Curriculum Introduction
At McLaren Vale Primary School we offer a broad, balanced, innovative and rigorous teaching and learning program and as with all Australian Schools our Curriculum is based on the Australian Curriculum.
How is the Australian Curriculum structured?
Core learning
The Australian Curriculum learning areas include:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Humanities and Social Sciences - History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship (from Year 3) and Economics and Business (from Year 5)
- Health and Physical Education
- The Arts, incorporating Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts
- Technologies
- Languages - Japanese
In each of the learning areas, content descriptions specify what students should be taught and the achievement standards set out the depth of understanding and sophistication of skill expected of students at points in their schooling.
General capabilities
General capabilities encompass the skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need to develop and apply to content knowledge. They help young people become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. The General Capabilities are developed as a result of the teaching and learning opportunities from Reception onwards.
The seven General capabilities are:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Information and communication technology (ICT) capability
- Critical and creative thinking
Ethical understanding - Personal and social capability
- Intercultural understanding
Cross-curriculum priorities
Incorporated within each of the learning areas are three cross-curriculum priorities:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
- Sustainability
Cross curriculum priorities are embedded in the content descriptions and have a strong but varying presence depending on their relevance to the learning area.
www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
Assessment And Reporting
As a school we use a variety of assessment and reporting procedures over the course of the year. Throughout the year, teachers will gladly arrange interviews with parents / caregivers who wish to discuss a child’s learning or discuss any matter of concern.
Formal Whole School Structures include:
Term 1
- Acquaintance Night
- Three Way Conferences
Term 2
- Written report
Term 3
- Interviews - all families early in the term
- Written Report distributed at Interviews
Term 4
- End of Year Summary Report
