2021 Class Placement:
Dear Parents and Caregivers
We are set to begin the class placement process in preparation for the 2021 school year. This is a lengthy and complex task involving teachers and the school leadership team to place each child in a learning environment that supports them to be successful.
- As part of the process for establishing classes for 2021, parents and caregivers may wish to share any important information which they believe should be considered in the placement of their child/children. This should be important information of which the school or current class teacher may not be aware – most parents will not need to respond.
- This information should be submitted in writing by email to dl.1056.info@schools.sa.edu.au.
Information will only be considered if in writing and received no later than Wednesday 28 October (week 3).
Please mark it: Attention: Principal – Class Placement
Please note that:
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- Current teachers will be viewing the parent input as part of the class placement process.
- Students will provide information about friendships with the support of their teacher.
- Requests regarding a specific teacher will not be considered in the placement process. Teachers and school leadership are in the best position to place students according to the factors previously outlined.
- The class placement process is complex and time consuming. Teachers and leaders factor in their knowledge of each child and how they engage in learning and interact with others to make balanced decisions. For reasons of privacy and confidentiality we are not able to share with parents and caregivers the reasons for some placements.
- We expect class placements to be completed by the end of Week 8, with information going home to families in Week 9. Staff members will not disclose the composition of proposed classes prior to this formal announcement.
It is the responsibility of the Principal to make the final decision on classes and the placement of students. Rest assured, a great deal of thought, planning and time goes into forming new classes each year.
We respectfully ask that you trust our school in making these important decisions.
Yours sincerely,
Woodend Leadership Team
Additional information regarding the placement of students into classes.
Class Groupings
- There are many factors which are considered when planning future class groupings, including; the educational needs of all students, the estimated numbers of students in each year level, the new reception intake, gender balance, school resources and facilities.
- This also involves knowing about who will be teaching at Woodend in 2021 and the year levels each teacher will take, usually not confirmed until the end of the school year.
Student Placement
- Similarly, there are many factors to consider in the placement of students, including; learner achievement / performance – based on school assessments and teacher judgements, social and emotional needs of students, behaviour, gender, friendship groups, and special needs.
- Teacher, student and parent input is all considered when deciding on class placement.
Class Structure
- Each year, class groupings are configured based on student enrolments across all year levels and as per Department for Education policy and procedures. This means that composite (split, multi-age) classes will be formed along with straight year levels.
- Grouping students in mixed year levels is a practical necessity and in fact provides flexible options to place students who have differing maturity, social and learning needs.
- The wide range of student abilities in composite classes is no different in straight year level classes. Leading global education researcher, John Hattie, informs us that the effect of composite classes has little impact on student achievement. This is why our teachers work in professional learning teams across multiple year levels to plan, differentiate and assess learning to cater for students’ varied abilities.
Friendships
- Every effort will be made to place students with at least one friend.
- Teachers will be inviting students to complete a confidential friendship learning survey where they will be asked to nominate up to five students with whom they would like to learn alongside in their class next year. This may include students who are currently in another class.
- In some cases, teachers find it advantageous for some students not to be placed together.
- Friendships often change for many students from year to year. We encourage students to develop new friends, which is a life skill and helps build resilience.
- Friendships across classes and year levels are supported and encouraged at play times. Good friendships thrive and grow in these times and beyond school times. Parents are well placed to support these friendships beyond the school day. Often a child placed with a ‘best friend’ will work and play exclusively with each other, which does not promote the social interaction we try to foster. Although friendships are an important consideration in the placement process the priority is to place each student in the best class group for their learning.