Profile

Camberwell High School began in 1941, with over 350 girls and boys, and enjoys a reputation that has led to a higher demand for places than the school can accommodate.

CAMBERWELL HIGH SCHOOL

PROFILE

Camberwell High School began in 1941 with over 350 girls and boys, and enjoys a reputation that has led to a higher demand for places than the school can accommodate. The current school population is capped at 1200 students. Camberwell High School is located on a 3.2 hectare site in Canterbury , which lies about 12 km from Melbourne 's CBD. It is a forward-looking school with a wonderful legacy of multi-storeyed cream brick buildings on an impressive site, including extensive new developments and facilities.

Educative Purpose and Values

Values underpinning the school's operations and relationships are those of learning, integrity, responsibility, citizenship and independence.

This school seeks to develop students who:

are inquiring and life long learners
set challenges and strive to achieve their personal best
are critical and independent thinkers
are tolerant, fair minded, considerate and respectful
are concerned for and active participants in their local and broader communities
approach the future confident in their skills and abilities
take responsibility for their actions
demonstrate honesty and integrity.

Camberwell High School has an emphasis on excellence in teaching and learning, with unique programs for Year 8 and Year 9 students. Students are proactive in their learning, self-evaluation and formal/informal feedback to staff. They have opportunities for personal growth through involvement in House activities, sport, camps, the S.R.C., debating, peer support and school activities.

Year 8 students involved in the Healthy Living Project

Special Features of Camberwell High School include:

the high quality of innovative teaching and learning, which is enhanced by the school's success in gaining Government funding as a “ Leading School ”
the outstanding facilities and positive learning environment
the constant demand for enrolments which exceeds places available
feedback from parents via the DEECD Opinion Survey which consistently shows very high levels of parent satisfaction.
successful participation in state and national pilot programs in which the school has been invited to participate, including Quality Management, Middle Years Research and Development programme, Science Around the World, the Urban Camp, the Alpine School, Boys Education Lighthouse project, International Centre of Excellence in Maths etc.
frequent visits from senior overseas and interstate educators sent by universities, the Department of Education, Australian Principals' Centre, Australian Council for Educational Research, International Students Program Unit
the dignified and vibrant Valedictory and Awards Presentation functions
formal sister-school relationship with Tianjin Experimental High School in China
the rich cultural and sporting life of the school, including the spectacular music concerts, the House swimming and athletic sports and Arts Festival, the Senior School Arts Exhibition, the public final of House debating, and the school Production, many of which involve students, staff and parents
student study tours to Greece , UAE, China , Japan , Indonesia , Italy , New Caledonia , Malaysia the USA and Canada
the provision of extension and extra support for students across the spectrum of student capabilities.

Symphonic Band playing on Open Night

Our students are characterised by

the high proportion gaining offers of places in major university courses – over 87% in recent years
gaining VCE results consistently well above state benchmarks and the results of similar [“like”] schools
winning of Premier's Awards for Excellence on a regular basis
achieving success in acceleration and enhancement in the VCE and in first year University subjects with many outstanding results
achieving success in gifted programs and international competitions, eg. in the top 5 per cent nationally in Mathematics, Science and English
the strength and quality of leadership, including School and Homegroup Captains, an articulate and active SRC, student Year Level Councils and House leaders
willingness to take on the responsibility for peer mentoring and coaching of junior students by senior students
enthusiasm in organising various extra curricula activities and significant fundraising for worthy causes
a high level of acceptance of the multicultural nature of the student body and their harmonious interactions.

Students taking part in our sports program

The staff is characterised by

competence and care as they interact professionally and generously with their students
a willingness to give generously of their time to assist students, in addition to normal classes
involvement in international study tours and offering professional development such as conducting workshops at state conferences
a significant number who are external examiners, assessors, published writers and involved with VCAA, publishers, universities and various subject associations
a high level of voluntary involvement in professional development through subject associations and school based PD undertaken in their own hours.

The school's community is characterised by

a proactive, informed and supportive School Council and its sub-committees
committed parents, involved in Parents and Friends Association, Friends of Music and working bees
Years 7, 8 and 9 Parent Networks
involvement of former students through CHESS etc.

Curriculum

The school's curriculum offers comprehensive experiences in the eight Learning Areas via core and electives with three LOTE's [Languages other than English], university Enhancement courses at V.C.E., acceleration into V.C.E. for Year 10 and Year 11 students, and an outstanding Sport program for Years 7 - 10. Camberwell High School students enjoy considerable success in international and national academic competitions. Co-curricular opportunities include public speaking, active participation in our excellent music program via our orchestra, bands and ensembles, in dramatic and musical productions, intra and inter-school sport [7 – 12], excursions, tours, camps and overseas trips. Excellent opportunities exist in the school for students at all levels to be leaders and success of all kinds is celebrated.

ESL Students on their way to class

Student Welfare

Students at Camberwell High School will continue to receive numerous opportunities to be leaders, to sing, to play music and a wide range of sports, to debate, act, organize, fund-raise to support worthwhile charities, travel, gain V.C.E. results where A's and B's always exceed the State average, enter major university courses, and carry with them values, high self esteem and positive experiences gained at school.

The school's current Strategic Plan has been developed in consultation with the school community and depends for its success on the traditional partnership of committed staff, motivated students and supportive parents, the

wise use of human and financial resources, and the strength of commitment to our vision. The 2007- 09 Strategic Plan steers the school into a strong relevant and responsive future where the key focus lies in provision of the highest quality teaching and learning.

The school is committed to ongoing improvement and continues to review and improve its provision of student care, nurture and challenge, of learning technologies, and of a comprehensive and relevant curriculum.

In April 2005 our school was recognized officially by DEECD as one of the top 10 government schools in Victoria for the level of safety [physical, emotional] reported by our students and parents through confidential DEECD surveys, and this situation continues today. Deakin University has conducted forums and extensive surveys to find out what CHS is doing to provide this positive environment for its students, staff and families.

The school's Welfare Policy with its strong implementation in both welfare and discipline, and the reputation of Camberwell High School as a caring, academic and culturally rich school, continues to attract more students each year -- an exciting challenge indeed!

Students at work in Science

Physical setting

The school is well served by public transport. Camberwell High School is situated very close to Riversdale and East Camberwell train stations, the Riversdale Road tramline, and by public bus to the front gate. These same transport networks provide access to the school for students from an extremely large catchment area which includes western, northern and far eastern suburbs. This situation, allied with the good reputation of Camberwell High School , has led to a unique situation whereby more than half the enrolment comes from outside the official neighbourhood.

In a desire for improvement of the physical and learning environment the school opened in early 2001 a $2.4 million Arts/Technology complex [on the extra .6 ha. of land acquired by the school in 1998] and built with its own funds a large computerized VCE Centre and Music complex, also completed early in 2001. A new and magnificent Library, Science Complex, Home Economics facilities and extra computer laboratories and suites were completed before the end of 2003, and a further building project of $1.5 million opened in October 2004, provided a Drama Centre, ESL rooms, and general classrooms, all funded by the school, and our Year 8 Learning Centre funded by the government. The Music Complex was upgraded in early 2007.

School structure/organization;

The school is organized in two sub-schools, Junior and Senior, each led by a Sub-School Head. From 2000 teaching teams have been established in home groups at Years 7, 8 and 9. In these teams a core of teachers teach a smaller number of students for a longer time each week, and thereby get to

know them better. The Pastoral Team Leaders reflect the school's commitment to student welfare with one Leader per 100 students [two at each year level].

The school's Welfare Policy, developed by staff, students and parents, underpins relationships and is firmly based on the school's Values. Restorative practice underpins our approach to resolving issues and its

application, integrity, responsibility, citizenship, challenge and care. Its fair application accounts for the overall good behaviour, sense of security and harmony, and cooperative nature of the student body.

Excellent counselling of students is provided by Pastoral Team Leaders, the Careers Advisor, School Welfare Coordinator, a visiting Guidance Officer, Heads of Sub-Schools, Principal Class, and other staff including Homegroup teachers.

Our future

Camberwell High School offers opportunities for acceleration and extension for our students and is resolved to meet more closely the needs of all students through the increased provision of remediation [particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy], a greater emphasis on how students think and learn, and the development of even more opportunities for student enhancement.

The effective use of learning technologies across the curriculum, continual upgrading of staff skills, and the provision of more and better resources, continue to be key goals for the school. Other goals focus on improving the boy-girl ratio and developing structures, across age groups if appropriate, to enhance our already high-quality delivery of pastoral care.

Elida Brereton

Principal

2008