Our School Profile
St Albans Secondary College is a 7 – 12 co-educational school located 18 km to the northwest of central Melbourne. The College is proud of its history as the original secondary school in the area, and of its continuing role as an educational focal point within the community of St Albans and surrounding suburbs.
The St Albans community has welcomed new arrivals to Australia since its establishment in 1956, and this is reflected in the culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds of our students, as well as in the multicultural vitality of our community. The vast majority of our students come from non-English speaking backgrounds, covering 53 different nationalities.
Consistently strong enrolment figures allow the school to maintain flexibility in both staffing & curriculum, and, so, to effectively address the educational directions valued by the whole school community: the academic, social and personal development of its young people.
The curriculum is organised into 9 key learning areas, and a comprehensive range of VCE and VCE VM studies, together with a challenging VCE VM program, are offered at the senior years. Also offered one Certificate III in Music, Information and Digital Media Technology and Applied Fashion Design, and Certificate II in Kitchen Operations, and our school is a member of the Brimbank VET cluster of schools.
St Albans Secondary College has consistently been recognised as a high performing Victorian Government school. Research undertaken by the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the University of Melbourne in 2008 identified our school as one of eight schools that achieve ‘extraordinary success’ given the socio economic characteristics of their school community. In 2015, the growth achieved by our students in reading and numeracy was recognised by the national curriculum and assessment body, ACARA, with the school identified as ‘having demonstrated substantially above average gain in NAPLAN results’. Growth in Literacy and Numeracy continues to be strong, and VCE results, in particular, are outstanding with a median study score of 30 maintained over 4 years, and an average over this period of 90% of Year 12 VCE VM and VCE students exiting to University and TAFE pathways.
Our commitment to foster the academic and personal development of each student, to guarantee high quality teaching and learning in every classroom, and to provide a broad range of programs to challenge and enrich all students, is a significant factor in these achievements. Our Attendance Policy of 90%, close monitoring of student absences, and effective communication with parents ensure that the importance of regular attendance for successful student learning is well embedded in the school culture. A Managed Individual Pathway for each student from Years 9 to Year 12, and the induction and support programs we provide to assist students as they transition through the school, are equally critical to students’ success.
The Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) program is offered to gifted and talented students from Year 7 right through to Year 12. Additionally, enrichment electives are offered from Year 9, and VCE subjects are available to selected students from Year 10. Our top achievers are supported with scholarships, as well as university mentoring programs such as the Kwong Lee Dow Scholars program, and consistently gain entry into top-level tertiary courses. Literacy and numeracy intervention and coaching programs assist students who need additional support with their skills in these areas, as does the English as an Additional Language program for newly arrived students, and the intensive support our specialist team in the Individual Needs program.
A focus on positive, respectful relationships as an essential part of a safe, enjoyable learning environment has also contributed to the College’s excellent student outcomes, as has our strategy of enhancing student voice and leadership across the school, and providing a rich extracurricular and interschool sports program. The reintroduction of Houses has enhanced students’ sense of pride and connectedness, and provided them with additional leadership opportunities. The wellbeing of students is supported by a comprehensive allied health team, and by our work over the last 18 months with Andrew Fuller on resilient mindsets.
St Albans Secondary College is an accredited provider of education for international students. Our reputation for academic excellence has attracted 50 students from overseas who are currently completing their secondary education with us. Our local and international parent communities are integral to the success of this program, and to the support provided to the students.
The school has committed to a sustained program of facilities upgrading in order to improve the learning and work environment for students and staff, and this is evident from the front gate to the sports oval.
We have built a strong, positive school culture where effort and achievement are valued and recognised. The friendly, supportive, caring atmosphere of our school is very often commented on by visitors. Students are able to articulate the high expectations that the staff and parents hold for them and they appreciate this.
St Albans Secondary College is a community where staff and parents work together with, and for the benefit of, students. Staff are deeply committed to the academic progress, and personal development and wellbeing of each student.