions to classes posed by excursions, internal co-curricular activities and extra-curricular activities associated with the school.

Findings and conclusions

The School Executive began to more closely assess the educational reasoning, validity and need for each co- and extra-curricular activity proposed by staff. This became a standing item on the Executive Meeting Agenda, with every proposed Co-curricular and Extra-curricular activity given serious consideration, both its educational benefits and its potential impact on scheduled classes in the school timetable. An unacceptably high number of classes were being significantly affected occasioning either a repeat of the lesson or provision of additional

independent study for students who missed the activity.

Future directions

This issue has become a feature of discussions developing our Triennial School Improvement Plan and will continue to be considered at weekly Executive meetings. Faculties will be asked to pare down extra-curricular variations to routine, preferring co-curricular ones that are integral to the successful delivery of the prescribed curriculum.

Curriculum

Stage 5 Elective Curriculum

Background

The Stage 5 Elective Curriculum offering has remained unchanged for approximately 30 years. Students and parents have been requesting a different mix of elective to reflect the changed interests of our students.

Findings and conclusions

Since the 1970s, students in Yr 9 at the Conservatorium High School have rarely been offered any subjects other than French and Visual Arts. The school has been wanting to accommodate a wider range of interests while at the same time acknowledging ongoing appeal of the language / Visual Arts option.

Sydney Region’s staunch commitment to the teaching of Chinese is well known. Over the four years since the Conservatorium High introduced Mandarin as its Yr 7 mandatory language the school has played host to numerous delegations from China on visits to further the ties between our countries’ educational institutions. The school is in the enviable position of having two teachers of Chinese, one whose mother-tongue is Putonghua for background speakers of Mandarin – a sizeable portion of the school’s population – and the other, our very experienced teacher of German and French, for beginners in Mandarin.

It has long been felt that our students’ understanding of the major musico-theatrical art forms, opera, music theatre, Broadway musicals and operetta, would be enhanced by the study of Drama. This belief draws support from the hugely

21

enthusiastic response on the part of the student body to the work shopping of Romeo and Juliet / MegaStar.Com, the ‘rich task’ presented in Term 2. Again, the school is fortunate in having on staff a number of teachers with training, qualifications and/or experience in drama.

The view has been put forward, and not without some grounds, that the Conservatorium High’s focus on music can lead it to overlook the importance of Physical Education and the contribution that subject makes to our students’ development, and not least in their ability to cope with the physical demands of hours of instrumental practice.

We undertook a re-evaluation of our PD/H/PE program, in particular the PE/Performance Workshop component that has been used for some years as the organized physical activity designed for musicians. It was apparent that the PW course in Stages 4 & 5 needed to be strengthened if it were to successfully meet the physical education needs of the current cohort of students. Given the school curriculum is already very crowded, only a radical reworking of the timetable was going to satisfactorily redress the issue. We consulted senior officers in the Department and were advised to re-introduce a standard PE program for Stages 4 & 5. Further bolstering of this subject would be provided through offer PASS as a Stage 5 Elective.

As it turned out, first round voting on student selections made it clear that PASS did not enjoy wide support. Accordingly, PASS was removed from the elective offerings. Mandarin coupled with Visual Arts (Yr 9 & 10 respectively) and Drama garnered almost equal numbers.

Future directions

We will continue to evaluate the Elective offerings for Stage 5 (and Stage 6) as we do every year remaining attuned to our students’ needs and cognisant of the skills of the teaching staff.

Parent, student, and teacher satisfaction

In 2011 the school sought the views of parents, students and teachers on a number of school matters. Their responses are presented below.

School Uniform: That the Conservatorium High should stay a full school uniform school was re-

affirmed by the parent body, as expressed at P&C meetings and through responses to a parental survey. There was general agreement that the phasing out of the old school crest (re-allocated to the alumni association) and the phasing in of the new logo needed to be finalized. The school community requested a set of possible logos appropriate for school shirts and other apparel. These were inspected by members of the school executive and staff and by representatives of the P&C. The School Uniform Policy has been further clarified with advice posted on the school website and mailed to all families.

In 2011 the school’s P&C conducted a multi-lingual survey to ascertain the views of parents on the organisation’s role, purpose and focus areas. Survey responses will better inform the school on ways it can assist the P&C in its work supporting the school.

Hereunder are highlights from the survey results:

Q1. Activities of the P&C

A big majority of parents (87%) saw ‘being a

representative parent voice to the school’ as very

important. This was closely followed by ‘building

the Con High community’. Fundraising was seen

as very important by about 60% and somewhat

important by about 30%.

Q2. Awareness of P&C activities.

Between 70 and 80% of respondents were aware

of the P&C’s activities (monthly meetings, Buzz

Book, concert suppers, uniform shop, Café

Cantata, trivia night, orientation barbecue).

Slightly less (60%) were aware of the soloists’

concerts. More than half the respondents

regarded the Buzz Book, uniform shop,

orientation barbecue and soloists concerts as

very important.

Q3. Attendance at meetings

Between 50 and 60% of respondents said they

would attend monthly meetings sometimes. Less

than 20% said they would never attend.

Q4. Difficulties attending meetings

22

The two key factors that made it difficult for

respondents to attend meetings were the

difficulty of parking at the Con, and having other

responsibilities that clashed with the P&C

meeting times. About 30% of respondents were

somewhat affected by not knowing when the

meetings were on.

Q5. Preferred meeting time

This question was answered by only 60% of

respondents. The results were fairly evenly

spread among days of the week and times of day.

The largest concentration was 5 respondents, for

Tuesday nights after 7.30pm.

Q6. Notification about meetings

97% of respondents wanted to be notified by

email.

Q7. Fundraising

72% of respondents said participation in

fundraising activities worked best for them; 44%

said a levy worked best for them.

Q8. Helping incoming parents

Suggestions for this question included school

staff giving presentations at P&C meetings, social

activities early in the year, early publication of

the Buzz Book, a buddy system, keeping the P&C

website up-to-date, and suppers after soloists’

concerts. There was endorsement of the current

orientation barbecue before the House Concerts.

Q9. Other P&C activity suggestions

Suggestions for this question included ensuring

the school provides more extensive information

about school activities, holding community-

building social activities (not for fund-raising),

running a school canteen, and having a Q&A

night towards the end of Term 1 so parents can

ask school staff questions.

Q10. Other feedback to P&C

Suggestions to this question included having a

fundraising levy which accrued ‘deductions’ by

participating in activities like Café Cantata,

lobbying the school on various issues affecting

students/parents, keeping the website up-to-

date, and providing social occasions (not

fundraising or performance) for students.

Recommendations (from the P&C President)

1. Continue to email parents regularly with dates

of P&C meetings, publicising the availability of

parking at the Con car park for arrivals

immediately before the meeting, and provide

follow-up information from meetings through the

P&C website.

2. Continue with the orientation barbecue for

new families.

3. Establish a plan for Buzz Book circulation late in

the year before publication – so that new parent

information can be gathered very early in the

new year and the Buzz Book issued as soon after

the P&C AGM as possible.

4. Reconsider a fundraising levy (with deductions

for participation in activities) – perhaps by

suggesting an earning capacity/hour figure

commensurate with the amount of time that

would be spent at Café Cantata.

5. Canvass the school community more

extensively about whether the P&C meeting

should be at 7.30pm rather than 6.30pm.

6. Consider a plan to run a social activity for

families (possibly in Year groups) during Term 1

each year.

7. Invite guest speakers (especially school staff

with curriculum information) to P&C meetings.

Professional learning Staff at Conservatorium High School undertook whole-school, small-group and individual professional learning activities including School Staff Development Days, Conferences, training days, Masters degrees and PhD level study. The whole school activities included; Restorative Practice Training (Real Justice), CPR update, ICT (Moodle, SENTRAL and Smartboards) .

23

19 staff (95%) undertook individualised Professional Learning activities throughout the year. These training activities were in the areas of: Digital Education Revolution, Literacy & Numeracy, Quality Teaching, Career Development, Use of ICT, Welfare & Equity, Beginning Teaching, Syllabus Implementation and ICT for Teaching and Learning. The average expenditure per teacher on Professional Learning at the school level was $909.32. The total School expenditure on Professional Learning was $18186.37. Two new scheme teachers were working towards accreditation. Two new scheme teachers were maintaining accreditation at Professional Competence.

School planning 2012—2014

The school planning policy provides direction for the preparation and implementation of school plans including the identification of priority areas, intended outcomes and targets that are consistent with the NSW State Plan and the Department’s planning documents.

School priority 1: Literacy & Numeracy

Outcome for 2012–2014

Increased levels of overall literacy achievement for all students

Increased number of students who exceed expected growth in writing, grammar & punctuation

Increased percentage of ESL students achieving above expected growth in reading and writing

2012 Targets to achieve this outcome include:

To increase the percentage of Yr. 9 students achieving NAPLAN band 10 in

Reading, from 55% in 2011 to 65%

Writing, from 50% in 2011 to 60%

Grammar & Punctuation from 39% in 2011 to 50%

Numeracy, from 61% in 2011 to 72 %

Strategies to achieve these targets include:

Literacy team under HT(T&L): to run comprehension improvement program within all KLAs (Reading to Learn – R2L)

At least 50% of all submitted written work to be pen on paper not word-processed

Provide TPL on use of scaffolding in sustained writing with quality assessment & feedback using explicit and systematic teaching across all KLAs

Students’ Individual Learning Profiles *ILP+ to more directly inform the focus of teaching and areas identified for remediation especially Grammar & Punctuation

Provide explicit scaffolding for Working Solutions technique in numeracy

School priority 2: Engagement & Attainment

Outcome for 2012–2014

• Majority of students achieving Band 6 (Extension Band 4) HSC levels

Consolidate existing and establish new institutional links with tertiary providers and professional organisations

Intrinsic musicianship to be the primary focus of music pedagogy

Improved outcomes of high-achieving ‘gifted’ students

2012 Targets to achieve this outcome include:

Majority of students achieving Band 5 (Extension Band 3) HSC

High-achieving ‘gifted’ students achieving Band 6 (Extension Band 4) in all subjects

Consolidate relationships with Sydney Children’s Choirs, Sydney Youth Orchestras, and Faculty of Music, University of Sydney

Strategies to achieve these targets include:

More personalised attention (and remediation) targeted at students’ identified areas of need

Classroom teaching to be more immediately informed by critical analysis of school-based and external testing data

All teachers trained in identifying ‘masked giftedness’ in students

Identify potential synergies with secondary- and tertiary-sector institutions

24

About this report

In preparing this report, the self-evaluation committee has gathered information from evaluations conducted during the year and analysed other information about the school's practices and student learning outcomes. The self-evaluation committee and school planning committee have determined targets for the school's future development.

I certify that the information in this report is the result of a rigorous school self-evaluation process and is a balanced and genuine account of the school’s achievements and areas for development.

Dr Robert Curry Principal Mr Ian Barker Deputy Principal Mrs Kate Kell HT – Teaching & Learning Ms Ceridwen Lee HT - Humanities Mr Jeff Willey HT – Music Rev Dr Greg Anderson P&C President Evan Harris School Captain 2011

School contact information

Conservatorium High School

PO Box R-1805, Royal Exchange, NSW 1225

Ph: +61 2 9351 1350

Fax: +61 2 9351 1359

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.conservat-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

School Code: 8147

Parents can find out more information about Annual School Reports, how to interpret information in the reports and have the opportunity to provide feedback about these reports at:

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/asr

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.conservat-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/asr

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