High School Options

I wasn't expecting to consider high school so soon, but last Sat, Miss 10 had the opportunity (she would say she was forced) to sit the scholarship exam for entry to Year 7 at Westbourne Grammar.

Assuming she doesn't get the scholarship (which is the only way she can attend the school without us killing ourselves financially), we'll be looking farther afield.

At the moment, top on our list is Kardinia International College (KIC) in Geelong.

Why KIC?

The name was first mentioned by her music teacher at her old school. The teacher's daughter attended KIC and did the IB (International Baccalaureate, the alternative pathway to university other than VCE) program, and spoke positively of it.

We also have a friend whose children this year moved from Beth's old school to KIC.

Plus, the KIC name has started popping up in school mums' conversations (Asian school mums, that is) as one of the options for high school. The generally accepted observation is that there are very few 'good' schools here in the Western suburbs compared to the East. ('Good' refers to the school's academic reputation based on its past VCE results and NAPLAN results, which are obtainable from the My Schools website.)

Westbourne is acknowledged all round as a good school but too expensive for the average family. Heathdale Christian College is less expensive but has only an average academic track record, with its Junior School receiving much stronger parental approval than its Senior School.

Good News Lutheran College is not yet a full college.

Werribee Secondary College has a select entry program (plus) but is a public school with a bit of a 'reputation' (minus), deserved or otherwise. Parents I have spoken with aren't exactly keen on sending their kids there.

Suzanne Cory has a select entry program but is only available from Year 9 onwards, which means you still have to find a decent high school for Years 7 and 8.

Last Sunday, we were able to attend an info session at KIC. It was well-organized, the staff were well-presented and articulate, and we came away with a very positive impression of the place, the school leadership and the curriculum. Beth was enamored by the cashless canteen and has eagerly encouraged her good friend C to check out the school's website.

Hubby and I particularly like the idea of a Vertical Curriculum. When a student enters Year 7, they are assessed for their proficiency in different subjects. If they are stronger in a particular subject, they may be invited to join a more senior class to study that subject. The examples given were of a Year 7 student doing VCE Math, and another Year 7 music student playing in an orchestra alongside Year 8, 9 and 10 students. So you avoid the whole teaching-to-the-middle situation where one assumes that all Year 7 students learn in the same way at the same pace and to the same level of ability in all subjects.

One of our frustrations with the school system has been how teacher-dependant our children's learning and achievement is. If you get a teacher who is flexible and alert to each of her students' abilities and potential and is willing to adapt the curriculum accordingly, good for you. Otherwise, you may face an uphill battle if you have a child who needs that extra stretching so as to stay engaged in class. I have heard parents deplore their children's apparent backward slide into academic mediocrity because of changes to the school's way of delivering learning outcomes (less homework, less challenging tasks, being forced to do lower-level math when the child has already mastered higher-level math in previous grades).

The minuses: KIC is a good 40-minute drive away. There is a school bus that comes to the Werribee area, but one would have to be prepared to rise much earlier in order to make the bus schedule.

Also, KIC is a non-denominational Christian school, which to me sounds like there isn't as much of an emphasis on Christian values and disciplines like weekly chapel and daily devotions, as compared to a denominational school like Good News Lutheran College. I could be wrong of course.

As we consider our options and make decisions, I am reminded that "if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without reserve and without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5).