Community Report 2016

MLC Community Report2016

Preparing world-ready women for their lives beyond schoolMethodist Ladies’ College is a welcoming, open-entry learning community that offers students an extensive range of academic and co-curricular opportunities. Over the past 134 years, we have forged a reputation for innovation, educational leadership, academic success and the provision of a broad and holistic education that prepares world-ready women for their lives beyond school.

2015 was a year of remarkable achievement and I am pleased to report on our outstanding student achievements, high levels of community satisfaction, and commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.

Students from across the College performed very well in the 2015 NAPLAN with standardised assessment results indicating that the median MLC results are well above the state-wide average.

Year 12 VCE, VCE VET and IB students continued the College’s longstanding tradition of academic excellence with their outstanding

results. In addition to three highest possible scores in the VCE and IB Diploma, 37 students (12%) placed in the top 1% of Australia with an ATAR of 99 or above, and 51% of students placed in the top 10% of Australia with an ATAR of 90 or higher.

Our students lead busy and fulfilling lives and student feedback surveys indicate that a majority of students feel they are encouraged to achieve their best in a safe learning environment. In 2015, students embraced the College’s eclectic range of co-curricular activities taking the opportunity to get involved and experience new challenges through sport, the arts, music, education outdoors, international tours and exchanges, and a myriad of different clubs and student-led societies.

Annual staff survey results confirm that our teaching staff are satisfied with their jobs and committed to ongoing professional development. Parents also enjoyed high levels of satisfaction

with an independent survey recording an overall satisfaction score of 81%.

College governance and strategic planning ensure the continued success of the College and the delivery of our exceptional academic and co-curricular programs. In 2015, the MLC Board worked in collaboration with the Principal and the College Management Team, with input from students, staff and parents to develop MLC’s Strategic Plan. This articulates the six strategic pillars and future actions necessary to ensure MLC remains one of the leading schools in the world. The Strategic Plan is, in essence, our roadmap for the years ahead and I am confident that the plan will continue to position MLC at the forefront of ongoing innovation and achievement in education.

Diana Vernon, Principal BA PGCE MACE MACEL

MLC world-ready women

MLC Community Report 2016 3

Our VisionAn education that inspires young women to be the citizens the world needs.

MLC focuses on developing confident and articulate young women who have the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes to shape their future and contribute meaningfully to the international community. MLC is committed to providing a challenging, enriching and supportive environment through our core values of responsibility, respect and compassion.

Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020The Strategic Plan features six Strategic Pillars, which have been identified as fundamental to MLC’s commitment to successfully educating and preparing young women for their lives beyond school.

Student Learning and Achievement

MLC provides a broad and challenging academic curriculum which fosters a passion for learning, develops independent, adaptable thinkers and focuses on excellence.

Student Wellbeing

As an integral element of an inspiring and rewarding education, MLC offers a mature and responsive student wellbeing program.

Excellence in Staff

MLC recognises that quality educational outcomes are driven by excellence in teaching and learning provided by the highest quality, motivated teaching and educational support staff.

Innovation and Resources

MLC will continue to lead and innovate in developing resources, sites and facilities that support students’ learning in a dynamic 21st Century environment.

MLC Community

The diverse and extensive MLC community provides a rich source of opportunity, personal growth and sense of belonging for all members.

Secure Future

MLC has a commitment to a secure and sustainable future that supports investment in facilities and resources which deliver a world class education for MLC students.

Our CommunityCommunity at MLC extends beyond the students and teachers and includes those who have an interest in the College and are advocates for our values.

Since our commencement in 1882 the MLC Community has included current parents, students and staff, past students, parents and staff, friends of the College, benefactors, volunteers and a Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is comprised of members of our community who volunteer to commit their time and expertise to support MLC. They have an ethical and financial obligation to act in the best interests of the College and its students.

Our StudentsMLC is an open entry school that welcomes students of all faiths and nationalities. With students from 19 different countries enrolled, MLC embraces and celebrates this diversity and everything that it brings to the learning environment.

The main intake year levels are Prep, 5, 7, 9 and 11. In 2015 MLC had over 120 students enrolled in our early learning program at MLC Kindle and over 2,000 from Prep to Year 12. The MLC Boarding House was almost at capacity with 113 boarders from Australia and around the world.

Our students continue to excel in academic, sporting, music, creative and community pursuits at the College. There are times however, when students are absent due to a variety of reasons which may include illness, injury, religious observance and family commitments. The College manages these absences on a continual basis and provides support to students and their family through regular contact from Home Group Teachers and/or Tutors as relevant for different year groups.

The table below estimates the average attendance by year level for 2015.

Year Level % Attendance

Prep 95%

Year 1 94%

Year 2 95%

Year 3 95%

Year 4 96%

Year 5 94%

Year 6 95%

Year 7 94%

Year 8 93%

Year 9 91%

Year 10 90%

Year 11 93%

Year 12 92%

Student Wellbeing“Successful education enables young people to flourish in all aspects of life. Educational success does not reside solely in high test scores but in self-actualisation (being able to become the best you can be), being healthy, resilient and engaged in life, having meaning and purpose alongside compassion for others1. MLC has a long standing commitment to providing students with a holistic education that focuses on developing knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to reach their potential and contribute to the local and global communities.

In 2015, student wellbeing across the College underwent a major review. This was the first major review since 2007. The focus of the review included wellbeing roles and structures, the delivery and content of student wellbeing programs, aspects of the curriculum program delivery, wellbeing specific processes/policies and the co-curricular program.

A number of review recommendations were endorsed and actioned throughout the year, including the confirmation of a new wellbeing framework, PROSPER, to be launched in 2017 and the trialling of a College-wide ‘wellbeing measurement tool’. Delivery on the recommendations from this review will continue to be a focus over the next five years.1. Wellbeing Australia statement on education

Our Staff Excellence in staff at MLC is a core priority for the College. We recognise that quality educational outcomes are driven by excellence in teaching and learning provided by the highest quality, motivated teaching and educational support staff. The MLC model of professional growth for staff has been developed as a continuous, collaborative process, based on identified College and staff needs and one that develops open, trusting, collegial relationships. Staff are empowered and supported to set meaningful goals that further their own professional growth for the benefit of our students.

MLC employs approximately 450 full time equivalent staff, of which 52% are teachers and 48% are educational support staff. The percentage of female staff is 80% with 20% male.

MLC employs quality staff with 82% of teachers holding at least two qualifications. Of these teachers, 51% hold three qualifications and 20% hold four or more. Feedback from research tells us our staff are also highly satisfied with their jobs at MLC. We endeavour to foster a commitment to lifelong learning and during 2015 staff were involved in a total of 2,448 different staff learning events within and beyond MLC.

In 2015, the average staff attendance rate was 97.6% and over 85% of teachers were retained into 2016.

Teaching and LearningEach year, MLC adopts a small number of key curriculum priorities and learning and wellbeing themes to help guide and focus teacher development with the aim of enhancing student learning and inspiring achievement.

In 2015 the teaching and learning themes focused on 21st Century Learning and Teaching with a focus on Differentiation, Engagement and Critical Thinking. Differentiation deals with the ability of teachers to vary content purposefully, process or assessment to accommodate mixed abilities in the classroom and allow every student to access the curriculum and achieve her best. Engagement focuses on the strategies and approaches teachers employ to captivate, motivate and challenge individual students in their learning. Critical thinking refers to the development of a set of skills in students that enable them actively and skilfully to analyse, synthesise and evaluate information and, for teachers, how these skills are most effectively taught.

These themes become the focus annually for regular, scheduled teacher learning opportunities both individually as teachers set improvement goals as part of their Individual Development Plan, and collaboratively as teachers work in groups, choose a theme to explore, observe each other’s teaching and make conclusions about how best to improve. These conclusions are shared at an end of year conference where all MLC teachers present their findings.

The strategic establishment of regular curriculum themes allows MLC teachers to focus on key directions in teaching and learning and for staff learning opportunities to be carefully aligned with curriculum directions that support improved outcomes for students.


Literacy and Numeracy BenchmarksThis table shows a breakdown of students below (–), at (AT) and above (+) the National Minimum Standards based on NAPLAN results for 2015. Please note that due to rounding errors, data sets do not add up to 100% in all cases.

Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 9

– AT + – AT + – AT + – AT +

Reading 2% 0% 98% 0% 3% 97% 0% 1% 99% 2% 6% 91%

Writing 0% 0% 100% 0% 2% 98% 0% 5% 95% 8% 8% 84%

Spelling 0% 4% 96% 2% 2% 95% 0% 4% 95% 3% 7% 89%

Grammar & Punctuation 0% 2% 98% 3% 2% 94% 1% 2% 97% 1% 10% 88%

Numeracy 0% 2% 98% 1% 8% 91% 0% 3% 97% 0% 5% 95%

This table provides the percentage of MLC students in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 meeting national reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy benchmarks from 2013 to 2015 based on NAPLAN results.

Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 9

2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015

Reading 98% 100% 98% 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 98% 99% 97%

Writing 98% 100% 100% 100% 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 97% 97% 92%

Spelling 100% 98% 100% 94% 100% 97% 100% 100% 99% 99% 97% 96%

Grammar & Punctuation 100% 98% 100% 100% 100% 96% 99% 100% 99% 97% 98% 98%

Numeracy 100% 96% 100% 96% 99% 99% 99% 100% 100% 97% 99% 100%


Average Standardised Assessment Results for Year 9The average standardised assessment results for Year 9 are based on NAPLAN results from 2015 and include international students for whom English is a second language. The results indicate that the median achievement of MLC students is above state-wide median achievements in all areas assessed by the NAPLAN. This data is derived from the Five Year Trend Data Reports and indicates an improvement in all areas assessed.

Reading Writing Spelling Grammar & Punctuation Numeracy

MLC Mean 638 609 621 620 651

State Mean 586 560 583 571 597

National Mean 580 547 583 568 592


Year 12 ResultsThe Class of 2015 achieved exceptional results, further consolidating MLC’s position as a top education provider in Australia. Among the exceptional results were three highest possible scores, consisting of two IB scores of 45 and a VCE ATAR of 99.95.17 students achieved perfect study scores in 19 subjects across both VCE and VCE VET, with particularly high scores across the range of STEM subjects on offer. Perfect study scores of 50 were achieved in: Accounting (1), Biology (2), Chemistry (2), English (2), Geography (1), Health and Human Development (1), Further Mathematics (5), Mathematical Methods (1), Specialist Mathematics (1), Media Studies (1), Physical Education (1) and Sports and Recreation (1).

47 Year 12 IB students and 13 Year 11 IB students achieved a total of 140 Grade 7s (the highest grade possible) in 26 different subjects.

Combined VCE, VCE VET and IB results included: • 37 students (12%) in the top 1% with an ATAR* of 99 and above • 105 students (35%) in the top 5% with an ATAR of 95 and above • 152 students (51%) in the top 10% with an ATAR of 90 and above

The median ATAR across VCE, VCE VET and IB was an impressive 90.55.

MLC Results compared with State Averages

MLC VIC MLC VIC MLC VIC MLC VIC MLC VIC

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

60%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

99 and above 95 and above 90 and above

*The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) provides a measure of overall academic achievement that assists universities in ranking applicants for course selection. The ATAR is arrived at after the VCE study scores out of 50 are scaled. Students undertaking the IB also receive an ATAR, referred to as a Notional ATAR. MLC Results compared with State Averages

University OffersReinforcing the strength of the students’ academic achievements we are particularly pleased that 183 students received their first preference offers from a wide range of Australian and overseas universities. A total of 306 first round university offers and 4 first round TAFE offers were issued to MLC students.

A true reflection of the diversity in the Class of 2015, university offers were spread across many different fields. Science, Commerce/Business and Arts were popular choices, in addition members of the Class of 2015 will be pursuing their passions in courses ranging from Fashion and Design to Entrepreneurship, Emergency Health and Agriculture.

Round One Offers0.5% ACU1.5% Swinburne University

14% Deakin University

5% La Trobe University

30% University of Melbourne

30% Monash University

19% RMIT

Tertiary Course Offers

Nursing

International Studies

Exercise Science

Biomedicine

Science

Marketing

Health Science

Engineering / Engineering Commerce

Photography

Medicine

Information Technology

Environments

Arts / Commerce

Psychology

Law and Combined Law

Fashion

Business / ArtsCommerce

Arts

Pharmacy

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45


College OperationsMLC seeks to generate an annual surplus from operating activities in order to adequately invest in the ongoing development and enhancement of the College facilities, buildings and programs.

2015 $’000

2014 $’000

Revenue Tuition Fees 61,495 58,144

Government Grants 7,556 7,499

Other Non-operating Income (including donations) 3,718 3,872

Total Revenue 72,769 69,515

Expenses Employee Benefits Expense (45,159) (44,939)

Depreciation (4,216) (4,219)

Rental expense (2,160) (2,781)

Catering and Cleaning Services (2,112) (2,053)

School and General Expense (8,092) (8,365)

Finance Costs (30) (39)

Other Expenses (5,131) (4,400)

Total Expenses (66,900) (66,796)

Operating Profit 5,869 2,718

Other Comprehensive Income Actuarial gain on defined benefit plans

2,411 (1,500)

Comprehensive Income/(loss) for the year 8,280 1,218


Community SatisfactionThroughout the year MLC conducts a number of independent research surveys to assist us in better understanding our school community and identify strengths and areas for opportunity. This information informs our future plans and assists us in continuing to improve.In 2015, MLC engaged MYP Corporation to conduct a confidential parent survey.

Below is a summary of the results:

• MLC recorded an overall satisfaction score of 81% which is consistent with results from a similar survey conducted in 2014

• 93% of parents agreed that ‘MLC offers a broad and relevant curriculum’ • 91% of parents agreed that ‘the resources and facilities provided at MLC are suitable’ • 88% of parents agreed that ‘MLC offers students opportunities to be involved in an extensive selection of co-curricular activities’

• 80% of parents agreed with the statement ‘Overall, I am very satisfied with my decision to send my child/ren to MLC’ • 80% of parents would recommend MLC to other parents

Students responded to a variety of questions about College life and the opportunities available.

Below is a summary of the results:

• 85% of Year 12 students agree that their teachers know their teaching subject matter

• 84% of Year 12 students agree that they feel they can achieve success in their learning

• 89% of Year 10 students agree that MLC is a safe and secure environment • 81% of Year 10 students agree that they are encouraged to do their best • 87% of Year 6 students agree that MLC is a happy place • 87% of Year 6 students agree that MLC is a technology rich environment

2015 AchievementsStudent Learning and Achievement • Coding was introduced into the Year 7 curriculum, to reinforce the focus on STEAM subjects.

• Additional time was allocated, in the Year 7 curriculum, to Mathematics and English and, in the Year 8 curriculum, to Mathematics; continuing the focus of optimising achievement in literacy and numeracy.

• Both the Year 7 and Year 8 Mathematical Olympiad teams finished in the top 10% of all Australasian teams.

• A student led Coding Club was launched with students from Years 7–11 learning to program using Python, and to program Arduinos. Students participated in the CAT (Computational and Algorithmic Thinking) competition and NCSS (National Computer Science School) Challenge achieving several High Distinctions in the CAT and perfect scores and High Distinctions in Advanced, Intermediate and Beginners sections of the NCSS Challenge.

• Philosophy was introduced as a new Year 10 elective subject.

• A student led neuroscience club was established and Compass teachers formed a CSIRO sponsored partnership with Dr Toby Lowe in the area of neuroscience to help mentor these students.

• Eight students were selected to exhibit work in the 2015 VCE Season of Excellence Awards program for outstanding work in VCE Food and Technology, Drama, Fashion, Photography and Visual Communication and Design.

• The achievements of nine students were recognised at the VCE Premier’s Awards with one student recognised as a Top All-Round VCE High Achiever and a further eight students received a Premier’s VCE Award.

• Library collaboration with the English Department in the alignment of author workshops with creative writing elements of the English curriculum.

• Makerspace offerings have been extended to incorporate Minecraft games, programmable kits, and craft.

• Digital magazine and newspaper platforms have been introduced to MLC’s Digital Library.

• A separate creative room was constructed in Art for the expanded use of 3D printing as part of the design program.

• MLC Aquatic swimmers produced the best result ever in 2015 by finishing overall 3rd at the Victorian and 6th at the National Age Championships where they won a total of 82 medals.

• The MLC rowers excelled at the Head of the Schoolgirls Rowing Regatta taking out the accolade of top performing school overall.

• The MLC Gymnastics program is ranked the number one club in Victoria and number four in Australia and involves over 730 athletes. The program includes: Cheerleading, Dance, Kinder Gym, Gymnastics for All and Competitive Gymnastics.

• The MLC Australian Rules football team won the GSV premiership for the fifth year in a row and followed that up by winning the Herald Sun Shield, the top football competition for school girls in Victoria.

• A total of 1,494 students participated in a range of tours and exchanges throughout the year.

Student wellbeing • The Student Wellbeing review was completed with a number of key recommendations endorsed, including the adoption of the PROSPER framework to underpin and inform wellbeing at MLC.

• A Resilience Survey, from Resilient Youth Australia, was trialled with students in Years 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11 through funding from City of Boroondara. The results have helped inform learning for future wellbeing programs.

• A review of the Prefect selection process and criteria was completed with recommended changes implemented as a result, including a name change to Senior Student Leaders, within this group there are two categories of leaders: Prefects and House Captains.

• An application was developed to enable Prefect Voting Online.

• A half day Year 11 seminar for ‘Transition into Year 12’ held at Swinburne University was introduced.

• A strategic review of MLC Boarding was completed to ensure we best meet the needs of all students from both country Australia as well as overseas.

• Expansion of Tiddeman House enabled boarding students previously housed at Swinburne apartments to be reintegrated back into the boarding house on campus to ensure a more cohesive boarding group.

• The REACH Boarding House mobile app has been trialled to assist with the management of student leave arrangements in Tiddeman House.

Excellence in Staff • The 2015 Staff Learning Themes focused on the development of 21 century skills with a focus on engagement, differentiation and critical thinking.

• Every member of the teaching staff completed a Collaborative College Project, on one of the Staff Learning Themes, which included elements of classroom observation and student voice, to develop pedagogy across the College.

• ‘Learn, Connect, Innovate and Collaborate through Technology’ was a further theme for staff learning, with workshop sessions delivered by MLC staff, covering: Managing and Sharing Documents in Office 365; Pen-based computing; Shared OneNote; ClickView; Office Mix; Sway Adobe Acrobat; Expression Encoder and flipping the classroom; Online collaboration; Smart search strategies using online databases; 3D printing; Editing images in Photoshop; and, Evidence-based feedback strategies using the stylus.

• MLC committed to the Assessment and Learning Partnerships Program with the University of Melbourne’s Assessment Research Centre.

• MLC Staff joined the AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership) Learning Frontiers Project.

• A team of MLC staff attended a Leadership Series event, exploring the work of Dr. Ruben Puentedura including exploring new directions in mobile computing, digital storytelling and learning analytics.

• Nine pre-service teachers were placed in the Junior School and 21 in the secondary area working across 17 subject disciplines.

• MLC Libraries launched a Twitter account to support professional learning and 21st century pedagogy.


Innovation and Resources • The Colleges’ 1–1 notebook program was extended to the whole College with the implementation of a new mobile device strategy for the Junior School. All Prep to Year 2 students are now equipped with an iPad, with students in Years 3–4 using notebooks. In the classes with 1–1 iPads, Apple TVs have also been installed to enable content collaboration between teachers and students. Pen enabled notebooks were deployed for all teachers and students. • SharePoint was selected as a development platform for the College to manage workflow, forms and site sharing. The first site has been developed to manage online enrolments. Work has commenced on College wide SharePoint technology with a SharePoint mentor assisting the IT Solutions team to upskill to a new technology.

• MLC’s wireless network has been upgraded to support the current 802.11 AC wireless standard, allowing for better throughput and range for MLC’s large wireless community. • The first phase of the Identity Management Project has been implemented and includes provision of CANVAS – (MLC’s selected Learning Management System). New student and staff accounts are automatically created and all timetable changes are electronically transferred to CANVAS to give students immediate access to their class content.

• New emergency communication application was developed to allow scheduled or instant SMS/email communications with students, parents and/or staff.

• MLC transferred to a fully online process for all student reports. Parents are able to access their daughter’s report via the myMLC Family portal. • The Excursions and Tours management portal for parents and staff was completed. This portal includes online consent, medical updates and wellbeing information. • There has been an ongoing attention to the grounds and gardens with a replanting of the gardens in the Chapel car park and significant work undertaken on the College trees.

• Continued roll out of HDMI cabling infrastructure across College learning spaces (to enable current and future devices to connect to installed display technology). • Acoustics in the dance studios in the PEC were improved.

MLC Community • Through student led initiatives and events the College raised $184,934 for Social Service throughout the year. This has been distributed to over 100 different local, national and international charities.

• The students and staff on the 2015 Tonga Tour met the new Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga, an MLC Old Collegian.

• The Parents’ Association held over 130 events including the Women of Influence Brunch which provided the opportunity for students to connect and converse with inspiring women from a variety of fields. • More than 300 volunteers supported the College at the Star Café, MLC Uniform Shop, libraries, at the river bank and on mountains as well as organising activities to continue to engage our community. • The Parents’ Association welcomed a new subcommittee, the International Parent Group, whose charter is to support parents and students new to Australia and increase the intercultural connectedness of the MLC community.

• A successful event for the 25th Anniversary of the introduction of the notebook at the College was held in the Walton Library. The event was attended by former Principal, David Loader, and a small group of staff involved in the introduction of the world first 1–1 notebook program. • MLC’s history was celebrated at a major archival exhibition ‘MLC and the Great War’ to commemorate the Anzac Centenary. The MLC exhibit received a commendation at the Victorian Community History Awards. • MLC’s Facebook page was developed in early 2015 and is used regularly to communicate with over 2,000 members of the wider MLC community. • Over 60 Toshiba Z30T units were submitted from students and donated to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Jesuit Social Services. • System enhancements were undertaken to facilitate the online access and emailing of invoices to families, a new parent payment portal rolled out and a new online donations payment gateway added to the external website.

Secure Future • The long term College masterplan was developed and approved by the Board. • The new College Constitution was adopted and an expanded Stakeholder Membership base was elected.

• New financial reporting packages have been introduced to optimise College operations. • New scholarships were introduced including: Year 5 Academic, Boarding All-Rounder, Principal’s Boarding, and Principal’s Indigenous Boarding. • Development of online/digital enrolment process was completed and implemented. • Extensive work was undertaken on larger College spend lines with tenders conducted and contracts awarded for catering, bus hire and before/after school hours care programs.



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