Woonona High School principal Belinda Wall doesn’t just believe in feedback – her students also get ‘’feedforward’’ to ensure they get the best results.
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Her proactive approach is working – when she took on the top job in 2012, just 15 per cent of HSC students went on to university; last year 55 per cent did.
Of the remaining 2016 cohort, 30 per cent went on to TAFE or college and 15 per cent into employment.
Community perception of the school has also improved markedly in the past four years, with enrolments rising from 585 to 670.
Ms Wall was officially recognised for her efforts last Friday, when she was one of 12 Australian educators to receive a Teaching Fellowship at the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards.
The prestigious award is valued at $45,000 – including $30,000 to develop a strategic project to further improve student outcomes; $10,000 for professional development and $5000 for a study tour to Singapore.
‘’For me, it’s wonderful recognition for the school – it’s been very much a team effort from our teachers who are dedicated, committed and passionate,’’ Ms Wall said. ‘’It’s also a testament to the efforts of our students and parents, who have wholeheartedly supported each of the initiatives we have made.’’
After graduating with a psychology degree from the University of Wollongong, Ms Wall completed a Masters in Education at Macquarie University. She’s worked at schools across the district, as a social sciences teacher, school counsellor, guidance officer and deputy principal.
When she became principal of Woonona High, her qualifications and experience helped her turn things around at the school, which has a high proportion of students from a disadvantaged background.
‘’We very specifically put in place an HSC strategy … this included teacher training so that we had expert, qualified teachers in front of all our classes,’’ Ms Wall said.
‘’It included changing our assessment, based on the research of (UK Professor) Dylan Wiliam, to give our students feedforward so they had the information and tools to improve on their learning as they progressed.
‘’Parents too have been part of our HSC strategy, with workshops to provide them with as much information as we’re providing the students.’’
Ms Wall said the fellowship funds would be used for a project targeting the school’s youngest students.
‘’We will attempt to replicate the philosophy underpinning our HSC strategy into our Year 7 curriculum … to help students identify their own learning strategies and goals and use them in their learning,’’ she said.
NSW Department of Education secretary Mark Scott congratulated Ms Wall, and the other scholarship winners.
‘’The teaching awards highlight some of the outstanding teaching and leadership in our schools,’’ he said.
‘’This fellowship provides a great opportunity for Belinda and her school to further develop their inspiring approaches and make a difference in the lives of their students.’’
