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The association dedicated exclusively to the education, development and growth of young adolescents
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The Middle Years School Diagnostic and Improvement Tool
The Adolescent Success Middle Years School Improvement Diagnostic Tool is a strategic audit tool school leaders and middle school teams can use to gauge the effectiveness of middle years practices in their school. The Diagnostic Tool is compilation of effective middle schooling practices as outlined in the Adolescent Success Position Paper. The Adolescent Success Position paper is founded upon an analysis and synthesis of current research and evidence about middle schooling (grades 5-9).
The tool is designed to encourage reflective, evidence based conversations about what is current practice in the school; prioritise opportunities for improvement; and devise an action plan to implement change. The Middle Years School Improvement Diagnostic Tool encourages recognition of strengths and identification of areas of improvement. Upon completion of the audit, the middle school team will have strategically:
- engaged in a thorough reflection, analysis, and evaluation of the middle school program;
- prioritised key areas requiring action;
- created an action plan; and
- be ready to implement the plan for improved student learning.
View the brochure Diagnostic tool flyer (4).pdf
Schools we work with!
This year, we have already signed up St John's Anglican College and are excited about working with them to reflect upon and evaluate their middle years practices.
In 2024, we began working with many schools around Australia: Silkwood MIddle School (Qld), Hills Christian Community School (SA), Corinda State High School (Qld) and Launceston Church Grammar School (Tas), St Josephs Nudgee College, (Qld), Brighton Secondary School, (SA).
In 2022 - 2023, we partnered with O'Loughlin College, Darwin; Taejon Christian International School, South Korea and with Padua College, Kedron, Dubbo School Of Distance Education and St Mark's Anglican College, WA.
“Working with Adolescent Success has been both insightful and rewarding. It has allowed us to critically evaluate our practice and develop a clear action plan that aligns with the college’s goals and future direction.” Padua College
"The Adolescent Success and Middle Years Diagnostic tool is a well-researched and targeted initiative that holds the potential to serve as a catalyst for positive change within our school community. By establishing a comprehensive baseline, this tool has provided us with invaluable insights as we embark on our journey into 2025 and beyond, shaping and elevating our path forward. The data collected will play a pivotal role in formulating an operational Middle School roadmap that is intricately aligned with Silkwood's overarching strategic goals." Silkwood School
"The benefits of the tool have been many; it has brought us together as a team with a shared philosophy and approach, it has enabled us to clearly identify areas for improvement as individual teachers and a collective and has really helped us to have the student as our focus". Launceston Grammar
So, what are the benefits of using Adolescent Success Middle Years Diagnostic and Improvement Tool?
If you are a school community with a focus on middle years and are aiming to reflect upon and improve your practices this tool and process enables you to identify your strengths and to target key areas for improvement.
Upon completion of the audit, you will have strategically:
- engaged in a thorough reflection, analysis and evaluation of the middle school program;
- prioritised key areas requiring action;
- created an action plan; and
- be ready to implement the plan for improved student learning.
Based upon the four key components that guide our position paper, the tool assesses against criteria relevant to each area according to the following scale:
The rating scale indicates:
- Requires investigation in our school
- No evidence of this practice currently in our school
- Minor evidence of this practice currently in our school
- This practice is being implemented in our school
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This practice is well developed in our school
Teams are encouraged to highlight on the scale the rating that ‘best fits’ the school’s current evidence of activities that support the implementation of each middle schooling practice.
Once the audit process is complete and the effectiveness of middle years practices being implemented in your school context have been assessed, Adolescent Success can facilitate, guide and support you and your team through a Cycle of Inquiry process which will be focused on your key area or areas identified for improvement. We can be with you all the way.
The following is a sample of the criteria and process for identifying current practices and areas for improvement.
Find out how this process can be tailored to your specific needs