Croydon Secondary College is a medium-size school that provides a comprehensive education for all of their students. Their values are respect, honesty, commitment and achievement. The goals set out in the Strategic Plan focus on teaching and learning and providing a secure and stimulating learning environment. The college has a sub-school structure that develops students’ sense of belonging and wellbeing. In addition, the school co-operates creatively with all of the secondary schools in the City of Maroondah, sharing resources and planning an ambitious and positive future as part of the Maroondah Regeneration Project. The college takes pride in a pattern of improving results and increasing enrolments and is intent on sustaining this pattern into the future. The school continues to improve academic performance while sustaining their other areas of strength: in music, the arts and debating.
Facilities: Croydon Secondary College consists mainly of light timber construction classrooms dating back to the school’s beginnings in the 1950s. There are more recently built and attractive buildings: the Library, the Music and Performing Arts Complex and the Technology and Visual Arts building. The school also has a strong and developing German program, including a student exchange with its sister school, the Albert Einstein Gymnasium, in Ulm, Germany.
Curriculum: At Years 7 and 8, all students undertake a common program involving English, Maths, Humanities, Science, German, Music, PE and Sport. They take Art, Visual Communication and Design, Woodwork and Metalwork, Home Economics and Textiles and Performance in semester-length units over two years. At Years 9 and 10, students take core subjects, English, Maths, Humanities, Science, Health and PE as well as electing semester-length units from a range of offerings including German, Art, VCD, Woodwork, Textiles, Garment-making, Multimedia, Film Studies, Photography, Video Production, Textiles, Dance, Drama, Music, Outdoor Education, Advanced PE, Healthy Eating, Home Economics, Computer-aided Design, Information Technology, and a Humanities elective. At Years 11 and 12, the college offers comprehensive VCE and VCAL programs. The school has a strong commitment to providing pathways in every learning area and believes that a student who commences a subject in the junior school should be able to follow that subject through to Year 12.
Sport: The school participates in the Maroondah District sports network with teams from all age groups competing in many sports. All students take part in a wide range of sporting experiences through the Physical Education and Sports program at the Junior levels, with an opportunity to specialise in Outdoor and Leisure Education in Years 9 and 10. There are a number of camps that link strongly with this program.
Co-curricular activities: The college has a widely acclaimed band program that includes some local primary school students. The band has, in recent years, toured interstate. A significant number of smaller specialist groups including jazz, percussion, rock and wind, have also formed. Costs for instrumental music lessons are kept at a reasonable level. Specialist teachers visit the school to support the program. Students are encouraged to compose and perform regularly. Some instruments are available for hire from the college. Debating is very strong with students going on to compete successfully in inter-school competitions. Rock Eisteddfod is a regular feature, alternating each year with the college production. The annual ‘Artsfest’ celebrates creative achievement in arts and technology. Students compete in a number of competitions such as Tournament of the Minds. Camps at all year levels, including camps to Tasmania, Central Australia and a ski camp, are also a feature of the school’s program.
Student wellbeing programs: The school has a strong and demonstrated commitment to student safety and wellbeing. In particular, it takes a very strong stand against bullying, harassment and discrimination. The college has a careers teacher, student wellbeing co-ordinator and chaplains, as well as a sick-bay attendant. Sub-school leaders manage students on a daily basis. Student leadership is promoted at the college through peer support and Student Representative Council.