All the numbers are adding up nicely for Sunshine College with its internationally recognised maths program up for an education award later this month.
The schoolwide inclusive program, which has “dramatically improved student outcomes” for both strugglers and high achievers, is in the running for the ‘outstanding school advancement’ gong at the 2015 Victorian Educational Excellence Awards.
The college’s maths program has proved so successful since its inception in 2009 that numerous schools, from as far away as Queensland, Alice Springs and Western Australia, have sought its insights and direction.
The complex and multifaceted program caters to all learning levels and is the brainchild of teachers Yvonne Reilly and Jodie Parsons, who developed it at the college’s Ardeer campus.
The school has gone on to share its expertise at national forums and international education conferences.
Kicking goals
Ms Reilly said rates of students entering university after college graduation were the clearest sign the program was kicking goals.
“The students who were in year 7 in 2009 – the first group of students across the school who had this maths program – finished school last year with more students than ever before being offered a university place … including offers from Melbourne University, RMIT, LaTrobe and Victoria University,” she said.
“We were delighted and very proud to be recognised by the Education Department for our work.
“Our internationally recognised maths program has been shown to accelerate all students.”
Ms Reilly said NAPLAN results consistently showed that students in year 9, on average, had performed better than the state average and well above similar schools.
It’s the third time the school has been nominated after it was a finalist in 2007 for its literacy program and again in 2009 for its pastoral care and pathways to employment programs.
The 2015 Victorian Educational Excellence Awards ceremony is at the Regent Theatre on October 30.
