English at Baynton West Primary School has a strong focus on high impact instruction across the following areas;

• Reading fluency and comprehension

• Genre and sentence writing

• Grammar and Punctuation

• Vocabulary

• Phonemic awareness and phonics

• Spelling

• Handwriting

To maintain student engagement and address the curve of forgetting, ensuring that information is transferred into long term memory, all classes engage in a Daily Review revising previously taught English concepts.

Our school utilises the latest research into neurological science and best practice in the highest performing schools in English speaking nations to deliver targeted and explicit instruction. The school engages in professional learning from experts in this field to ensure our teachers deliver quality instruction to their students.

To support the teaching of the English curriculum students and families are encouraged to complete nightly home reading to build a love for reading and to provide students the opportunity to practise their reading fluency.

PR1ME Maths

At Baynton West Primary School we teach Mathematics using the PRIME program. This is a world-class program based on the highly effective teaching and learning approaches of Singapore, designed to embed a deep understanding of Mathematical concepts.

In Years 3-6 we group our students according to their current levels of Mathematical ability and understanding to increase student achievement by allowing our teachers to focus on instruction.

Each group contains students working at a similar level with participation, progress, testing and teacher observations used to place students in the group where the most progress can be made for them.

Inquiry Group:

This group is for student performing ‘above’ the expected level for their year group. Focus will be on extending their understanding of Mathematical concepts.

Achievement Group:

This group is for students achieving ‘at’ the expected level for their year group. There may be more than one achievement group per year level.

Endeavour Group:

This group is for students who are working towards achieving at the expected level for their year group. Typically, students in this group are graded as Ds due to existing gaps in their knowledge. They will only complete one PRIME student core book as they extend their knowledge of basic concepts through hands on activities to support their learning.

Aspire Group:

This group is for students who are unable (for many possible reasons) to access the same curriculum as their peers and require the use of an Individual Education Plan which targets learning directly at their needs. Typically, if reporting against the year level curriculum, these students would receive a E grade. They will not be using the PRIME student books as more targeted learning is necessary.

Homework: Mathletics is used to support concepts covered in Math lessons and every student PP-6 will receive a log on to this program. Teachers allocate tasks to classes that reinforce learning happening at school. Completing homework in Maths addresses the negative effects of the ‘forgetting curve’, exposing children to concepts covered and learned with in a 24-hour period.

The Visual Arts program at Baynton West has run successfully since the schools beginning in 2013. We allow for the creative growth of students through engaging projects that offer students from Pre-primary to Year Six the ability to engage with the visual world. All students engage in a cyclical program of drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and new media with topics relating to identity, location, fantasy, the natural world and history.

The senior classes have the opportunity to participate in the annual Cossack Art award as visitors to the exhibition and historic site while a biennial exhibition is held for all student work at BWPS. Children are given the opportunity to participate in state and national Art competitions such as the ‘Shaun Tan’ award and the’ Therapy Focus’ illustration completion.

At Baynton West Primary School we value the create development of our students as this reinforces core developmental strategies from fine motor skills to creative problem solving and social/emotional development.

Baynton West offers a Music program filled with diverse experiences to cater for the interests of our students. All students have access to Music once a week. During these classes they have exposure to a large variety of music and instruments. They also have the opportunity to read, play, compose and respond to music to gain a greater appreciation for this area of the Arts.

A select group of students in Years 5 and 6 have the opportunity to learn a brass or woodwind instrument through the School of Instrumental Music.

There are also three performance ensembles Beatbusters, Ukuele group and Performance Troupe that rehearse during the week and are open to students from Years 4 -6 to join.

Baynton West Primary School offers Digital Technologies as a specialist subject. This provides a comprehensive program for Pre-Primary to Year 6.

The Technologies curriculum covers two main topics over the year including: Digital Technology and Design and Technology, with Design & Technologies being taught in classrooms. For Digital technologies, students work in state of the art Digi Tech labs where they engage in activities designed to increase their critical and creative thinking skills. The use of ICT, robotics and coding equipment during technology lessons provides an enriching and engaging environment. Interactive Whiteboards, iPads, laptops and a range of robotic tools are used regularly in order to complete investigations into coding or to research topics.

At Baynton West Primary School our students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for a healthy and active lifestyle. As students progress from Pre-primary to Year 6, they become more confident and competent in making healthy decisions and engaging in physical activities. The curriculum aims to create lifelong habits that promote overall health and wellbeing. Our students also engage in a wide range of interschool events through out the year.