The vision for ‘Learning’ in St Kevin’s School Community
One of the 3 statements in our mission statement is that we work to develop lifelong learners. St Kevin’s School follows the curriculum guidelines required in all Brisbane Catholic Education schools, following the learning framework model. The overarching goal of this framework is to empower learners of all ages to shape and enrich our changing world by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The statements in the vision statement above reflect our beliefs at St Kevin’s about learners and learning, in particular the statement:
At St Kevin's, we foster a quality curriculum, encouraging and empowering all as lifelong learners, growing in knowledge and understanding of themselves and others.
We aim to produce reflective, self-directed learners who are able to take on roles in the real world as quality producers, designers and creators, active investigators, effective communicators, leaders, collaborators, and community contributors.
St Kevin’s School has goals for renewal in several areas, and the following broad goal and its related goals reflect our strategic direction plan in the curriculum area:
Broad Strategic Goal:
St Kevin's is committed to developing lifelong learners through an engaging curriculum.
Goals:
All staff are committed to quality teaching and professional learning.
Provide engaging learning experiences to meet the needs of all students within our Key Learning Areas.
Information and communication technologies are integrated into student and staff learning processes.
An outcomes-based curriculum framework provides for quality planning, teaching and learning, assessing and reporting across the school.
This means we use an outcomes-based approach to planning, teaching, assessment, and reporting. We plan for whole groups as well as for the needs of individuals within the groups, writing Individual Education Programmes where appropriate for students with special needs to help them access the curriculum. We modify pedagogy and assessment techniques to help all students demonstrate achievement.
Demonstration of Learning at St Kevin’s
Teachers meet in year-level teams with the Curriculum Support Teacher and with the Teacher Librarian to plan connected curriculum units of work that will enable all students to access the curriculum and offer ways for all students to demonstrate their learning. Often, this means the unit will include a ‘rich task’ that requires the student to move through the term’s work, making connections and completing tasks that are then stored in a folio to present at the completion. Teachers use a variety of techniques to assess a student’s performance, including criteria sheets, tests, peer and self assessment, and retain a variety of work samples and records of activities, both written and oral.
At the start of the year, all classes hold a parent-teacher night to inform parents about the curriculum and expectations for that year level. Some classes hold additional parent nights throughout the year as needed, especially for the Sacramental Programme and year-level camps. In June, at the end of the first semester, and in November, at the end of the second semester, parents receive a written report which details their child’s progress in all subject areas. Towards the end of Term 1, parents are invited to a parent-teacher interview to discuss their child’s progress and work together on strategies to support the student.
Evaluation of Programme Effectiveness:
At the start of planning sessions, teachers evaluate the previous term’s unit of work, noting changes they would make if this unit were taught again next year.
The Curriculum Support Teacher monitors planning for and the achievement of outcomes across the school, noting areas of weakness in pedagogy or in teachers' knowledge of the meaning of the outcomes. Where a need is identified, the Principal arranges staff in-service to assist teachers in their learning.
Successes are celebrated in assemblies and by fortnightly awards, with a special Academic Awards ceremony being held at the end of each semester to recognise outstanding achievement. Two students from each Year 4-7 class receive awards each semester. At the end of the year, special awards are given in particular areas such as Performing Arts, Sport, Languages Other Than English, and Christian Leadership.
Teachers meet during Term 3 to share best practice, in particular of assessment items, in readiness for the Consistency of Teacher Judgement Day in Term 4. They attend the day at a local geographic cluster to participate in inter-school sharing of best practices and in-service training, as arranged by the schools.
© Brisbane Catholic Education, St Kevin's Catholic Primary School (2025)