Regional Award Submission writing tips

1. Regional Award Submission writing tips

2. The Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools has been running since 2000 and aims to: • recognise, celebrate and reward excellent practice in Education Queensland schools • foster a learning culture that supports sharing of excellent practice • create professional development opportunities through sharing practice with peers and the education community • promote public education.

3. Showcase categories • Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early Phase of Learning • Showcase Award for Excellence in the Middle Phase of Learning • Showcase Award for Excellence in the Senior Phase of Learning • Showcase Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education • Showcase Award for Excellence in Leadership • Showcase Award for Excellence in Innovation • Showcase Award for Excellence in Academic Excellence • Showcase Award for Excellence in Community or Industry Partnerships

4. Criterion The overarching criterion for the awards is: The program/initiative must significantly contribute to students’ quality outcomes and continuous improvement. These could include education, personal, health and social wellbeing and vocational outcomes.

5. Criterion All programs/initiatives must: • be capable of being promoted as best practice • document evidence of commitment to continuous improvement to achieve quality outcomes for students The program/initiative must include a range of the following features: • sustainability • transferability of process • inclusivity

6. Entering Showcase Awards Participating in Showcase involves four elements: • Submitting an Expression of Interest (optional) • Submitting a Regional Award submission that describes the school program’s outcomes • Showcasing the school via a display or event within the local community during State Education Week 2011 • If recognised as a Regional Award winner, submit a State Award submission for review by the State Evaluation Team.

7. Entering Showcase Awards • Participation is open to all employees and volunteers, either as teams or individuals, within Education Queensland • School programs that have won a Showcase State Award in a previous year cannot submit the same program again.

8. 2011 school development grants • up to 97 Regional Awards, $1000 development grant each, presented during State Education Week • 24 State Finalist Awards (three per category), $5000 development grant each, selected from Regional Award recipients • eight State Awards, $20 000 development grant each, presented at Showcase Gala Dinner, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Friday 21 October 2011.

9. Key dates • 15 April Submissions due • 29 April Due date for returned submissions to be re- submitted • 9-13 May Judging - Regional Selection Team • 22-28 May Regional Award Winners announced and Showcase activities held during State Education Week • 20 June State Awards submissions due • 12-13 July State Evaluation Team Judging • 25 July State Finalists announced • 21 October State Award Winners announced at Gala Dinner

10. Getting started You will need: • An Expression of Interest form (optional) (Appendix A) • Copy of the guidelines for each member of the writing team • Submission coversheet with template (Appendix B) • Entrants’ checklist (Appendix C)

11. Defining your project • Scope • Category • Project establishment • Quality outcomes • Evidence

12. Audiences Your key audiences are: • Regional Selection Team • State Evaluation Team • Showcase Board Other audiences for State Education Week activities include: • Local school community • Local stakeholders • General public

13. Submission Cover Sheet Submission title • Use a short and catchy title • Keep in mind that your submission title may be used in press articles, certificates, websites and dinner programs * Short and catchy is best *

14. Examples: x Kick Start to Learning – Early Intervention at Bald Hills State School √ Kick Start to Learning x Engaging Students – The Marriage Between Curriculum and School Culture √ Engagement for Success

15. Submission overview Submission overview: • 100 words max. - please use simple language The submission overview should include: • a sentence that explains what the program/initiative is or what the school did • what the program/initiative achieves • measurable outcomes

16. Example: Engagement for Success focuses on a quality curriculum, student-focused support and diverse extracurricular activities that have resulted in significantly improved academic outcomes and increased retention rates. A wider choice of subjects and flexible timetables for students undertaking vocational education and university subjects has proven successful. Last year, the school’s Year 12 students became one of South East Brisbane district’s highest achievers, with 80 per cent of students receiving a Queensland Certificate of Education, which is above the state average.

17. There are three key areas in the submission template form. • Description • Outcomes and supporting evidence • Supporting documentation Writing a successful submission

18. 1. Description A detailed description of the submission including the program’s contribution to quality outcomes and continuous improvement for students (see section 3.2 of the Showcase Guidelines) The following questions may assist in starting the submission writing process: • What is the program called, what is it about? • Who developed it, who delivers it and where it is delivered? • How long has it been operating? Who does it benefit and how? • What is new or different about this program?

19. 2. Outcomes and supporting evidence (A description of the quality and continuously improved outcomes that have been achieved, including supporting evidence of claimed outcomes including any performance measures used, see section 3.5 of the Showcase Guidelines) • What are the outcomes for students/staff/parents? • How is it making a difference? • How do you know it is working? • Stated outcomes should be supported by accurate and current data.

20. Examples of supporting evidence Acceptable forms of qualitative and quantitative supporting evidence may include: • systemic data (for example, Year 2 Net outcomes, Years 3, 5 and 7 Test results) • documentation of achieved outcomes • significant results in state, national and international competitions (for example, English, Maths, Science, Information Technology, Art) • teachers’ anecdotal records • graphs which may be useful to provide quantitative evidence • evidence may be presented in percentages (when using percentages in data, a sample size should be stated so the information may be properly evaluated) • School Opinion Surveys should be backed by other data to support and supplement results were possible

21. Schools would benefit by clearly outlining what outcomes they are wishing to measure before sourcing data. • Analysis of data should be validated. • Submissions in the Early Phase of Learning category should include data that maps the ongoing progress of students, including their achievements in the Year 2 Net and the Year 3 Test. • When possible, data should be linked and compared to research from prior to the program’s implementation. • For examples of suitable documentation visit the Showcase Awards website at www.education.qld.gov.au/community/events/showcase and view the 2010 State Award submissions.

22. 3. Other documentation Other documentation that describes the significance of the achieved outcomes. These items should be presented as an appendix. Supporting material must include: • a signed supporting statement from the principal • a signed supporting statement from the Parents and Citizens’ Association. Other suggestions: • case studies • student works • graphs/data • photos • press articles

23. Linking actions with outcomes and evidence • Evidence must illustrate growth and continuous improvement • Data must support project goals • Link objectives and results

24. Submission requirements • Nominate one category per program only • Minimum font size of 11 points on A4 size pages • Submission must not exceed 12 pages – (2 page submission, excludes cover sheet, + 10 pages of appendix pages) • Principal must sign submission before it goes to Regional Office • Submit original signed hard copy + electronic copy (including all support material) • Electronic submissions must not exceed 1.5 megabytes and must be provided as one single file. • Multimedia is optional (see Appendix L of the guidelines)

25. Submission requirements • Content, not presentation, is the basis for judging at all levels • Written submissions should be focussed and engaging • Keep within the page numbers limit • Submission should be logically structured using the template provided. Applicants should use clear, plain and simple English and correct spelling and grammar is a must • Schools are encouraged to refrain from using an overload of acronyms. If necessary, include a legend.

26. Showcasing your entry Some important items to keep in mind when planning your State Education Week showcasing activities: • involve your students in showcasing your project • invite local media • work together with regional coordinators • involve P & C Associations • engage the local community

27. State level • Regional Winners submit a State Award submission • State Evaluation Team will judge all Regional Award winners and select potential finalists • Showcase Board selects 24 state finalists (three per category) • Two representatives from each program will participate in the final state interview with the Showcase Board and attend the Showcase Gala Dinner • eight State Winners are announced at Showcase Gala Dinner and winners receive a further $20 000 development grant each.

28. Discussion • Questions • Sharing your ideas about your submissions • Suggestions from previous participants