School Based Research Projects - Warakirri College

Enhancing Literacy Acquisition in Vulnerable Senior Secondary Students

Each year AISNSW calls for applications for schools to undertake research over a two-year period, with support from The Evidence Institute, academic mentors and critical friends. After completing a rigorous selection process in 2021, Warakirri College was awarded a School Based Research Project for their project Enhancing Literacy Acquisition in Vulnerable Senior Secondary Students.


Project Overview

This research project was developed to identify, implement and evaluate strategies for improving vulnerable senior students’ ability to read, comprehend and evaluate texts required to complete their schooling and successfully navigate post-school life.

The research was conducted in two distinct tiers based on the first two levels of intensity in the Response to Intervention model. In Tier 1, the research focused on the impact of classroom level strategies for Year 10 students. Data about student engagement was collected through teacher observations of the classroom and by students who completed a checklist. In Tier 2, the research focused on the role of speech pathology in literacy interventions for targeted Year 11 students.

Pre and post tests were administered to help assess the impact of the interventions, including:

  • Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) for assessing mental health
  • York Assessment for Reading and Comprehension (YARC) for assessing literacy
  • Macquarie Oxford Reading Anxiety Test (MoRAT) for assessing levels of reading anxiety
  • Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for assessing self-esteem
  • Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals 5th edition (CELF 5)

Data collection also included attendance rates, student case studies and interviews with teaching staff.

The Team

The project is led at the school level by Carolyn Blanden, Principal of Warakirri College. The Warakirri team of teachers and Student Learning Support Officers (SLSOs) are mentored by Professor Pamela Snow and Associate Professor Tanya Serry from La Trobe University. Dr Julia Starling from the University of Sydney leads the speech pathology team.

Final Report

The Warakirri College - Enhancing Literacy Acquisition in Vulnerable Senior Secondary Students final report can be found here.

Access report

About Warakirri College

Warakirri College is an independent high school for young people completing Year 10 and Higher School Certificate (HSC) studies as part of a social impact initiative of MTC Australia.  It is a school for students aged 15–22 who have disconnected from mainstream education or don’t feel comfortable in a traditional school. At Warrakirri, students are encouraged to be themselves while they study in a flexible adult learning environment.