Multi-Age Class Structure

As a learning community, Kew East Primary School is committed to the provision of rich educational learning experiences which allow each student to attain their potential. (Mission statement 2004) The teaching staff at Kew East has unanimously supported a multi-age approach which has been operating in the school since 1997.  A multi-age philosophy is built upon the belief that multi-aging is the most effective organisational structure to meet the needs of individual children.  By its fundamental structure and teaching pedagogy, a multi-age classroom is a dynamic social and learning community. 

Our students need to develop skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to be life long learners and we at Kew East Primary have worked to provide the best school structure to facilitate this growth. We have applied this multi-age philosophy to a class structure based around a framework of a two year expectation except at the Prep level.  All Victorian schools, regardless of class structure will be using the new Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) as a basis for curriculum planning and reporting student achievement. 

With a VELS or Level framework, teachers are able to utilise their skills, talents and collective skills to cater for the individual learning needs of children.  Teachers successfully plan together in their level team.  This multi-age class structure contributes positively to the strong social developmental needs of our students, providing greater opportunities for children to develop skills in leadership, social competencies and enhanced self-esteem. 

This multi-age approach ensures a comprehensive curriculum delivery that has in past years produced excellent academic results.  As a result this structure contributes positively to the strong social developmental needs of our students, providing greater opportunities for children to develop skills in leadership, social competencies and enhanced self-esteem.  We believe that:-

• Multi-age classes consolidate our practice of teachers working in teams to plan and implement classroom programs. The close partnership between teachers allows for easy interaction between classes, so that children are able to work both formally and informally with an increased number of supportive and sympathetic adults.
• Children learn leadership skills through their interaction with both older and younger classmates. Over two years they experience being both the youngest and oldest members of the group. Younger children learn organisational and leadership skills from the older ones who lead by example in a co-operative and supportive manner.
• Teachers develop a thorough knowledge of their students and children develop on-going friendships within and across class groups in their level. 
• The continuing, lifelong nature of learning is emphasised, in contrast to the year-long learning implied by traditional `grade' structures. 

At Kew East Primary, we strive continuously to achieve common goals in pursuit of our vision to provide rich educational learning experiences which allow each student to attain their potential.

Parent Information Handbooks provide a brief overview of the curriculum at each level and outline the learning expectations for students.

Level 1 Information Book
Level 2 Information Book
Level 3 Information Book
Level 4 Information Book