Kilvington is an independent school in Melbourne offering excellence in education for girls and boys, from Early Learning to VCE. The school combines the advantages of a high-quality education with the benefits of a small, close-knit community of approximately 681students. Since 1923, Kilvington’s mission is to inspire our students to strive for academic excellence and to nurture aspirations in a caring, family-oriented community to become people of depth, strength, integrity and character. We take pride in being ‘small enough to care, big enough to excel’. Our, community-based school is built on the quality of relationships, respect, care and the celebration of diversity. The size of our school means that students receive the benefit of our differentiated learning and teaching model. Our size also means that our students can embrace many opportunities, including leadership, and participate in a diverse range of activities contributing to their confidence, growth and sense of community.
Facilities: Kilvington’s bright and modern campus, located in the leafy Melbourne suburb of Ormond, embodies our school’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We place great importance on creating learning spaces that allow students to feel comfortable in their environment. Our buildings have been specifically designed to cater for the needs and activities of students of different ages, such as spacious classrooms, a Sports Pavilion, courts, Music Centre, playgrounds, gardens, and a well-equipped library. One of our primary concerns is safety in the classroom and the playground. We have taken great care to ensure that the school offers areas in which students can play and explore.
Curriculum: As a result of our challenging and creative academic program, we are proud that our VCE students continue to perform impressively each year with more than 75 per cent of our students consistently in the top 25 per cent of the State. Central to the Kilvington educational philosophy is the uniqueness of each student within the school community. Teachers at Kilvington take into account who they are teaching as well as what they are teaching, as our teaching and learning goals are to plan actively and consistently to help students move positively along the learning continuum. Differentiated instruction is embedded at Kilvington. If a student learns faster, is ready for greater depth or breadth of knowledge then our teachers vary the learning sequence and use methods such as compacted curriculum, tiered tasks, and acceleration in some cases, to broaden the scope of the learning. One size does not fit all at Kilvington and our programs are flexible so that we can maximize the potential of our students. Our depth projects, cross-curricular projects, enrichment program, Masterclasses and ever broadening elective programs give students across the school the opportunity to contribute, be affirmed, be stretched and accomplish things they may not have thought possible.
Sport: Sport is an integral part of Kilvington’s curriculum. Kilvington’s sports program provides the perfect complement to its academic curriculum, offering an ideal balance between body and mind. Feeling strong and healthy enhances all aspects of life, including the achievement of personal goals. As sporting successes are the result of dedication and commitment, achievements both large and small are celebrated. Sharing success in a team is especially rewarding when all members have contributed to the achievement of a common goal. At Kilvington we recognise the benefits students gain from being physically active. Participation and success in the sporting arena fosters confidence and self-esteem, and has a positive impact on all aspects of School life.
Kilvington’s sporting facilities include tennis, netball and basketball courts, with access to sporting fields and ovals just a short walk away. Students are provided with expert guidance and assistance. Sports offered include athletics, swimming, cross-country, volleyball, cricket, softball, netball, basketball, tennis and soccer. Kilvington also has an exciting and challenging camping and outdoor education program, involving students from Year 3 onwards.
Student welfare programs: Based upon the core conviction that every individual is of infinite value and intrinsic worth and needs to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, Kilvington has always had an enviable reputation for care. In part, this has been due to its smaller size. Students learn most effectively when their emotional, social and physical needs are being met. So it is essential that schools provide a climate of care, warmth and hope that addresses these needs if the best in student learning outcomes is to be achieved.