Box Hill Senior Secondary College is a senior college, one of only two stand-alone models in the state, and provides a young adult learning environment that is highly valued by students, teachers and parents. Students are treated with respect and encouraged and assisted to take responsibility for their education. The college mission is to create a learning community in which students are learning to make a life, learning to make a living and learning to make a difference. The mission statement reflects the college’s aim to provide all students with a broad education, vocational skills and the ability to critically participate in a rapidly changing world. The college operates as a regional or metropolitan school with one-third of the students residing more than 20 kilometres from the college. There are no natural feeder schools and the school’s population is currently drawn from over 140 schools. Students are attracted to the college because of its range of programs and its adult learning environment. The college is located in a quiet suburban street in Mont Albert North, approximately 13 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD.
Facilities: The college offers an outstanding range of specialist facilities including gymnasium, weights facility, Plexipave and En Tout Cas tennis courts, modern student lounge/canteen, specialist technology facilities (wood, metals, electrical/electronics, plumbing and horticulture), commercial kitchen, drama and music facilities including recording studio, networked PC computer facilities with intranet access, college intranet, IMAC multimedia centre and photography.
Curriculum: Many students enrol in Year 10. There is a transition program that consists of core studies at Year 10 level and electives. Where appropriate, Year 10 students have access to VCE and VET Units 1 and 2 subjects. As Box Hill Senior SC is one of only two Specialist Sport Schools in the state, students can specialise in AFL football, tennis and basketball. This permits students to combine their academic studies with professional intensive training in their chosen sport. Box Hill Senior SC also enrols elite athletes in tennis during Years 5 to 9 and basketball in Year 9. These students are situated in the Middle Years Sports Campus located within the grounds of the senior school. The college offers a diverse senior curriculum with strengths in the performing and visual arts, technology, fashion and sport. Students are able to choose from a wide range of VCE programs and 15 VET in-school programs that provide pathways to employment, training and further education. Student learning is enhanced through a large work placement program and through links with industry, TAFE colleges and peak sporting bodies. Vocational programs provide the opportunity to complete both VCE and VET qualifications and include Automotive Studies, Engineering, Building and Construction, Plumbing, Horticulture, Fashion, Food and Hospitality. Outstanding VCE programs are also available in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Media Studies, Drama and Contemporary Music as well as traditional academic studies including Business, Mathematics, Science and Humanities subjects.
Student welfare programs: The college advocacy program combines learning technology and extensive student support to develop individual student learning plans and improve student learning outcomes. Individual career guidance and welfare counselling is offered. The college has developed a sophisticated attendance and student progress tracking system that is used to assist mentoring and student reflection. Attendance and progress reports are available to parents online. The college has a strategic alliance with Box Hill Institute of TAFE.