Curriculum and pedagogy

The Structure

The establishment of Western Cape College required the alignment of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment across all four original campus sites. This would foster the effective transition of students between the different phases of learning. The primary goal at the inception of the College was to dramatically improve the senior schooling outcomes of Indigenous students. Therefore, an alignment of curriculum and pedagogy across campuses would support the transition of students having to relocate to access senior schooling options. To assist the organisation of a consistent, streamlined curriculum and pedagogy across campuses a 'staged schooling' structure was introduced.

Western Cape College organised curriculum and pedagogical practice around three stages of schooling; Junior P-3, Middle 4-9 and Senior 10-12. This organisational structure provides best practice in learning and management. Each stage of schooling is co-ordinated across campuses by a Head of Staged Schooling. The Head of Staged Schooling collaboratively works with teaching staff to develop curriculum relevant to a College strategy that reinforces consistency across classrooms, year levels and stages of schooling. The Head of Staged Schooling is accountable for ensuring staff are supported within their roles to develop consistent and quality curriculum that meets the needs of students with a focus on literacy and numeracy.

The Programs

Western Cape College provides early education services at each of the college sites and supports the alternative early education services available in Western Cape communities. College curriculum programs in early education are based on the Queensland Studies Authority’s Early Years Curriculum Guidelines. These guidelines inform the Junior School Curriculum Guidelines developed by the College to ensure consistent curriculum across sites and levels to assist successful transitions during the early years. Western Cape College is prepared for the implementation of the Preparatory Year and has employed a Preparatory Year Facilitator to provide training for PREP teachers at already established early education centres. The focus at Western Cape College during Kindergarten and Prep is play-based and developmentally appropriate learning, reflected in the curriculum programs implemented at the College.

The College is currently in the process of aligning the New Basics curriculum with the Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Framework. This process has required the College to demonstrate that they are covering all of the essential learnings identified in the new framework. These essential learnings will form part of the curriculum offered at the College and a team has been established to ensure staff understand the implications of the new framework at a classroom level.

The curriculum programs offered in the senior stage of schooling are based on the Queensland Studies Authority's Key Learning Outcomes syllabus documents. The College has recently broadened the senior schooling selection to further meet the needs of individual students. Vocational education and training courses are also included in the curriculum for students following a clearly articulated VET pathway. The College has established a support network to guide students through the senior phase of learning. The process is initiated in Year 9 with a Rich Task involving career planning and Senior Education and Training Plans in Year 10. Students are then registered in the Queensland Certificate of Education where pathways are monitored by staff, parents and students.

The Initiatives

Strategically the College is placed to deliver a world-class P-12 education facility with an emphasis on transitions, accountability and excellence. An Early Years Transition Team has been established to coordinate the transition of students through the early phase of learning. This involves an intense support network established with parents, community members, students pre-Prep to Year 3, and alternative early education providers in each Western Cape community. This network will coordinate the approach to early years education, highlighting age appropriate progression. Western Cape College also supports the Transition Support Unit to deliver a service to students leaving their community to access senior education options. The transition of students through the early years of schooling and from primary to secondary education are times when the students of Western Cape College require targeted support to ensure these transitions are successful.

The partnership with the Transition Support Unit provides Western Cape College with an additional mechanism to ensure Indigenous students from our remote communities have supported access to a senior education. The College provides a boarding facility located at Weipa for students who cannot access a senior education. The successful management of the Hostel is a recurring issue for the College and sustainability mechanisms are being explored.