Concern Regarding Teaching Practices That Limit Note-Taking and Learning Continuity in Year 12

Purpose of this petition

We, the undersigned parents and guardians of Year 12 students at Matthew Flinders Anglican College, formally request a review of the recently implemented teaching approach that restricts students from taking notes during lessons and significantly alters the learning methods students have used successfully throughout their schooling.

This petition is not a personal criticism of individual teachers.
It is a concern about mandatory instructional practices being applied during a critical academic year.

Key Concerns 

1. Abrupt change in learning method in Year 12

• Students are being required to listen without taking notes, with written summaries expected later.

• This represents a significant departure from the learning strategies students have used effectively for the previous 11 years.

• Year 12 is a high-stakes year with external assessment pressures, where continuity and clarity matter.

2. Impact on learning, comprehension, and retention

• Many students rely on active note-taking to process information, maintain focus, and reinforce understanding.

• Forcing students to delay note-taking can:

  • Reduce comprehension during lessons

  • Increase cognitive load

  • This leads to gaps in understanding

  • Shift the learning burden excessively to home time

3. Increased workload and inequity

• Students report increased after-hours work to reconstruct lessons from memory.

• This disproportionately affects students who:

  • Process information visually or kinaesthetically

  • Experience anxiety, attention difficulties, or slower processing speeds

  • Learn best through structured written reinforcement

4. One-size-fits-all pedagogy

• While inquiry-based and questioning-led learning may suit some students, mandating a single method removes flexibility.

• Year 12 students should be supported with choice, not restricted to one cognitive approach.

5. Timing and risk

• Implementing and enforcing new learning methodologies in Year 12 introduces unnecessary academic risk during a year where outcomes matter for tertiary pathways.

Acknowledgement of the School’s Position 

We acknowledge the school’s stated intention to:

• Promote deeper thinking

• Reduce cognitive overload

• Align with contemporary educational research and teaching frameworks

However, we believe these goals do not require prohibiting note-taking, and that student learning outcomes should take precedence over strict adherence to a single instructional model.

What We Are Asking For 

We respectfully request that the school:

1. Allows students to take notes during lessons, particularly in Year 12

2. Permits flexibility in learning methods to suit individual student needs

3. Reviews the implementation of this teaching approach with parent and student feedback

4. Prioritises learning continuity and student outcomes during the final year of schooling

Closing Statement

This petition reflects genuine concern from parents who want to see students supported, confident, and academically prepared in their final year.

We ask that this matter be reviewed promptly and collaboratively.