The new Taylors Hill West Secondary College’s curriculum will be geared around the “skills of the future” with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
At a parent information session held last Thursday, newly appointed principal John Goodman said the school’s strategic priorities would be the “STEM” disciplines, as well as art.
A stand-alone science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics building is under construction and will be equipped with prototype labs, a robotics lab, dedicated areas for each of the sciences and space for technological automation.
“It’s a fairly innovative model – it will have a very upfront STEM focus,” Mr Goodman said. “I think this is the first time it’s been an upfront brief for a new school in the western suburbs.”
Mr Goodman said the school would foster a high-achieving culture and equip students with the skills needed to thrive in a 21st century economy.
“We want to encourage kids to be aspirational all the time, whether that’s pursuing tertiary study or a technical vocation,” he said. “It’s not just about being successful at school, but about having the skills to keep learning after school. We know these students will have to retrain again and again throughout their careers.”
Feedback from parents will help determine what language other than English will be taught. Mr Goodman said Indonesian was being considered based on success with it at neighbouring Springside College.
The school’s planning committee is assessing whether VCE subjects will be offered to high-achieving students next year. A VCAL program will begin in 2019 once the first cohort of year 10 students move to year 11.
The school, provisionally called Taylors Hill West Secondary College until a name is announced, will begin accepting enrolments for years 7 and 10 in September from parents within the “designated neighbourhood area”.
The first cohort of about 300 students will start at the beginning of the 2018 school year.
The Andrews state government allocated $12 million for the construction of the first stage of the school, in City Vista Court, Taylors Hill, in the 2016-17 budget.
Related
April 27, 2016: Green light for Taylors Hill secondary college
July 27, 2016: Taylors Hill West secondary school site identified
February 7, 2017: Parents drive new Taylors Hill West Secondary School
