TWEED HEADS SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL [Issue #]

TWEED HEADS SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL [Issue #] ASPIRE : ASPIRATIONAL STUDENTS PERFORMING IN RELEVANT EDUCATION A Case Study in Career Related Learning in the Primary School setting Introduction Primary educators who were explicitly implementing career-related learning programs shared their stories at the 2013 Primary Schools Symposium: Integrating career skilling through the curriculum what has been learnt? hosted by the NSW Department of Education and Communities. The work of these schools heralded the emergence of career-related learning in NSW primary schools. Tweed Heads South Public School and Crystal Creek Public School attended the Symposium to share their achievements in career-related learning and its impact across more than 25 the Far North Coast schools. low SES background and a strong and proud Aboriginal community. About 32% of students come from an Aboriginal background. Crystal Creek Public School is situated twenty five kilometres south west of Tweed Heads in the centre of the Tweed Valley. It is a small country school with a rich history, and a strong association with its community. The school communities Tweed Heads South Public School (enrolment 240) is located on the Far North Coast of NSW. It is situated centrally in an urban area with a varied business sector focused on commerce and tourism. The school community is diverse including many aspirational families, a concentration of families of When schools embrace career discovery principles and connect their students educational experiences to the community, children gain a sense of what they could do in the future; they experience social engagement, a sense of belonging; and they have an increased capacity to network with others, building the belief that they can create a positive future. (Sue Maclean, DEC, Senior Pathways, 2013.) SENIOR PATHWAYS 1

The ASPIRE program (Aspirational students performing in relevant education) The lead school in this initiative was Tweed Heads South Public School, whose principal identified a need in their school plan, in 2011, to develop students aspirations through better knowledge and understanding of possible career pathways. This position was initiated by a Year 5 teacher, who asked her students what they wanted to do when they finished school. A large number of students said they would do nothing, while others said that they just didn t know. As a result the teacher was supported to enact her determination to engage her students in career discovery, showing them the links between what they were learning and the world outside of school as well as raise their aspirations and opportunity for future wellbeing. And so the seeds of ASPIRE were planted. The ASPIRE Program was a collaboration between NSW Far North Coast public schools, high schools, local universities and TAFE. It also involved local business, community organisations and employment agencies. Support for ASPIRE was fostered by the Tweed Education and Industry Forum. Its intent is to: Raise the aspirations of young people in Stage 3 in all Far North Coast primary schools by incorporating career education in key learning areas. Increase the awareness of parents/carers of the possible career pathway options so they are better able to support the educational experience of their young people. Enhance current primary to high school transition programs through participation of local high schools in primary school career market days, academic and industry tours and through access to career adviser support. Further develop the skills of teachers in raising the aspirations of students through their participation in professional learning about careerrelated learning. Broaden the range of opportunities available in tertiary education to all students and their parents, with a particular focus on those from low socioeconomic and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. Since 2011 two teachers from Tweed Heads South Public School transferred to other schools in the area and encouraged the development and implementation of the program in their new schools. It was adopted in Crystal Creek Public School and Murwillumbah East Public School. The Insert program picture into is coloured designed box to be implemented in four parts school information to parents; ASPIRE Stage 3 careers units of work; university visits; and a careers market day. More specifically it includes: A series of parent information articles and reminders in the school newsletter to generate reflection and discussion within families about careers and future opportunities. An ASPIRE Stage 3 careers units of work integrated with the curriculum and able to be adapted to specific school contexts and student needs is delivered leading up to the careers market day. Use of the myfuture website with students complements the lessons in the unit of work. In 2013, 25 Far North Coast public schools utilised the ASPIRE Stage 3 careers units of work. Differentiated career units have been developed for each learning stage and a list of individual activities that are useful is provided across Kindergarten to Year 6. Hyperlinked websites, activities and school developed resources allow access by teachers regardless of their location. Engaging lead up activities create interest among the students and their families including visiting speakers and assembly promotions with a focus on Stage 3. There is a formal invitation for families to the careers market day and a passport is provided for Stage 3 students to collect information as they visit market stalls. In 2013, the school education director encouraged all Primary schools in the Far North Coast area to participate in the ASPIRE Program. Three careers markets were held in 2013 across the Far North Coast at Tweed Heads South Public School, Bogangar Public School and Crystal Creek Public School. These careers markets hosted approximately 450 Year 6 students and 50 parents. In Replace 2014 the grey ASPIRE box with program a photo is of well established. the same size Continued support and encouragement was provided to participatory schools and this will continue into the future as staff change. Connections with partner secondary schools and tertiary institutions have also been maintained and further developed. An extraordinary impact back in the classroom in student engagement and energy. Fallon Purkiss - Tweed Heads South After the market it seemed that there were higher aspirations among parents and their children with regard to learning and the future. Meryl Toop - Tweed Heads South WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU 2

The project drivers In 2011 the Principal of Tweed Heads South Public School identified a need in their school plan to develop students aspirations through better knowledge and understanding of possible career pathways. Teachers Jessica Smith, Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT), Meryl Toop and Fallon Purkis developed the initial careers market day and subsequently the careers education program ASPIRE (Aspirational Students Performing in Relevant Education) that was integrated into the school curriculum. Central to career related learning K-6 is This teacher team noted that the the ability to liaise with the community support and advocacy of the principal so that children can see their community was vital for the implementation of the at work, the relevance of what they are ASPIRE Program. Including the initiative learning to the world outside school, in Replace the school grey box plan, with a the photo budget of the and same size allocating administrative support in 2012 signalled the intent of the principal that career-related learning was important and that whole school commitment and shared responsibility was expected. They articulated that effective community liaison with key people and organisations in the local area underpinned both the initial success, and ongoing evolution of the market as well as the program. The ability to engage and build strong links with community leaders and businesses, secondary schools and learning communities, has seen ASPIRE implemented across the region. Ian Reeson, the new principal of Tweed Heads South in 2013 was highly supportive of the ASPIRE Program, which he believed has empowered parents and students, created links with the local high schools, university, TAFE and other community and business organisation. Implementing the project The three pillars that underpin the journey to integrate career-related learning in the Far North Coast primary schools are: early exposure to career discovery; engagement with parents and the community; and curriculum integration allowing children to see connections between their learning and the future world of work. These are well supported by contemporary research. Parents are integral to the system of complex interrelationships that Patton and McMahon (1999) describe as influencing an individual s career development. They influence their children s learning and growth through their encouragement and discipline; their assumptions and values; through raising aspirations; and through their own work and learning experiences. and the opportunity to discover and explore that world Business involvement in the career market days is enthusiastic, motivated by a raised community profile, the possibility of increasing market share through connection with families and other businesses, their wish to develop their future workforce and the chance to pay back to their community. Feedback from the business community to other businesses is: We love it! You have got to do it! Local high schools are invited to the market days as market partners to show students that their career journey includes their journey into high school. High schools showcase learning activities and their school culture, securing student transition to the local high school through the market s promotional opportunities. The commitment of local learning communities of schools and clusters of learning communities across the Far North Coast has been a recent outcome. The market, which runs for about three hours, opens with guest speakers and is organised as an interactive experience mirroring the try a trade model. Its success is due to the commitment and depth of collaboration within the community and among schools to make it happen. The three careers markets held in 2013 across the Far North Coast hosted approximately 450 Year 6 students and 50 parents. University visits now link to the Griffith University Launch into Life program and in 2013 more than 191 students and 59 parents participated in this university experience. In its present form ASPIRE has developed from and around the careers market. Curriculum integration of career-related learning prepares Stage 3 students for the careers market and the university visit. There is a major focus on literacy and numeracy and the program fits well in the Human Society and Its Environment, Key Learning Area. The concepts built assist in conversations to develop Personal Learning Plans and in building relationships with parents throughout K- 6. WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU 3

ASPIRE evolution Resourcing the project Tweed Heads South self-funded the first market day covering the cost of food, setup and materials. More recently sponsorship from business was gained to cover some of these costs. The strategy of inviting local members of parliament, mayors and councillors and members of the Chamber of Commerce has served to raise the profile of the program and attract sponsorship. The Aspire units of work were developed with resourcing from the Priority Schools Program, accessed through Equity Programs Directorate of the Department of Education and Communities. In 2013 $500 per host school coordinating a market day was provided through the School Education Director who offered strong support for the program and for implementing schools. This covered costs involved in the outsourcing of materials for printing. Food costs were managed by using the local coffee cart, high school hospitality students, school canteens and BBQs. WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU 4

Teacher professional learning What is vital is innovation and team building through the commitment of staff! Tweed Heads South In developing ASPIRE, teachers from Tweed Heads South collaborated with the Kurri Kurri Learning Community of schools where an extensive Kickstarting Careers at Kurri Kurri program had been developed and implemented commencing in 2009. Both of these initiatives are underpinned by the notion that: career is everyone s business. This has resulted in all Tweed Heads South teachers engaging in professional learning to implement ASPIRE across the school. Meryl Toop, a myfuture Master Trainer, trained teachers from a number of Far North Coast primary schools in the online myfuture careers exploration program. Use of the careers curriculum materials and programs was also supported by collegial learning. Support was provided for teachers in other primary schools to implement the unit. The Australian Government National Partnerships program provided real impetus for change. The appointment of a High Achieving Teacher who worked with newly appointed teachers, was a genuine initiator of change in teaching and learning which included supporting the evolution of the ASPIRE program. The sustainability of ASPIRE demanded a professional learning focus on building staff capacity in the area of career-related learning through the sharing of understanding and practice both within and between schools. The organising teams met regularly to support and share each school s learning journey. Learning community schools were offered professional support to implement the ASPIRE units of work. Outcomes of the ASPIRE Program Tweed Heads South teachers spoke anecdotally about the success of their program. They noted a shift in school culture to enthusiastically embrace career-related learning which included: High student engagement where career-related learning was instrumental in creating relevance, linking the classroom to the real world especially in the study of literacy and numeracy. The increasing aspirations of students that would enhance life/work choice through deeper understanding of tertiary education. Increased student determination to complete school and access tertiary education. Growth in the capacity and intent of community organisations to support local families; and increasingly confident connections between parents and the school. Interest and increasing involvement in ASPIRE by other schools in the Far North Coast. In 2013 the steering committee surveyed 411 Year 6 students and 30 parents. There was overwhelming (98%) support for the career market day and the try-a-trade stalls. More than 70% of students now aspired to university and a similar proportion expressed a clearer view of what their career might be. All parents surveyed intended to speak more frequently with their children about future job and study options, encourage a personal best attitude to school work and felt better prepared to support their children about career pathway questions. More than 80% of businesses surveyed provided positive responses regarding the value of the day, their role and the welcome they received from market organisers, students and parents. Principal Ian Reeson is committed to identifying tools that will provide measurable impact data on ASPIRE s outcomes. While he has used the DEC Strengthening family and community engagement in learning situational analysis tools for this purpose, he plans to develop a continuum of preschool to post school career-related learning to map the implementation of ASPIRE and identify future directions for the program and school planning. He believes the program really needs a longitudinal outcomes study extending to the completion of Stage 6 and even beyond. The university partnership established with Griffith University linking ASPIRE with Launch into Life will prove invaluable as ASPIRE evolves particularly in the area of evaluation. Further information: Secondary Education Michael Hyam 1 Oxford Street DARLINGHURST NSW 2000 T 9266 8315 https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetin schools/index.html School contact: Ian Reeson Principal of Tweed Heads South Public School. Resources developed by Tweed Heads South Public School through this project are available to download from the Senior Pathways website at: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetin schools/schooltowork/teachers/in dex.html WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU 5