Academic Advancement

Teachers at MLC understand the specific needs of gifted learners and how to cater for them in the classroom. Gifted students are identified using various data and their progress is tracked throughout their school journey. At MLC, we understand the importance for like-minded students to work together. Through careful class grouping, flexible timetabling and co-curricular opportunities, gifted students are able to maximise their learning with each other. Learning in the classroom may be compacted to allow time for more in-depth open-ended tasks that promote critical and creative thinking. Listed below are some of the opportunities we offer gifted students.

Enrichment Electives

• Jason Learning Programme An in-class opportunity for students in Years 5 and 6. National Geographic’s renowned JASON Learning programme immerses middle school students in challenging real-world situations and links them with STEM professionals from organisations such as NASA and the National Geographic Society.
• Future Problem Solving An academic enrichment competition that focuses on the development of creative, critical and futuristic thinking skills. Students research and apply higher-order thinking skills to a number of significant issues facing the world.
• To promote individual talents, there are specific courses on offer in Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Arts and Media and Design Technologies. Examples of specific electives in other learning areas are listed below.
  • Science: Engineering Sustainable Futures Environmental Studies
  • Humanities and Social Sciences: Small Business Management Ancient History Careers and Finance
  • English: Literature and Traditions

Out-of-Class Opportunities

• Academic Coaching Teachers are available before and after school so that students can continue their learning in all courses.
• Senior Higher-Order Thinking Skills Club An opportunity for girls from Years 7–10. Students meet weekly and participate in a range of enrichment tasks, from undertaking forensic science enquiries and engineering challenges to working on creative productions. Students are also involved with competitions including the da Vinci Decathlon and Tournament of Minds.
• Serendipity Serendipity is a vertical peer group that provides opportunities for high-achieving and gifted students to interact with like-minded peers in the school environment. It offers mentorship and support to inspire these students to reach their full potential, while also encouraging collegiality.
• Dance Girls can audition to become part of the MLC Dance Theatre Company.
• Debating Girls have the opportunity to join a debating team and participate in the Western Australian Debating League. They can also try out for the National State Debating Competition.
• Music Ensembles Co-curricular music groups include the Junior Concert Band, Archetti String Ensemble, Sinfonietta String Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Ensembles, Jazz Orchestra, Big Band, Swing Band, and the Concert Band. Singers have the opportunity to join the Year 3 Choir, Year 4 Choir, Year 5/6 Choir, Cantabile, Barbershop, Chorale, and the Christ Church Grammar School/MLC Combined Choir.
• Music Tours Girls in Years 7–12 also attend the much anticipated choral and music camps where they come together to rehearse and enjoy their shared love of music. The girls in Years 7–12 also look forward to the triennial European Music Tour where they perform in some of the world's leading venues.
• Sport MLC offers 14 sports including netball, hockey, volleyball, tennis and cricket. Girls can play for fun and recreation or for high-level competition.

All teachers work to support girls who may have challenges with learning. To assist these students, we offer a range of programmes that run both in and out of class time. Examples include:

• Toe by Toe A highly structured phonetic approach to teaching literacy and reinforcing skills required for reading. Students receive one-on-one coaching to support and consolidate their skills. Senior girls work with younger students under teacher supervision. Students also engage in a range of activities to support their fine motor skills.
• Structured Synthetic Phonic Programmes Learning to read is essentially about learning a code. To assist girls in their understanding of this code, the College has adopted this programme based on the work of Diana Rigg. It is the key to driving positive gains in reading, spelling and writing.
• Flexible English To support their ability to meet the literacy demands of core subjects, students will receive instruction in reading, writing and spelling. Students will be taught strategies to improve reading, such as decoding, skimming, scanning, summarising and fluency. Students will be taught how to become an effective writer, learning how to spell, plan, draft and edit.
• Flexible Learning Flexible Learning is for students who have challenges with learning and require additional support to be successful in their core subjects. Students will receive support with organisation, study skills and literacy skills, and in the completion of core assessments. Flexible Learning may be required due to learning difficulties or medical conditions. The programme is adapted annually to address individual needs.
• Numeracy Support This programme is designed to support a student’s ability to meet the numeracy demands of their core Mathematics course. The consolidation of core skills—including mental computation strategies and working with fractions and decimals—are done through small and often hands-on activities that promote understanding. Students are also exposed to strategies to assist with word problems and problem solving.

We understand there are learners who may struggle significantly with the academic programme. As well as providing opportunities for students with special needs to work in among all students, there may also be opportunities for girls to access a targeted learning programme in the Inclusive Learning Centre. The programme for each girl is designed in collaboration with parents, staff and students.

Find out what drove MLC Collegian Charlie Singleton to be the 2019 Beazley Medal recipient as she chats to Year 11 student Maya in this MLC podcast episode.

Charlie talks about focusing on what makes you happy, the power of determination and developing healthy study habits to spark success.

One of our Year 12 students Katie wanted to share her experience and advice on alternative learning pathways and our Girls on Fire the Podcast gave her the platform for this message. Listen to this podcast to hear Katie and MLC teacher Nicola Rose, Coordinator of Inclusive Learning Years 7–12 and Vocational Education and Training (VET) chat about alternative pathways at MLC.