27 AUG 2026 Deputy Principal: Learning and Teaching

Upcoming Year 12 Trial Exams

Good luck to all of our students completing trial exams during the first week of the school holidays. These exams provide students an important opportunity to have a close experience to the exams they will undertake next term, while also providing high value feedback from their teachers to help them make further improvements.

All examinations from Years 8 to 11 aim to support students in feeling confident and well prepared when it’s their turn to enter the VCAA examination room. For any parents looking to support their child in preparation for Year 12 exams in the future, look out for our next newsletter for advice for parents of younger children in the lead up to their end of year exams.

PAT Testing: Tracking Growth and Supporting Success

At the beginning of Term 4, students will participate in Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Literacy and Numeracy.

PAT assessments provide the College with valuable snapshots of student achievement and growth over time. By gathering this information regularly, we can monitor progress at the individual, year-level, and whole-school level, helping us ensure every student is receiving the support and challenge they need to succeed.

Importantly, PAT results are not used to judge students. Instead, they provide teachers with additional insights that help inform classroom planning, identify strengths, and highlight areas where further support may be beneficial. The data also assists the College in identifying students who may benefit from targeted literacy or numeracy interventions, as well as participation in opportunities for acceleration such as VCE studies or the Ignite Program.

How Parents Can Support

There is no special preparation required for PAT testing. The knowledge and skills assessed are developed through students' everyday learning in the classroom.

Families can support their child by:

• Talking positively about the purpose of the tests and how they help teachers support learning.

• Encouraging their child to do their best, just as they would for any assessment.

• Reinforcing that these assessments are about growth and identifying opportunities for improvement, not achieving a perfect score.

We are also exploring ways to share PAT results with families in a similar format to NAPLAN reporting, providing greater insight into student progress and achievement.

Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching 
Adam Gonzalez