Briar Road Public School

Briar Road Public School is located in the Campbelltown area of South Western Sydney and sits proudly on the traditional lands of the Dharawal nation. Our core values of raising academic standards ,developing student self-worth, valuing staff competencies, celebrating and respecting cultural diversity and fostering a love for learning are the fundamental beliefs that underpin our mission to ‘strive for excellence by providing a caring and safe learning community that encourages all students and staff to reach their full potential’. Briar Road Public School (enrolment 311, 25% Aboriginal, 31% non-English speaking background) has 3 support classes and a preschool. We are also funded through National Partnerships Low SES, Priority Action School ( PAS) and Priority Schools Funding Programs (PSFP). Students are supported within programs by the Support Teacher Learning Assistance (STLA), Early School Support Teacher (ESSP), English as a Second Language Teacher (ESL), Aboriginal Education Resource Teacher (AERT), Aboriginal Education Officer (AEO), Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer (ACEO) and Reading Recovery Teacher. The school is part of a significant Aboriginal community and has one of the largest populations of Aboriginal students in the South Western Sydney Region. It enjoys a warm and supportive relationship with the local Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group (AECG) and Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation which is located on the Airds Estate. The Corporation provides the community and school with a range of services. At Briar Road the staff has a great understanding and awareness of the nature of the community in which they teach and have participated in many cultural events to support, understand and value their needs. They are enthusiastic and dedicated professionals who cater very well for their students by implementing engaging, interesting and structured programs in an environment which promotes high expectations. The school actively seeks improvement through a child-centred approach with supportive student welfare programs. Briar Road Public School implements Positive Behaviour Intervention Strategies and support systems across the school. All students are expected and encouraged to display positive behaviour by “Being Safe”, “Being Respectful” and “Being a Learner”. The school also prides itself on implementing and developing programs that are based on the individual needs of the students through thorough assessment of internal and Naplan data. All programs are rigorously analysed and findings are articulated to all staff, community and students on a regular basis. Our internal data has shown significant improvement in our overall reading levels, which has also led to significant growth in reading from Years 3 to 7 as outlined and supported in our 2011 Naplan results. Some unique features of the school are the many varied and engaging Teaching and Learning programs implemented P-6 such as Accelerated Literacy (all staff trained), Tens Numeracy program K-2, Count me In, Count me In Too and Counting On programs and the purpose built ‘Problem Solving and Investigations’ room (PSI) and Mathletics. As well as these programs the school has made Community Engagement a high priority and in 2011 has incorporated a Community Room into the school’s infrastructure as well as the employment of a Community Engagement Officer 3 days per week. Parents and the community have participated in many programs delivered through this wonderful initiative such as the Triple P Parenting Program, the introduction of a Playgroup in Partnership with the Benevolent Society and workshops designed to help parents help their children at home. The school also participates in the Active After Schools Program for two afternoons per week and has implemented Zumba classes as an alternate activity during lunchtime. The children at Briar Road also have the opportunity to participate in PSSA Gala Days, Choir, Dance groups, Aboriginal Dance Groups and the Wakakiri School’s Eisteddfod.