Under a program created and funded by the Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW), an independent evaluation has found that Indigenous students involved have achieved improved levels of literacy and numeracy.
The Improving Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students program began in 2016 at four NSW urban and regional independent schools with higher than average enrolments of indigenous students – Kempsey Adventist College, St Joseph’s College at Hunter’s Hill, Pymble Ladies College and St Ignatius College Riverview.
According to AISNSW Chief Executive Dr Geoff Newcombe AM the program also served to increase confidence, self-management and aspirations for learning.
“The program’s core focus is to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the participating schools,” Dr Newcombe said.
“This was the highest priority; each school then tailored its projects to reflect and respond to their unique circumstances and what was most appropriate for their students.”
Dr Newcombe said that after an initial evaluation by the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney, AISNSW extended the program to another 12 schools, including one government school.
“Jumbunna’s evaluation of the program’s first phase found that the approximately 100 indigenous students involved had improved their literacy, numeracy and other academic outcomes as well as also boosting their confidence, engagement, self-management and aspiration for further study,” he explained.
Dr Newcombe said the evaluation also found that non-indigenous students and staff had been enriched by the program which has valued, acknowledged and integrated indigenous cultures and perspectives into curriculum and school life.
“Schools made a conscious effort to involve family and broader community members in their decision-making processes, including, for example, encouraging family members to have a voice in their child’s learning experience by including them in developing personalised learning plans.”
At one of the schools, a Family Weekend and Fun Day was organised. This was the first time the families of Aboriginal students were ever invited to come together at the school and get to know each other as a group.
The four original schools now act as a ‘hub’, each supporting and mentoring three new schools. Over 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are now involved in the program, as well as 5574 non-indigenous students and nearly 2000 teachers and other staff across the 16 schools.
Dr Newcombe said Jumbunna will finalise an evaluation of Phase 2 in the second half of 2020, adding that AISNSW hopes to expand the program to more schools, including Catholic systemic and government schools.
He added that the goals of the AISNSW-funded program were underpinned by priorities of the Commonwealth’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy 2015.
Dr Paul Hine, Principal of St Ignatius, said the program’s depth of engagement with indigenous students contributed to its success in literacy and numeracy. “Some of the maths and literacy scores we’ve had under this program, we’ve never had before – nor in such a short space of time.”
