Mount Clear College, a large co-educational secondary school is situated six kilometres from the centre of Ballarat, near the University of Ballarat’s Mt Helen Campus. The college can trace its origins back to 1874 and has been providing outstanding education to the people of Ballarat and district since that time.
Facilities: The college has had in recent years a major refurbishment, with upgrading of general-purpose classrooms, science laboratories, dance and performance facilities and recreational facilities around the school. Information technology is a feature of the college at all year levels, with information and communication technologies used extensively across the curriculum program. A range of subjects is offered within eight Key Learning Areas: English, Arts, Mathematics, Science, Study of Society and Environment (SOSE), Technology, Physical Education and Health, and Languages Other Than English (LOTE). In 2011 MountClearCollege opened both the Language Centre and the Earth Science building. These facilities focus on their specific fields and are available for use by the wider community and schools across the region.
Curriculum: Year 7 and 8 students study a common curriculum from all Key Learning Areas which is taught in an integrated and holistic way. In Years 9 to 12 students are offered an expanding range of elective options as they progress through each year level. In particular, the VCE options offered include a very wide range of academic subjects complemented by Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs, the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and New Apprenticeship opportunities. The opportunity also exists for students to participate in an international exchange program with several sister schools in Japan, China and Turkey. There is also a range of college bands, ensembles and choirs complemented by both class and individual music tuition; performance opportunities in both dance and drama; and fully equipped dance and television studio. In addition, students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of more individual activities and competitions, such as debating, public speaking, academic competitions and leadership programs.
Sport: The structured curriculum is further enhanced by a wide range of enrichment opportunities. These include a comprehensive intra- and inter-school sports program in which the college has a history of sustained and significant success. Students also have access to an extensive after school program.
Student welfare programs: The college is structured into four mini-schools for administrative planning and student well-being. Three of the mini-schools — Barkly, Canadian and Currawong — cover Years 7 to 10 and the fourth, Lalor, is a VCE senior mini-school. The mini-schools ensure that students are organised into smaller groups that enable students, staff and parents to relate to each other at a more personal level. This structure offers students a secure environment whilst maintaining the advantages of a large college’s facilities and programs. Student wellbeing is further supported through the integrated provision of a range of student support services. These services include counselling, careers and pathways support, a health nurse and a weekly medical clinic. In recent years the school has introduced a comprehensive pastoral care program to support the social, emotional and academic development of all students and have implemented a range of strategies focusing on best practice in Middle Years education and the introduction of Year 7 and 8 teaching teams to best facilitate the transition from primary to secondary school.