Burbank P.S. is a well established school located in the northwest residential suburb of Reservoir. The school was built in 1965 to cater for the expanding population growth in the area.
Since 2000 with an enrolment of 213, the student population has continued to decrease as the demographics has changed. There were 139 students enrolled in 2006.
In 2006 there were six classes from Prep to year 6 with specialist programs operating in both the visual and performing arts as well as physical education.
The school has a valued and varied sports program. As a member of the Keon Park District Sports Association, students in years four to six are involved in interschool sports, district athletics, cross country events and basketball tournaments.
Ten week swimming and gymnastics programs with trained instructors are offered to students from Prep to six.
Student Leadership is fostered through the Junior School Council. The members of this group conduct whole school assemblies as well as minor fund raising activities.
Transition Programs operate for new students who are beginning their Primary Education as well as those year six students who are beginning their secondary education.
Our staff members effectively implement these programs utilising their strong links with the local kindergartens and secondary schools.
Our school caters for working parents by operating a before and after school care program and facilitating the operation of a holiday program during school vacations.
Parent involvement is strongly encouraged through their assistance in classroom programs, PMP, Canteen, Fund raising, School Council sub committees and excursions.
Commonwealth Government Requirements for 2006
Teacher Satisfaction
The average score for teacher satisfaction (morale) at this school was 60% where 100% is the best possible score.
Teacher Absence
The average number of days absent per teacher was 1.73 days
Teacher Retention
Of the 11 teaching service staff at Burbank P.S. at June 2005 (including those on leave without pay), 11 or 100% were still at the school at June 2006. The figure across all Government schools was 87%.
Professional Learning
All teaching staff have participated in Professional Learning throughout the year. This Professional Learning has been focussed on our Strategic Plan. This has been facilitated through the use of pupil free days and staff meetings throughout the year.
Teacher Qualifications
All teachers in Victorian Government schools are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
Our school has focussed on providing for Prep and Year 6 students and parents, a successful and happy move into our school and from primary to secondary school. Both the targeted survey of parents completed during the school review and the transitions variable that forms part of the parent opinion survey clearly indicate strong support for our current school transition and pathways processes.
Highlights of our current processes include:
The Early Years Transition Program. This program has successfully facilitated the smooth transition of students from kindergarten to prep. This program has included visits by the transition coordinator to our local kindergarten to talk to parents, distribute our school brochures and display our students work.
The formal transition program that operates in November, allows kindergarten children to visit our school to participate in activity sessions and parents to meet staff and raise any concerns.
The prep / year 6 buddy program that operates at the beginning of each year has been strongly endorsed by parents.
A high level of parent support is also evident for students entering year 7. A high percentage of our parents believe that our school provides enough information and support to assist them to make a decision regarding their child’s secondary placement.
Enrolments are a growing concern and these strong transition processes are considered to be essential both to encourage a viable prep intake and to support families and incoming students.
Throughout 2006, our staff continued to refine and implement the following strategies to promote student engagement and wellbeing. These strategies had previously been successful in 2005.
Individual learning plans for students at risk in numeracy and literacy.
The strengthening of the home / school partnership through formal and informal interviews.
The funding of a welfare officer to coordinate student engagement and wellbeing strategies across the school.
The strengthening of the staff / student relationship through the ‘You can Do It’ Program, Student representation in decision making via the student leadership team, a reward system for positive behaviour, the start up program and student portfolios.
The monitoring of student absence. Regular attendance was encouraged through school assemblies, articles in the school newsletter, parent teacher interviews. There has been a strong commitment to the ‘It’s not okay to be away’ program.
Effective transition programs that involve hands on activities, a buddies program and a parent information session.
It is pleasing to note that our combined efforts have significantly reduced the average number of student absences compared with previous years and we have maintained a high level of student connectedness over the past three years as indicated in the ‘Attitudes to School’ survey results for 2006.
Student Learning
The stated goal in our Strategic Plan (2007 – 2010) to continue to improve student learning is as follows:
Improve teaching and learning practice.
The Key Improvement Strategy to achieve this goal is as follows:
Implement effective teaching and learning practices in the English domain.
Focus: Reading
Activities to be undertaken to implement this strategy during 2007 include the following:
A consultant will be employed to provide a professional development program that focuses on enhanced teaching and learning practice in reading based on POLT.
Our staff will meet with the consultant to plan their teaching and learning program in reading
Improve our planning documents by linking the content with teaching and learning strategies.
Improve our use of assessment data to plan our teaching programs.
Build a performance and development culture
Activities to be undertaken to implement this strategy during 2007 include the following:
Develop a common approach to planning
Develop a code of conduct consistent with our values
Formulate performance plans that are linked to school improvement initiatives
Student Engagement and Wellbeing
The stated goal in our Strategic Plan (2007 – 2010) to continue to improve our student engagement and wellbeing is as follows:
Improve the engagement in learning of students and all community members
The Key Improvement Strategy to achieve this goal is as follows:
Increase parent involvement in the classroom and in home learning
Activities to be undertaken to implement this strategy during 2007 include the following:
Implement a classroom parent helpers training course
Conduct information sessions for parents
Student Pathways and Transitions
The stated goal in our Strategic Plan (2007 – 2010) to continue to improve our student pathways and transitions is as follows:
Improve student transition into the school and through the school.
The Key Improvement Strategy to achieve this goal is as follows:
Develop transition processes that encourage readiness to learn.
Activities to be undertaken to implement this strategy during 2007 include the following:
Engage pre-school parents and students in pre learning activities. A playgroup will be commenced to facilitate these pre learning activities.
Define the expectations of students entering year 3 and 5 and the teaching and learning goals and approaches at these levels.
Amend the program at year 2 and 4 to comply with these expectations and encourage an effective transition to the following year.
Maintain our current transition programs.
Our financial resources were allocated based on our school’s priorities. Amounts were firstly set aside for operating expenditure and then program priorities were considered. It was decided that during our year of review, expenditure for curriculum areas would be maintained at similar level as in 2005.
During 2006, our school received a grant of $86,511 as a result of our audit of our buildings.
There is approximately $66,000 remaining of this grant of which $50,000 is to be set aside for repairs to buildings due to termite damage.
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Financial Performance for the year ending 31st December, 2006 |
Financial Position as at 31st December, 2006 | ||
| Revenue | 2006 Actual | Funds Available | 2006 Actual |
| DE&T Grants | 215,044 | High Yield Investment Account | 126,827.92 |
| Commonwealth Government Grants | 13,634 | Official Account | 16,873.91 |
| State Government Grants | Other Bank Accounts( listed individually) | ||
| Other | 14,549 | (insert) | |
| Locally Raised Funds | 70,502 | (insert) | |
| Total Operating Revenue | 313,729 | (insert) | |
| Total Funds Available | 143,701.83 | ||
| Expenditure | Financial Commitments | 2006 Actual | |
| Salaries and Allowances | 82,486 | Accounts Payable Control | |
| Bank Charges | 30 | Camps/Excursions | |
| Consumables | 22,078 | Building/Grounds including SMS | 79,131.33 |
| Books and Publications | 1,254 | Special Programs inc Student Services | |
| Communication Costs | 8,160 | Region /Clusters Funds | |
| Furniture and Equipment | 4,989 | Professional Development | |
| Utilities | 14,352 | Other ( please list) | |
| Property Services | 61,585 | School Operating Reserve | 24,116.50 |
| Travel and Subsistence | Total Financial Commitments | 103,247.83 | |
| Motor Vehicle Expenses | |||
| Administration | 2,408 | ||
| Health and Personal Development | 427 | ||
| Professional Development | 3,435 | ||
| Trading and Fundraising | 24,035 | ||
| Support/Service | 4,440 | ||
| Miscellaneous | 42,075 | ||
| Total Operating Expenditure | 271,755 | ||
| Net Operating Surplus/-Deficit | 41,974 | ||
| Capital Expenditure ( Cases 21 Finance Only) | |||
| Please note that the above amounts do not include any credit revenue or expenditure allocated or spent by the school through its Student Resource Package | |||
| Address: | Robins Avenue |
| Principal: | Geoff Gowans |
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School Council President: |
Janet Bianco |
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Telephone: |
94606252 |
| Email: | Burbank.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au |
| Web site: | www.burbankps.vic.edu.au |