Linkages Program with Local Primary Schools

Engadine High School, Engadine, Engadine West, Marton and Yarrawarrah Public Schools have been working effectively together for eight years implementing the explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy. This program has won a prestigious Director-General's Award for outstanding work in literacy and numeracy.

During Term 1 there is a focus from each school on narrative writing and students peer assess the work of students from other schools. Overall, their writing has become more descriptive and students are experimenting with the concepts and form of narrative. The process culminates in a celebration of student work with approximately 500 students brought together at Engadine High School.

In Term 2 the numeracy program focuses on interpretation of graphs, diagrams and other visual features. The numeracy day in Term 2 allows Year 10 students to act as mentors with Year 6 students in problem solving activities. A Maths Relay day is held where students from each school work in groups to solve problems with their Year 10 mentor and race each other across the oval to deliver the correct response. In addition, primary schools join the Mathsville program which involves students building cities out of a range of products by applying specific mathematical concepts.

Demonstration lessons in Term 3 by Engadine High School English staff assist primary colleagues to grapple with ‘Viewing and Representation’ as a concept and students then produce a task for cross-school peer assessment. Again a great celebration of achievement is held to acknowledge the improved exposition texts that students use to accompany their visual images.

Years 5 and 6 students attend Engadine High School for lessons in a range of subjects as part of their transition to high school. These occasions assist students to meet future peers from other schools and enjoy a high school setting. Feedback from parents shows that students feel very comfortable about starting high school and the transition is absolutely seamless!