K-10 Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework
The Australian Curriculum continues to be embedded in ACT public schools. Under the Strengthening Implementation of the Australian Curriculum initiative, the Directorate has provided a series of Australian Curriculum Workshops; Australian Curriculum Overview/Update, Unpacking Achievement Standards and Levels of Performance, Standards Based Planning and Assessment, and Australian Curriculum and Differentiation. More than 2,000 teachers have participated in Australian Curriculum professional learning to date.
The Directorate has also been working with schools to ensure they understand and consider the Cross Curriculum Priorities; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures and Histories, Sustainability, Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia along with the General Capabilities as part of their planning in implementing the Australian Curriculum. In particular, the Directorate has been working to map the Understanding the Land through the Eyes of the Ngunnawal People, “Mununja” the butterfly, Ngunnawal Plant Use, and Footprints on Our Land. These resources will provide support for teachers to introduce local content knowledge in delivering the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures and Histories Priority across the curriculum.
Early Childhood Strategy
In the ACT, government and non-government providers deliver a variety of early childhood education and care services for children from birth to 12 years of age. These services include those approved under the National Quality Framework (NQF), those licensed under the Children and Young People Act 2008, programs delivered by the Education Directorate, and additional informal programs delivered by community organisations, such as playgroups.
The ACT Government is developing a strategy to create a joined-up policy context for supporting equitable access to early childhood education and care in the ACT, and a seamless user experience for children and families when they access early childhood services. The Early Childhood Strategy (the Strategy) will look to coordinate approaches across government, and in partnership with non-government organisations, to deliver an aligned education and care framework which maximises the learning and wellbeing benefits to children from government investment into early childhood services in the ACT.
Instrumental Music Program
The Instrumental Music Program (IMP) began in 1973 in four schools and continues to deliver high quality instrumental learning in across 54 schools with 90 primary school bands, six high school bands, two recorder schools and four ukulele schools. In 2017-18, there are 4 schools under Executive Teacher Professional Practice role and more than 3700 students engaging in the IMP.
There are four concert bands, one jazz band, one percussion ensemble, one flute ensemble and two choirs. In 2017, students completed 71 performances for school and community events in Canberra and interstate. The Senior Concert Band has an ongoing relationship with Ichijo High School in our sister city Nara, Japan and an exchange tour is planned for late 2018.
ACT public school students IMP Band
Improved Road Safety around Schools
Parking and traffic safety around schools continues to be supported through collaboration between schools, Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) and the Directorate. The school road safety plan includes new infrastructure, the roll out of the school traffic supervisor program, improved school crossings and traffic islands.
In February 2018, TCCS rolled out a School Crossing Supervisor program at 20 of the busiest schools crossings. This allows children to safely cross at school crossings identified as having a high volume of traffic.