Written by
Ava Akbarian
Credit: Beaumaris Secondary School, Victoria
There are many options when it comes to choosing a school for your child. Schools vary in size, facilities, location, subject options and other factors.
Choosing a school in Victoria can be overwhelming.
First and foremost, a school is an educational institution, so the educational programs need to be robust and the outcomes for the student need to give them the pathways they need for wherever their interests take them. Dr Mark Merry, Yarra Valley Grammar
First and foremost, a school is an educational institution, so the educational programs need to be robust and the outcomes for the student need to give them the pathways they need for wherever their interests take them.
Dr Mark Merry, Yarra Valley Grammar
Your family values and child’s interests will determine the choice you make. There are many different education options available for parents making the decision.
Amongst academic activities, De La Salle College has an enviable reputation for their social justice awareness and their formal social justice programs.
“Each De La Salle student is encouraged to participate in the Lasallian values of care, respect and action for those less fortunate.”
De La Salle College offers many social just initiatives including:
Mission Action Day, referred to as MAD Day by students is a 2-3 hour walkathon.
“Students regularly raise in excess of $100,000 to support our community-based immersion programs as well as a variety of other Lasallian programs run at home and abroad.”
Funds are distributed to key Lasallian mission projects in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Western Australia and other communities in need in New South Wales and Victoria.
Donate to MAD 2022.
Each House at De La Salle supports a charity through a variety of fundraising initiatives.
In Term 2, students donate winter items such as coats, jackets and blankets to the St Vincent de Paul “Vinnies Winter Appeal”.
In Term 3, students donate non-perishable food items and toiletries leading up to ‘Social Justice Mass’.
“We challenge our students to think of others, particularly those less fortunate than us. “
Senior students have the opportunity to volunteer in:
There are many other Social Justice opportunities each year for Boys at De La Salle including Christmas giving trees and more.
“We prepare our students to fully participate in society with the skills for life-long learning and a foundation based on the Lasallian faith experience of value, respect and inclusiveness.”
Coeducational or single-sex: Single-sex, Boys.
Location: Malvern
Yarra Valley Grammar offers a range of curriculum areas such as Art & Design, Science, Music and Design Technology and more.
The Fine Arts curriculum at Yarra Valley Grammar is thriving with a variety of opportunities for students to pursue creative endeavours. The school recently opened a new Fine Arts facility in 2021.
“The building has a beautiful outlook and open spaces. It has been designed to be a creative hub, a place where students can be inspired by each other and it has been wonderful to see the students use the space as intended.”
The ground floor:
This is “often a hive of activity with students creating various products using traditional furniture making techniques as well as using new and emerging technology such as CNC and laser cutting.”
The top floor:
Coeducational or single-sex: Coeducational
Location: Ringwood
At Xavier College students are guided by the principles of a Jesuit education, calling for ‘critical engagement with the world’.
Students are encouraged to develop global perspectives and awareness with local, regional, national and global interests. The school also extends global awareness and mindsets to campus-based learning experiences.
The Xavier classroom is not defined by 4 walls. Students are challenged to extend their horizons and understand their place as part of the local, national and global community. We don’t run excursions – we run ‘Expeditions’. Expeditions are deliberate, meaningful and authentic experiences designed to challenge and inspire. Our programs run along these key themes of Play (K-2), Spark (Yr 3 – 4), Grow (Yr 5 – 6), Explore (Yr 7 – 8), Community Week (Yr 9 – 10) and Frontier (Yr 9 – 12). From signature journeys in the Natural World to exploring issues in the City, Expeditions are full of discovery and adventure. David Howard, Head of Expeditions, Xavier College
The Xavier classroom is not defined by 4 walls. Students are challenged to extend their horizons and understand their place as part of the local, national and global community.
We don’t run excursions – we run ‘Expeditions’. Expeditions are deliberate, meaningful and authentic experiences designed to challenge and inspire. Our programs run along these key themes of Play (K-2), Spark (Yr 3 – 4), Grow (Yr 5 – 6), Explore (Yr 7 – 8), Community Week (Yr 9 – 10) and Frontier (Yr 9 – 12). From signature journeys in the Natural World to exploring issues in the City, Expeditions are full of discovery and adventure.
David Howard, Head of Expeditions, Xavier College
Students in the Junior Years of high school are given the opportunity to participate in a range of Expedition experiences including exploring our ‘backyard’ of the Yarra Bend National Park and further afield to Rubicon Valley, Lake Eildon, Dunghala/Murray River, Gariwerd/Grampians National Park and much more!
Activities: Canoeing, rock climbing, bush walking, campcraft and character building exercises.
Students in the Senior Years broaden their horizons with a large range of Expedition experiences including signature Victorian, National and International experiences. From being immersed in cultural communities at home and abroad to challenging themselves through significant landscapes around the World to engaging in their passion in performance or sporting tours. To shape the head, the heart and hands.
Recent trips:
Xavier College, Victoria is known to ‘promote a culture of internationalism, global-mindedness, collaboration and connectivity’.
Location: Kew
The Australian Council for Educational Research has found an increasing focus in middle schooling in the last 20 years. This has been in response to student alienation and disengagement contributing to underachievement in the middle years.
Knox School and Caulfield Grammar provide a unique Middle School education. This may provide an easier transition from primary to secondary school for some children.
Knox School has a Middle School from Years 7-9 to support students at a pivotal time in their lives.
The school has specific Middle School teachers to understand students at a unique time in their lives.
“This means just the right amount of choice, structure, opportunities and challenges for students to develop into confident young people who will thrive at life”. Source: https://www.knox.vic.edu.au/life-at-tks/middle-school/
“This means just the right amount of choice, structure, opportunities and challenges for students to develop into confident young people who will thrive at life”.
Source: https://www.knox.vic.edu.au/life-at-tks/middle-school/
The school has a Year 7 Learning Centre for young people to ‘learn, connect and collaborate as they transition into the broader school community.’
Coeducational or single-sex: Coeducational.
Location: Wantirna South
Caulfield Grammar offers a middle school program which is currently transitioning to the principles and practices of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP).
This program is offered at the Wheelers Hill and Caulfield Campuses.
The Learning Mentor is a qualified teacher who attends each core subject class daily.
The innovative practice is designed to monitor each student in the class group. This ensures each individual child has the best possible learning experience.
The Mentors provide valuable information about student progress to teachers, pastoral care staff and parents.
Location: Campuses in Wheelers Hill, Malvern and Caulfield.
The educators at Camberwell Girls Grammar School are constantly reviewing the educational experience for students to equip them with knowledge and skills for their future.
The school designed ‘BY DESIGN’, a new learning framework for students. The framework supported by contemporary research and practices has been successfully piloted in Year 9 and now includes Year 7 to 10.
The school intends to expand BY DESIGN across the school, from Foundation to Year 12.
“BY DESIGN recognises the need to connect learning to the real-world experiences, and it helps students understand the ‘why’ of what they are learning as well as the ‘how’.” Charlotte Forwood, director of Learning Design and Development Credit: Camberwell Girls Grammar School Coeducational or single-sex: Single-sex, girls. Location: Canterbury
“BY DESIGN recognises the need to connect learning to the real-world experiences, and it helps students understand the ‘why’ of what they are learning as well as the ‘how’.”
Charlotte Forwood, director of Learning Design and Development
Coeducational or single-sex: Single-sex, girls.
Location: Canterbury
Caroline Chisolm Catholic College caters for all students whether they are interested in academic, artistic or interests in trades, sports or social justice.
In particular, students are supported by staff in a range of co-curricular activities and clubs including:
Students at Caroline Chisolm Catholic College receive strong academic results. In 2021, 95% of the students pursued tertiary education.
Coeducational or single-sex:
Years 7-9: Single-sex boys (St John’s Campus) and single-sex girls (Christ the King Campus).
Years 10-12: Coeducational (Sacred Heart Campus)
Location: Braybrook
Alphington Grammar School has a variety of indoor and outdoor learning spaces for children interested in a range of areas.
Notably is their modern STEM Wing opened in 2019.
The school also has a range of co-curricular activities for students including a STEM club.
Location: Alphington
John Monash Science School is Victoria’s first specialist senior secondary school for science, mathematics and associated technologies, catering students in Years 10-12.
The school formed in 2010 as a result of a unique partnership between Monash University and the Victorian Department of Education.
The curriculum allows students to explore scientific knowledge and understanding in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Biomedical Science, Geography and Computer Science.
Location: Clayton
The main campus site of Eltham College sits on more than 40 hectares and provides a range of possibilities for any student.
The Senior School buildings are inspired by tertiary education and provide extra resources and privileges for students in Years 10-12 including a private study area and a cafe.
Eltham College has an extensive curriculum for students interested in anything from art, technology or design to sport or outdoor education.
Location: Research
Choosing a school for your child can be difficult, if you wish to receive further information or learn about all the schools in Victoria please see Choosing a School VIC 34.
About
Ava works as a Digital Writer for School Choice Magazine as well as a a contributor to the annual ‘Choosing a School Magazine’.