We are delighted to announce with our school community that Pakenham Consolidated School are finalists in the Victorian Education Excellence Award's category of 'Outstanding Inclusive Education'. The Outstanding Inclusive Education Award recognises an exceptional team of staff who have demonstrated quality teaching and learning, delivered outstanding system improvements that have made a positive impact in their school and community that support achievement, engagement and wellbeing through a positive climate for learning for students with additional needs. The 2020 winners for all categories will be announced in late November, and we will certainly keep you posted on how we progress at this ceremony. In the meantime feel free to visit the web link below and see our personal profile.

Pakenham Consolidated School

Pakenham Consolidated School has taken an innovative approach to engaging vulnerable learners through their Hands On Learning Program (HOP).

Based on a detailed analysis of school-based data and research, the school identified a need to differentiate an approach to educating their vulnerable and most disengaged learners, one that would encourage participation and improve learner experience.

Aligned with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTML), the HOP was designed by staff with the support of Hands On Learning Australia to deliver a blended approach of explicit teaching and applied learning, including real-life problem solving and community engagement.

Focusing on improving student wellbeing, the HOP is carefully structured with expectations, boundaries and consistency to allow all students to not only achieve, but thrive in a safe environment.

NAPLAN results reveal students' achievement has increased significantly to above state growth in reading, writing and numeracy. Staff also identified that 67 per cent of students who attended HOP demonstrated improvement in classroom engagement within a term.