Marsden High School

Marsden High School is a dynamic comprehensive and multicultural high school located in West Ryde. The school has a population of around 870 students, including an Intensive English Centre of 90 students. Marsden High School prides itself on providing opportunities for all students supported by strong student wellbeing. As the school continues to prepare for relocation to the Meadowbank Precinct the following initiatives and programs support this whole school commitment: Marsden delivers a well-balanced and broad curriculum and has an emphasis upon academics as well as Creative and Performing Arts, Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, Robotics and Dance. Our teaching and learning programs are embedded with the foundations skills of literacy and numeracy, supported by the employment of specialists in these areas to ensure our students are creative, collaborative, communicative and critically thinking. Positive Behaviour for Learning refers to a system of school-wide CARE (Cooperate, Achieve, Respect, Everyday) which facilitates the development of quality learning environments, in which all students feel safe, secure and can flourish as individuals. Getting the wellbeing of student’s right is crucial to our school as by doing so, we produce successful and well balanced students. A core aspect is supporting students requiring adjustments and modification to achieve success. Our school has a strong emphasis upon mentoring, whether it be career or personal, thus building strong relationships between school and the local community. Our Aboriginal Education Officer works with the community to support student engagement with culture, outlook in regards education and school and building links between the community and the school. We employ four SLSO's to support our new arrival and refugee students in their learning and to build communication with home. Transitioning to and from high school is core to developing the future of Marsden. The Head Teacher Stage 4 heads the team which builds the relationships between the 10 partner primary schools and Marsden. Our Head Teacher Stage 5, Head Teacher Special Programs and Careers Adviser build the foundations for students from Year 9 through to 12 to engage in meaningful programs with industry and business to provide opportunities for student success. Laptop learning and especially an emphasis upon Google classroom has seen an increased professional learning emphasis within the school to support our whole school Bring Your Own Device model operating for Years 7, 8 and 9. Supporting senior students has been a priority for the past three years. The targeted emphasis has provided data indicating increased engagement of senior students and a greater understanding of expectations of preparing for the Higher School Certificate Tutorials are presented on study skills, literacy for NESB and setting study plans. The program involves the employment of a full time teacher to work with senior students. At Marsden we aim to ensure all students grow and develop into adaptable, creative and resourceful young people, able to lead happy, purposeful and productive lives in a vibrant, culturally diverse society.

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