School Curriculum Plan

Vision At Helensvale State School:

Our curriculum is about students actively investigating their world in creative and complex ways through which they develop knowledge and deep understandings and effective communication skills to allow them to participate in an interdependent world and become reflective and self directed learners.

At Helensvale State School we believe in using a learner-centred approach:

In the learner-centred approach to learning and teaching, learning is viewed as the active construction of meaning and teaching as the act of guiding and facilitating learning. This approach sees knowledge as ever-changing and deepening; built on prior experience and emerging perspectives and evidence; and underpinned by an understanding of learners' development, interests, needs, talents and cultural and social background.

Teachers are encouraged to make learning meaningful to students. This can be promoted by -

· encouraging students to be active constructors of meaning;
· developing the processes of social and environmental inquiries;
· emphasising the process of metacognition;
· involving students in cooperative learning;
· adopting inclusive and equitable practices.

At Helensvale State School we have adopted an outcomes approach to learning and teaching:

The principles of an outcomes approach include -

· a clear focus on learning outcomes;
· high expectations for all students;
· a focus on development;
· planning curriculum with learners and outcomes in mind;
· expanded opportunities to learn.

Core learnings are the knowledge, understandings and skills deemed to be essential for all students. At Helensvale State School, core learnings for students are based on the key learning outcomes and core learning outcomes presented in the syllabus documents. All students are provided with opportunities to learn what they have to know and be able to do in order to demonstrate the core learning outcomes. At Helensvale State School, core learning outcomes in SOSE, Science and Health and Physical Education are organised through Integrated Studies.