Curriculum and Teaching at Clifford Park Rob Street Campus
Clifford Park Special School has two learning cohorts:
1. Junior Secondary Learning Cohort
Students in the Junior Secondary Cohort are students in Years 7 to 10.
Students engage with age-equivalent content from the Australian Curriculum learning areas of English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Technologies, Health and Physical Education, The Arts and Languages. Teachers align individual learning at different levels along the Foundation to Year 10, or General Capabilities, points, with age-equivalent learning area content. In addition, every child in the Junior Secondary Learning Cohort has an emphasis on reading.
2. Senior Secondary Learning Cohort
Students in the Senior Secondary Cohort are students in Years 11, and 12.
Students in Years 11 and 12 engage in the Applied Syllabus HASS (Humanaties and Social Sciences), Social and Community Studies. Teachers personalise individual student's learning through alignment to the Guideline for Individual Learning (GIL). All students in the Senior Secondary Cohort also have a focus on reading. In addition a strong emphasis in the senior secondary is enacting students' individual PATH (Planning Alternate Tomorrows with Hope) goals. Volunteer, work experience, work placements, and completion of certificate courses become the focal point on meeting personal goals for post school. Partnership with community organisations and businesses are important to Clifford Park Special School in meeting individual PATH goals.
The Pedagogical Approaches used to support teaching in both both learning cohorts include Explicit Instruction, Pearson's Gradual Release, RAMR cycle, Comprehensive Literacy and Sounds Write. All teaching units use the Universal Design for Learning guidelines to ensure learning is accessible for all students with diverse learning needs. Students with complex communication needs are supported using Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices.