Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment at Scotch

Students in Years 10 and 11 have, over the last two weeks, participated in a series of assessments entitled the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessments (OLNA). These assessments are designed to allow students to demonstrate a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy and therefore qualify to graduate under the new guidelines for WACE graduation in 2016.

Students who are currently in Year 12 and due to graduate in 2015 do not have to meet the OLNA requirements. This process will not apply to this year group.

Many students pre-qualified by reaching band 8 or higher in the Year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy assessments. The requirement to meet the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy for graduation is applied to all schools in Western Australia by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA).

The three assessments occur online and focus on reading, writing and numeracy. The reading and numeracy section is multiple choice and the writing is a extended response piece of around 600 words. Students who are unsuccessful in any of the three assessments will have further opportunities in Years 10, 11 and 12 to meet the standard.

As well as ongoing education since Year 9, a selection of English and Mathematics staff are working with students to support them through the assessments. The College is providing students with examples of the assessments and working with them to develop strategies to meet the standard required. Students who are required to sit the assessments in Years 11 and 12 will receive specific guidance from the Academic Support Team.

Further information on the nature of OLNA can be found here:

http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/Senior_Secondary/OLNA

Ms Debbie Lee, Head of Learning Analytics, is the staff member who is coordinating the OLNA assessments and any queries can be directed to her in the first instance.

The results for the current round of assessments will be made available by the SCSA in May and parents will receive notification of the outcome from the College.

We are committed to helping all students meet the standard required and encourage parents to contact us if they are concerned about their son's progress through the assessments.

Mr Peter Allen

Director of Teaching and Learning