Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline

1. Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline

2. Role of SCSA • Develop a curriculum and assessment outline for schools that sets out the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes that students are expected to acquire. • Establish standards of student achievement and provide for the assessment and certification of student achievement according to those standards. • Provide for the development and accreditation of courses for schooling. • Establish a database of information relating to students’ participation and achievement during their school years. • Prepare reports on the standards of student achievement attained in schools in Western Australia.

3. WA Curriculum and Assessment Outline Overview of the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline: • purpose • development • organisation.

4. Purpose The Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline: • sets out the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes that students are expected to acquire, and guidelines for the assessment of student achievement • is mandated for all Western Australian schools, including home educators • provides comprehensive information that schools can use to plan student learning programs, assess student progress and report to parents. All students have a right to an education that is equitable and embraces diversity.

5. Development • The Australian Curriculum provides the policy background for development of the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline. • Feedback on the draft K—10 curriculum and assessment outline was provided by SCSA stakeholder forum groups between October 2012 and March 2013 • Schools should commence using the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline from Semester 2, 2013.

6. Website • Digital publication. • Timeline for development. • Bookmark the link to the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline website http://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/. • Navigation and key features of the website.

7. Organisation of the Outline The Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline comprises: • Guiding Principles • the Western Australian Curriculum • Assessment Principles and Practice • Reporting Policy • Resources.

8. Guiding Principles The Guiding Principles for Western Australian Schools promote equity and excellence. The Principles comprise: • Values of Schooling • Students with Diversity Statement • Principles of Teaching, Learning and Assessment • Phases of Schooling • Kindergarten and Pre-primary Statement.

9. The Western Australian Curriculum The Western Australian Curriculum comprises: • Early Years Learning Framework • Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines • P—10 Australian Curriculum • Alternative Curriculum Recognition.

10. Early Years Learning Framework Australia’s first national Early Years Learning Framework for early childhood educators. Designed to extend and enrich children’s learning from birth to five years and through the transition to school.

11. Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines The Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines use key ideas from the EYLF. They set expectations for Kindergarten teachers as they develop quality curriculum for Kindergarten children. Teachers are encouraged to complete the feedback survey available at k10outline@scsa.wa.edu.au from 22 November 2013 to 14 February 2014 or to contact the Authority with comments or questions at k10@scsa.wa.edu.au.

12. Pre-primary — Year 10 Curriculum The Western Australian curriculum encompasses the Australian Curriculum. Setsout the knowledge, understandings, skills, values and attitudes that students are expected to acquire. Includes the Australian Curriculum Phase 1 learning areas: • English • Mathematics • Science • History.

13. Pre-primary—Year 10 Curriculum The Western Australian Curriculum will be progressively updated on the website as Phases 2 and 3 of the Australian Curriculum become available. Current Western Australian implementation timeline:

14. Assessment Principles and Practice The Assessment Principles and Practice comprise: • assessment principles and reflective questions • assessment snapshots • overview of assessment research • assessment activities • judging standards.

15. Judging Standards A tool to support teachers when: • reporting against the achievement standards • giving assessment feedback • explaining the differences between one student’s achievement and another’s.

16. Reporting Policy The Reporting Policy sectionsets out the requirements and guidelines for schools’ reporting on students’ achievement fromPre-primary—Year 10. The Western Australian Minister for Education has approved the implementation of Phase 1 of the Australian Curriculum for Pre-primary—Year 10, with implementation to be completed by the start of 2015 and reporting by mid-2015. School systems and independent sector schools may choose to implement this policy prior to 2015.

17. Assessment and reporting Schools must have an assessment and reporting policy that specifies how they: • provide students with feedback on their learning • use achievement information to plan future learning • make judgements of achievement in relation to standards • administer national, State and system assessments • communicate with parents about student achievement and progress • report to parents • distribute to parents national, State and system assessment reports.

18. Resources Resources and links are provided to support teachers as they work with the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline: • PowerPoint Presentation • Frequently Asked Questions • Outline Downloads • Links • Curriculum FrameworkMaterials.

19. Principal briefings and feedback The Authority will be hosting principal briefings in February and March 2014. The briefings will be held in metropolitan and regional centres. There will be a webinar option for principals in rural, remote and overseas schools. Remember the short survey about the Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines is available on k10outline@scsa.wa.edu.au until 14 February 2014.

20. Thank you The School Curriculum and Standards Authority thanks the many principals and teachers who have contributed to the development of the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline. Thank you for your advice, samples of student work, dedication and professional expertise.