From the Principal

Dear NPS Families

2024 External School Review

As you are aware we have recently had our DECYP four yearly External School Review.  Thank you greatly to those who spoke with the panel.  

The focus of the review is to collate information for the school to determine areas that are going well, and those that we need to keep working on and / or areas to begin to focus on.

The final report is a 27 page document, however, this can be summarised in the ‘commendations, affirmations and the recommendations to work on for the next four years.

The School Improvement Tool, which is a national document is used to as markers for the DECYP External School Reviews.  The panel comprised of a External Panel Chair and two principals from Southern schools.  

The following outlines a summary of the report. 

Commendations..... 

During the Review process, the panel verified the following effective practices that are contributing significantly to school improvement at Norwood Primary School:

• Families describe the school as a friendly and welcoming environment where their child is safe, known, well and learning. They value the extensive playground and wide range of learning opportunities available to students.
• Staff have a sense of belonging to the community of Norwood Primary School where they value working as a collegial team.
• The school improvement priorities are well known and understood by all staff.
• Collaborative learning teams (CLTs) have developed clear and transparent protocols to support high functioning collaboration including, norms, roles and responsibilities and visible agendas.
• The classroom and campus are attractive and stimulating and intentionally designed environments for learning, with dedicated music, STEM and PE facilities, and break out and office spaces providing students and staff with excellent facilities.

 Affirmations...... 

During the Review process, the panel verified the emerging effective practices that are contributing significantly to school improvement at Norwood Primary School:

• The School Improvement Plan is a living document which is reviewed and monitored throughout the year.
• Data is used by both leadership and teachers to inform decision making, screening students from Kinder to Year 6, and provides future direction for student learning.
• There are some informal and formal opportunities for coaching and mentoring to build teacher expertise.
• The development of a flexible learning program to support the wellbeing of students from diverse backgrounds and needs.
• The intentional use of space for student regulation supporting orderly learning environments.
• Staff demonstrate a strong desire to share and collaborate in CLTs.
• Building connections with the wider community through both outreach and well attended engaging Lil programs is valued.
• The development of a student attendance data base that tracks actions and monitor impact.

Recommendations of the External School Review 2024

The External School Review Panel makes the following recommendations to further improve student learning outcomes at Norwood Primary School:

1. Strengthen the school culture that explicitly and coherently encompasses the school’s vision which aligns all stakeholders to drive the improvement agenda. This includes monitoring and evaluating the impact of improvement strategies.
2. Develop and embed a shared understanding of quality pedagogical practice to develop a culture of growth, learning and high expectations for staff and students.

Staffing News

For the remainder of this term we have some of our teaching staff taking long service leave.  Emails have been sent to classes impacted by this. 

During Term 4 Jess Milne will be on maternity leave and Rob O'Brien will be taking paternity leave.  Emails have been sent to these classes with information about the class teachers for these classes. 

Luke Padgett will be taking long service leave for Term 4 prior to moving on to a new position in 2025.  I would like to thank Luke for his work and dedication to the Norwood PS Community throughout his time as Assistant Principal, and at times Acting Principal, at NPS.  I wish him well with his new endeavours. 

School Association...

If you are coming into the school, come and check out the new School Association board in the main corridor.

Kind regards, 

Karen Monaghan| Principal