Composite classes

Research, shows there is no discernible difference between composite and 'straight' year group classes in terms of academic performance because, in a sense, every class is a composite class. At every school, in every class, there are students with different learning needs, rates of learning, interests and strengths at different points in terms of their progress and achievement depending on what they are learning.

In today’s classrooms, teachers differentiate the curriculum in the key areas of literacy and numeracy so that the learning is ‘pitched at just the right level’ – regardless of the class structure. Collaboratively, our teachers plan tasks to be open-ended to enable students to perform at their level and to be extended.

Grade compositions

Towards the end of each year, classroom teachers spend a significant amount of time when placing students in their grade for the following year. In addition to considering students’ friendship requests and parent/carer wellbeing requests, our teachers work hard to ensure that each grade is balanced in terms of social, emotional and behavioural needs, gender, equity, as well as having grades with academic balance.

Please also see: Class Placement Policy