{"id":45311,"date":"2026-05-15T11:46:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T01:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/?post_type=article&#038;p=45311"},"modified":"2026-05-15T11:46:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T01:46:37","slug":"from-the-head-of-learning-and-teaching-24","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/article\/from-the-head-of-learning-and-teaching-24\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Head of Learning and Teaching"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-35869 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/d1dfwahqlx324v.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/02\/Exec_Thumbnail_Mel-McMahon25-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d1dfwahqlx324v.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/02\/Exec_Thumbnail_Mel-McMahon25-2.jpg 230w, https:\/\/d1dfwahqlx324v.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/02\/Exec_Thumbnail_Mel-McMahon25-2-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><strong>NAPLAN 2026 \u2013 Sustaining Excellence in Literacy and Numeracy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We are pleased to share early insights from the 2026 NAPLAN assessment cycle. These preliminary results indicate that MLC School students continue to demonstrate very high levels of achievement across reading and numeracy, maintaining the strong performance we have seen over recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Across all year levels, a significant majority of students achieved in the top proficiency bands (Strong or Exceeding):<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Year 3: 94%<\/li>\n<li>Year 5: 97%<\/li>\n<li>Year 7: 93%<\/li>\n<li>Year 9: 94%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Numeracy<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Year 3: 87%<\/li>\n<li>Year 5: 95%<\/li>\n<li>Year 7: 95%<\/li>\n<li>Year 9: 92%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These results reflect both the consistency and the strength of student learning from Junior through to Senior School. They are a testament to the depth of our academic programs and the sustained focus on building strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.<\/p>\n<p>We are still awaiting the release of writing results, which will provide a further dimension to our understanding of student achievement. We look forward to sharing a more complete picture once these data are available.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What NAPLAN Measures<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>NAPLAN (National Assessment Program \u2013 Literacy and Numeracy) is a nationwide assessment that provides a snapshot of student achievement in key areas, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reading<\/li>\n<li>Writing<\/li>\n<li>Numeracy<\/li>\n<li>Spelling<\/li>\n<li>Grammar and punctuation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is important to understand that NAPLAN is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A point-in-time assessment, rather than a comprehensive measure of a student\u2019s capabilities<\/li>\n<li>One of many tools we use to understand student learning<\/li>\n<li>Designed to track broad trends over time, supporting schools to refine teaching and learning practices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At MLC School, NAPLAN data is considered alongside a rich range of internal assessments to ensure that each student is appropriately supported and extended in their learning.<\/p>\n<p>The consistency of these results reflects the expertise of our teachers, the engagement of our students, and the strong partnership we share with families.<\/p>\n<p>Well done to our students and staff!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Year 10 Subject Selection<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Year 10 subject selection is fast approaching, and we are looking forward to supporting our students and families through this important stage of planning for the senior years.<\/p>\n<p>During Luminary in Week 5 <strong>(Monday 18 May 2026)<\/strong> and Week 6 <strong>(Monday 25 May 2026),<\/strong> Year 10 students will begin the subject selection process and learn more about the two senior pathways offered at MLC School: the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. At MLC School, we believe there is no \u2018better\u2019 credential, only the credential that is the best fit for each individual student. Both are internationally recognised and equally valued by the School.<\/p>\n<p>To guide students well, we draw on a range of information, including internal assessment data, student engagement measures, diagnostic cognitive testing, careers profiling and teachers\u2019 recommendations. This helps us provide each student with thoughtful, personalised advice about the credential and courses that are likely to suit her strengths, interests and future goals.<\/p>\n<p>When students choose subjects, the best starting point is always their interests, abilities and aspirations, not perceptions of scaling. During our information sessions, we will address some of the common myths surrounding both credentials and help students understand what success in Stage 6 really looks like. Students thrive in both pathways when their choices are well matched to their learning profile and goals.<\/p>\n<p>The multidisciplinary International Baccalaureate Diploma requires students to study six subjects across a range of disciplines, alongside core components that strengthen research, writing and critical thinking. These include Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) programme. The IB Diploma is often well suited to students who are well rounded, highly organised, strongly engaged in school, independent in their thinking and willing to grapple with complex ideas. It is a pathway that also develops global perspective and competency.<\/p>\n<p>The Higher School Certificate similarly provides a strong foundation for university study, vocational training and employment. Students following this pathway may choose a broad and diverse range of subjects or pursue areas of particular strength and passion in greater depth. For example, a student with a strong interest in History may choose Modern History, Ancient History and History Extension. In recent years, the HSC has also become more flexible, with students now able to include multiple VET (Vocational Education and Training) courses in the calculation of their ATAR. These courses allow students to gain an industry qualification while completing their HSC. In addition, MLC School introduced acceleration courses in Mathematics and Studies of Religion I in 2025. These courses provide highly organised and capable students with the opportunity to complete some units in Year 11 and gain early experience of HSC study.<\/p>\n<p>The Year 10 Subject Selection Information Evening will be held on <strong>Wednesday 10 June 2026,<\/strong> and students will attend a Subject Selection Expo at school on <strong>Friday 12 June 2026.<\/strong> Subject selection interviews for students and families will take place on <strong>Monday 22 June 2026<\/strong> and <strong>Tuesday 23 June 2026.<\/strong> More details will be shared shortly, and we encourage families to engage fully in this process as we work together to help each student choose the pathway that is right for her.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:ekorompay1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au\"><em><strong>\u2013 Melissa McMahon<\/strong><\/em><\/a><br \/>\nHead of Learning and Teaching<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NAPLAN 2026 \u2013 Sustaining Excellence in Literacy and Numeracy We are pleased to share early insights from the 2026 NAPLAN assessment cycle. These preliminary results indicate that MLC School students continue to demonstrate very high levels of achievement across reading and numeracy, maintaining the strong performance we have seen over recent years. Across all year [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":14704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","article_category":[20],"article_tag":[],"class_list":["post-45311","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article_category-learning-and-teaching"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/45311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45311"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_category?post=45311"},{"taxonomy":"article_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_tag?post=45311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}