Flagship Strategy 1 - Student Learning
Excellent education for all students. More student opportunities and better outcomes.
Reading, writing and numeracy skills are a key foundation of learning. Students also need a range of other skills to operate effectively in our changing society. Flagship Strategy 1 aims to develop a new approach to curriculum, standards and assessment that builds on the current Curriculum Standards Framework and prepares students for life in the real world.
The initiatives within Flagship Strategy 1 focus on the reform of curriculum practices relating to what students learn, how teaching facilitates learning, how learning is assessed, how student achievements are reported to parents and the documentation of exemplary practice.
The Student Learning initiatives include:
- Curriculum Planning Guidelines
- Victorian Essential Learning Standards
- Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12
- Assessment and Reporting
- Knowledge Bank
Student Learning initiatives
Curriculum Planning Guidelines
‘Curriculum’ refers to everything a school does to support student learning. It includes policies and practices about content and programs offered and ways in which content and programs can be learned and taught. It takes into account student diversity, organisational arrangements, assessment processes and reporting practices.
The Curriculum Planning Guidelines provide a curriculum planning model that supports a whole-school approach to curriculum planning. It identifies five phases that can each be applied at three levels to assist schools to construct curriculum in line with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and the Post-Compulsory Education and Training (VCE, VCAL and VET).
Read more about the Curriculum Planning Guidelines in practice.
Victorian Essential Learning Standards
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards (also known as VELS or the Standards) have been developed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority as the basis for curriculum planning and assessment from Prep to Year 10.
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards describe what is essential for students to achieve from Years Prep to 10 in Victorian schools. They describe what students should know and be able to do at different stages of learning and provide a clear basis for reporting to parents and for planning programs.
Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12
The Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 initiative provides a structure to help teachers focus their professional learning.
The Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 initiative aims to:
- build consistent, comprehensive and improved pedagogical approaches within and across schools, while still allowing flexibility, innovation and local decision making at the school level
- focus teaching to meet the diverse needs of students
- strengthen learning communities within and beyond the school.
Read more about the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 in the Student Learning topic.
Assessment and Reporting
Assessment and Reporting are essential elements of the learning and teaching process and are vital to the way students think about themselves and are engaged in the process of learning.
Assessment is the ongoing process of gathering, analysing and reflecting on evidence to make informed and consistent judgements to improve future student learning.
Reporting is the process by which assessment information is communicated in ways that assist students, parents, teachers and the system in making decisions by providing information about what students know and can do, along with recommendations for their future learning. Find out more about the student reports which have been introduced in Victorian government schools.
Knowledge Bank
The Knowledge Bank is a resource for education and training providers in Victoria. It supports the sharing of exemplary and promising practice across the education and training sector, and aims to improve understanding of what works, where and why it works. It also aims to facilitate the adoption of innovative approaches to learning, teaching and school organisation across Victoria.
Use the Knowledge Bank to gain an insight into how other schools have effectively implemented the Curriculum Planning Guidelines, the Victorian Essential Learning Standards, the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 and the advice on Assessment and on Reporting.
Visit Knowledge Bank