Department of Education - Victoria

Docklands Primary School is located on the lands of the Kulin Nation. We opened in 2021 to continue a tradition of learning that has flourished here for over 60,000 years. Our school caters for a diverse community in inner-city Melbourne, welcoming students from Foundation to Grade 6. An onsite Early Learning Centre with two kindergarten rooms supports a smooth transition from pre-school to primary school.

 

The work of every person at Docklands Primary School is centred around two interrelated aims: to provide an outstanding education for every student in our care, and to grow great teachers. At Docklands Primary School, we invest heavily in our people big and small because we know that no single asset or resource matters more to our aims.

 

World class facilities in the heart of our city

Staff at Docklands Primary School enjoy working in a beautiful inner-city location, with great access to all our wonderful city has to offer. Our teachers work in modern classrooms (many with city views) and all enjoy the purpose-built teaching facilities. Curriculum resources are carefully selected, and our learning spaces are well-resourced. Every classroom is fitted with integrated technology, including assistive technologies for students with particular needs. Our students benefit from access to a beautiful school library, a competition sized indoor gymnasium, landscaped play areas and a stunning Arts Centre.

 

Our approach to instruction

Teachers at Docklands Primary School are committed to explicit and responsive instruction. Our approach to instruction across the school is flexible but is underpinned by 3 guiding principles:

 

1. We establish the conditions for learning. Every child has the right to learn in a calm and ordered learning environment. We establish clear routines to minimise disruption and maximise instructional time.
2. We build knowledge and secure success. We teach a knowledge-rich curriculum and equip all students with the solid foundations of literacy and numeracy.
3. We promote autonomy and self-regulated learning. We encourage students to be active participants in learning, because their learning goals ultimately belong to them.

 

Great teams of teachers, committed to excellence

Our staff engage in collaborative and detailed planning so that every teacher can focus energies on high quality instruction. We plan a knowledge-rich curriculum, which means that we can articulate with clarity the specific content to be taught across all levels and learning areas. At Docklands Primary School, teachers do not plan and resource lessons on their own; rather, we are building high-functioning teams of teachers because we know we are better when we plan together.

 

The chance to hone your craft

We provide systematic opportunities for teachers to improve their practice, not because they are not good enough, but because we can always be better. We provide well-sequenced and rigorous professional learning opportunities. Every week, we run a one-hour whole staff Professional Learning Workshop; here, we draw on insights from research evidence to define and describe high quality pedagogical practice. We value teachers expertise and experience and provide opportunities for teachers to build on what they know in meaningful ways. We expect our teachers to share their expertise, and to embrace their role as the expert practitioners in our community.

 

Connected to our weekly workshop series is an Instructional Coaching program. Teachers of all experience levels have the chance to set goals, to seek feedback from an instructional coach, and to deliberately practice specific techniques in the classroom. We are beginning to embed video recording as a mechanism for collaborative review of our teaching, and we take the time to celebrate our progress along the way.

 

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the capacity to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated capacity to respond to student learning needs.

SC2    Demonstrated capacity to implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3    Demonstrated capacity to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated capacity to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement.    

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated capacity to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.