AR+Link

Action Research Link:

In 2007 I initiated a program for Girls at risk of dropping out of school and life in year 9 and 10. I noticed disengagement was increasing and something needed to be done, the program was successful for this group of students’. When considering ideas for this ARP, I reflected on the program for girls. I started with ideas around continuing with a similar theme and soon decided I needed to work with more students’ and not be gender specific. I did not want to leave anyone out, as disengagement is increasing at year 10 and **all student needs are important**.
 * Indentifying a focus for the project: **

** Steps in developing a draft needs assessment protocol: ** Reading and analysing information from the Student ‘Attitudes to School Data’ from the previous 3 years assists with my instincts about (dis)engagement in year ten with relation to the transition from year nine to ten. I am focussing reasons for lack of engagement around; Student Morale, Student Distress, Student Connectedness and Student Motivation. Here are the results from 2006, 2007 and 2008. I am particularly interested in the transition from year nine to ten. The data clearly shows students’ in year nine with high Student Morale and low Student Distress negatively changes when students’ transfer to year 10. Student Connectedness and Motivation also declines when students’ transfer to year 10. Before 2006 the year nine data was also lacking, the implementation of the year nine program has improved students’ feelings around the school.
 * 2006 || Yr 7 || Yr 8 || Yr 9 || Yr 10 || Yr 11 || Yr 12 ||
 * Student Morale || 2nd || 1st || 2nd || 1st || 2nd || 3rd ||
 * Student Distress || 3rd || 1st || 2nd || 1st || 1st || 3rd ||
 * Student Connectedness || 3rd || 1st || 3rd || 2nd || 2nd || 3rd ||
 * Student Motivation || 2nd || 1st || 3rd || 2nd || 2nd || 3rd ||
 * 2007 || || || || || || ||
 * Student Morale || 2nd || 2nd || 4th || 1st || 1st || 1st ||
 * Student Distress || 2nd || 2nd || 4th || 1st || 1st || 2nd ||
 * Student Connectedness || 2nd || 1st || 3rd || 1st || 2nd || 2nd ||
 * Student Motivation || 3rd || 1st || 4th || 1st || 3rd || 2nd ||
 * 2008 || || || || || || ||
 * Student Morale || 3rd || 2nd || 3rd || 2nd || 1st || 2nd ||
 * Student Distress || 4th || 1st || 4th || 2nd || 2nd || 1st ||
 * Student Connectedness || 3rd || 2nd || 4th || 3rd || 1st || 2nd ||
 * Student Motivation || 2nd || 1st || 3rd || 2nd || 1st || 2nd ||
 * The four numbers refer to the ‘quartile’ where the data sits for each cohort. Each quartile distinguishing the area of improvement. **
 * First quartile  ||  Needing improvement   ||  Second quartile   ||  Developing   ||
 * Third Quartile  || Effective ||  Fourth Quartile   ||  Excellent   ||