STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN 2 Ø 1 6

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1 STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN 2 Ø 1 6

2 2 Starting secondary school in 2016 As your child s primary school education is coming to a close, it is time to think about which secondary school your child will attend. The move from primary to secondary school is a major milestone for your child and it is a time of big changes in their development, education and life. Our South Australian government schools offer a wide range of subjects, programs, activities and opportunities to meet the interests and talents of students. This brochure aims to provide you key information about the transition process, and outline the different government school options to assist you in this choice. Choosing a school Your first step is deciding which school your child would like to attend: Your local school A special interest school or a specific program in a school A special class, unit or school for a child with a disability Register your interest in attending a non-local school. Local school (in-zone) In South Australia, all metropolitan government secondary schools and some country schools are zoned. This is to ensure that a place is available for all students at their local secondary school. A student s zoned school is determined according to their permanent and primary place of residence. If your child is currently a Year 7 student attending a government primary school you will receive an application pack from your school. In this pack, you will find an Application for enrolment in Year 8 form which will list your zoned school. Families residing outside of the metropolitan area, may be located in an unzoned area. In those cases where the student lives more than five kilometres from the nearest school, or lives in an unzoned area, the nearest school is allocated, or the school serviced by a departmental bus run, if that run comes closer than the nearest school. We encourage you to personally visit your local secondary school, many of which hold open days, principal tours or information evenings to assist you in determining your choices for secondary school. You can find out more by visiting the relevant school s website or calling the school directly. Please note: if there is a record error with your residential address please contact your primary school, which can produce a corrected application form. Please be aware that changing your address will require the necessary proof of your primary place of residence to your primary school. Please refer to Proof of residence section for further information. Currently in a non-government school If your child is in Year 7 and is not currently attending a government school, you can obtain an application pack, including the Application for enrolment in Year 8 form online at This website also provides links to high school zones to determine your zoned local school. All applications for Year 8 enrolment must provide proof of their primary place of residence with their application. Please refer to Proof of residence section for further information. If you need assistance in determining your local school please DECD.startingsecondaryschool@sa.gov.au If you want your child to go to your local school, please select Yes in Section 3 of the Application for enrolment in Year 8 form.

3 3 Special interest schools or programs While all government secondary schools provide the same core curriculum some of our schools provide a secondary education which focuses on a specific interest or talent. There are many secondary schools that offer specialised programs in music, language, sport, drama, dance and the arts (gifted and talented and the International Baccalaureate (IB)). Additionally in country areas there are many specialised programs including programs in agriculture, aquaculture or viticulture. For parents looking for different learning options there are also schools that offer same sex campuses and vocational education. The criteria for enrolment into these specialised programs are usually coordinated by the secondary school. This may include an examination, performance or audition for special entry to the school in Year 7. These usually occur over Term 1 and 2, and parents are informed directly by the school if they have been successful in gaining entry. Please refer to Special Interest Schools and Programs section for further information. Students applying for enrolment at schools offering specialised programs: should include the schools on their Application for enrolment in Year 8 form in order of preference this will ensure that a place continues to be reserved for your child at their local school, should you be unsuccessful in obtaining a special interest placement may be accepted at an out-of-zone school but not accepted in the specialised courses or programs offered at the school may be successful in more than one enrolment application - these students will be contacted by the department and will be asked to select which school they would like to attend. If you are interested in a specialist school or program, please contact the school directly, or access the school s promotional material or website for their enrolment criteria. A special option for a child with a disability Some secondary schools offer special options to cater for the additional learning and support needs of students with a disability. Students with a disability will normally enrol in their local secondary school unless their parents are requesting a placement in a special class, unit or school. Consideration for placement in a special class, disability unit or special school is managed by the Channel Managers, Office for Children and Young People. There are also educational options for students with a disability who require highly specialised settings to address developmental, communication, mobility and/or sensory needs e.g. Centres for Hearing Impaired, Autism Intervention Programs and SA School for Vision Impaired. Separate processes exist for placement in these settings. If your child is being considered for a special option, then a Request to Investigate Enrolment in a Special Education Option - SEO1 and supporting documentation is completed by the parent and the primary school. Your primary school will forward this information on to the relevant Special Options Placement Panel. The Placement Panels meet in the same week across the state to ensure all requests are treated consistently and equitably. Offers of placement are made to parents and students directly by the panel. Year 7 students with a disability will also need to complete an Application for Year 8 Enrolment Form including those who already have applied for or have a confirmed place in a special class, disability unit or special school.

4 4 Registration of interest for non-local schools (out-of-zone) Every local school has to reserve enough places within their school for their local students. However, depending on the availability of spaces, some schools may accept students from outside of their zoned area. You may have many reasons why you would like your child to attend a school that is not your local school. You are able to register your interest in attending up to three different schools on your Application for enrolment in Year 8 form, in order of preference. To ensure a fair and reasonable process your application is then assessed according to DECD s criteria for allocation of points for out-of-zone applications. These include: distance from your permanent and primary place of residence to the school curriculum offerings that cannot be met at your local zoned school (core curriculum subjects such as Mathematics and English are offered at all government schools) social/family links to the school transport/location convenience disability or medical reasons. In some cases the department gives special entry to some students living outside of the local area. This includes students with sibling rights to the school, students under the guardianship of the Minister and students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Please refer to Special Entry section for further information. If your child is not offered a place at their first choice school, your child will be considered for placement at their second choice school, then at their third choice school, if applicable. If your child is not successful in gaining a place at one of their choices, you will be notified that they have been placed on a waiting list for your chosen schools and they will be offered a place if one becomes available. If no places are available at any of the schools you have requested, your child will be offered a place at their designated local school. Please note: This process does not apply to Adelaide High School, Urrbrae Agricultural High School, Mitcham Girls High School, or Roma Mitchell Secondary College Girls Campus who have separate enrolment policies. If you are interested in a non-local school, please complete the supporting reasons for applying for an outof-zone school form in your enrolment pack and attach this to your application form. You will need to provide reasons why you would like your child to attend the school, addressing the DECD criteria. Returning your application Once you have selected your schools you need to complete and return the Application for enrolment in Year 8 form to your government primary school by Friday 22 May If your child is currently attending a non-government primary school, you need to complete and return the Application for enrolment in Year 8 form by no later than Friday 22 May 2015 with all supporting documentation* to: Year 7/8 Transition Team Office for Education Level 6, 31 Flinders Street Adelaide, South Australia 5000 *Please refer to Proof of Residence section for instructions about supporting documents that needs to be submitted with your Application for enrolment in Year 8 form.

5 5 Proof of residence or change of address It is important that if you are updating your address on the application form provided to you by your government primary school or applying to a government secondary school from a non-government primary school, you include supporting documentation of proof of your residential address. This documentation must include: 1. If the home is the permanent residence, a copy of the property s Contract of Sale or a recent council rates notice, or 2. If you are renting, provide a rental agreement and a bond receipt (from the Residential Tenancies Tribunal) stating where you are currently living. The rental agreement should cover at least the first 12 months at the school. In addition you must provide: 3. A recent gas or electricity bill stating the residential address (not a business address) and the name of the parent/guardian. A contract of sale or council rates notice on its own is not sufficient proof of residence, as the property may be rented to other occupants. For this reason a copy of a recent gas or electricity bill is also required. Proof of residency is also required if you are applying for non-local school(s), as the department needs to confirm your address to maximise your distance points. The renting of a room for your child, or rooms at a property, does not constitute a primary place of residence. Families must therefore rent an entire property in order for it to be considered their primary place of residence. If your child is living with a relative or friend, you will need to provide supporting documentation stating that the relative/friend is the legal guardian of the student. This documentation must include a Parenting Order from the Family Court, which states that the relative/friend is the formal full-time carer of the child/student. Generally statutory declarations are not considered to be sufficient documentation, although if you are unsure please talk to your primary school, or DECD.startingsecondaryschool@sa.gov.au

6 6 Special entry Sibling rights In many secondary schools when a child has a sibling currently attending an out-of-zone school they are able to enrol to attend that school. Half brothers and sisters are blood relatives and therefore, this sibling rights rule applies. The sibling rights rule will only apply to stepbrothers and sisters for same school as their stepsiblings, if they are residing at the same primary place of residence. It is important to note that some secondary schools have specific enrolment criteria where this rule is not applied. Please check with your preferred schools for more details. Sibling rights cease if there is a break of more than 12 months in attendance at the school by a student of that family. For example if a sibling completed Year 12 in 2014, and the other sibling is starting Year 8 in 2016 sibling rights will still apply, as the break is not more than 12 months. If you are claiming sibling rights on your Application for enrolment in Year 8 form, you must photocopy and attach a copy of student ID card of the student/ sibling who currently attends the out-of-zone school. Students under the Guardianship of the Minister It is the department s position that all Year 7 students who are under the Guardianship of the Minister are able to enrol and be accepted into any government secondary school of their choice in South Australia. This initiative is to support these young people successfully transition to a secondary school, with the intent to increase their attendance and improve their educational achievements. If you a carer for a child under the Guardianship of the Minister, you and the child should meet with primary school staff and the child s caseworker to discuss the best options of attending a secondary school other than their zoned school prior to completing your Application for enrolment in Year 8 form. Enter for success program Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students Year 7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students may enrol and be accepted into any government secondary school of their choice in South Australia through the Enter for Success program. This program aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students transition to, attend and stay in a secondary school. If you wish to apply for this program, you and your child should meet with primary school staff to discuss the options of attending a secondary school other than their zoned school through this program. Please return the completed Enter for success program with your Application for enrolment in Year 8 form. Frequently asked questions Q: Where can I find opening dates, tours and times for secondary schools? A: Opening dates, tours and times are available from individual school websites. Q: When will I find out where my child has been accepted for secondary school? A: On or by Friday 14 August 2015, is when students will receive their enrolment packs. Q: What if my child misses out on their school of choice? A: Students who are unsuccessful in gaining a place at one of their choice schools will be redirected back to their zoned local school. Students who have missed out on their first, second and third choice schools will automatically be placed on each of the schools waiting lists. Each secondary school manages its own waiting list. Please note, to ensure that the process is fair and equitable, parents and students will not be notified about their ranked position on a waiting list. Q: What documentation will I receive from my child s selected school? A: You will receive the following from the final school you have been allocated to: A letter of welcome Notification of Year 8 enrolment A review form. Q: If I am dissatisfied with the outcome of not receiving your first choice school, what should I do? A: You are able to request a review of the process by completing the review form you receive from the final school you have been allocated to.

7 7 Enrolment reviews Any review request must be made in writing and sent to the department, who will convene a review panel to take into consideration additional evidence supplied that was not provided in your original application. This process does not allow for your original choice schools to be changed. A request for review in relation to the outcome of a special interest school or programs is not part of this process. Special interest schools that have an appeal process will inform applicants directly of the review requirements when the outcome of their selection process is communicated. If your review request is successful the review panel will amend your points allocated to the non-local school and subsequently your position on the school s waiting list, although this does not guarantee entry to the school. Further details in relation to review process and timelines will be included in your child s acceptance pack. Requests for review must be lodged by Friday 28 August Financial assistance Travelling allowance A travelling allowance may be payable to any student who lives five kilometres or more from the nearest school or school bus route. Transport assistance may also be available for students with disabilities. Please check with your local school to find out if you qualify for this assistance. School card If you have difficulty in meeting school costs you can contact the secondary school after enrolment to request payment by instalments or apply for assistance by making an application for the School Card. This scheme provides financial assistance towards the costs of educational expenses for full-time students of low income families. Forms are available from the school. Support from the Australian Government: Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander (ABSTUDY) For more information, visit or phone Enrolment enquiries This brochure aims to answer all your questions in relation to your child s transition to secondary school. If you still have more please contact the school your child is likely to attend to ask for advice or DECD.startingsecondaryschool@sa.gov.au

8 8 STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN 2016 Special interest schools and programs Vocational education The Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways offered at schools encourage students to work towards completing VET qualifications while undertaking the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). VET pathways in schools allow students in years to: develop skills for the workforce develop an understanding of the workforce get training in industry specific skills gain credit towards a nationally recognised qualification such as a certificate, diploma or advanced diploma while undertaking their SACE. If your child is interested in a particular VET pathway, please talk to the career advisor or equivalent within the school of your choice or visit the schools website for further information. Country special interest schools and programs Country schools offer a wide range of high quality curricula and programs. Some schools specialise in particular areas for example agriculture, aquaculture or viticulture. You should contact schools in your local area for further information about specialist programs available in country South Australia. Students who are currently enrolled in primary school classes in country areas are also eligible to apply for entry to any special interest school or program. However, for country students who attend metropolitan schools, the responsibility for accommodation arrangements lies with parents. The South Australian rural student accommodation program provides affordable full board, hostel style accommodation for secondary students to live away from home. For information about boarding options please contact, Cleve Area School, Lucindale Area School or Burra Community School.

9 9 Metropolitan special interest schools and programs The following table lists a number of special interest schools and programs in metropolitan South Australia as a guide. Some schools have a selection process for entry into their special programs. If the school you are interested in is not listed please contact them directly or access their website for further information about programs available. *Selective entry program School Name Aberfoyle Park High School Adelaide High School Australian Science and Mathematics School (Year 10-12) Banksia Park International High School Birdwood High School Blackwood High School Brighton Secondary School Charles Campbell College (Reception Year 12) Craigmore High School Fremont-Elizabeth City High School Glenunga International High School Golden Grove High School Special Interest Programs IGNITE* accelerated learning program for gifted and talented students (Yr 8-12), Science Mathematics at Flinders University (Yr 11-12), Advanced Technologies, Tennis Academy Own enrolment policy. Cricket*, Rowing*, Gifted and Talented, Special Interest Language School* Registration of Interest. Adventure Space (enrichment and extension) Soccer (Yr 9-11), Global Citizens Medal (Yr 12) Academy of Innovative Learning (AIL) personalised learning and mentoring program (Yr 8-10) Netball*, Australian Rules Football*, IB Middle Years Program Special Interest Music Centre*, Volleyball*, Think Bright Program* Sport* (Australian Rules Football and Netball), Performing Arts*, Mathematics and Science Extension* (Yr 9-10) Advanced Technologies Special Interest Music Centre* IB Diploma (Yr 11-12), IGNITE* accelerated learning program for gifted and talented students Dance*, Students With Athletic Potential (SWAP)* (Yr 10), Touch Football* (Yr 9), Netball* (Yr 9), EXCEL- gifted and talented student extension program Hallett Cove School Reception-Year 12. Volleyball (Yr 8 11) Hamilton Secondary College Heathfield High School Space Science, CISCO Networking Academy Program - comprehensive e-learning (Yr 12), Advanced Technologies Volleyball*, Advanced Technologies robotics, laser and 3D printing Henley High School Sports* (Yr 9-12), Performing Arts (Yr 9-12), Advanced Technologies (Yr 10) Le Fevre High School Rugby*, Ice Hockey*, IB Middle Years Program (Yr 8-10), High Achievers Program (Yr 8-10), Maritime High School of South Australia Program (Yr 10-12), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) (Yr 10-12) Marryatville High School Special Interest Music Centre* (Yr 8-12), Tennis* (Yr 8-12) Mitcham Girls High School Mount Barker High School Norwood Morialta High School Ocean View Secondary College (Birth Year 12) Single sex schools (female only). School is not zoned. Gifted and Talented Academic Years*, Gifted and Talented Dance Years* Gifted and Talented, Agriculture IB Middle Years Program (Yr 8-10), Rowing, Outdoor and Environmental Education (Yr 9-12) IB Middle Years Program (Yr 8-10), Sailing Program (Yr 9)

10 10 School Name Pasadena High School Parafield Gardens High School Reynella East College (Preschool Year 12) Roma Mitchell Secondary College Roma Mitchell Secondary College Girls Education Campus Salisbury East High School Seaford Secondary College (Year 7 Year 12) Special Interest Programs Basketball Acceleration program for students will high ability/potential (Yr 11) Sports*(basketball, cricket, soccer, rugby, netball, golf, music) Gifted and Talented*, Sports* (soccer, cycling, hockey), IB Middle Years Program (Yr 8-10) Single sex schools (female only). Campus is not zoned. Elite Physical Education Program* (Yr 9-11), Music, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Sports* (Yr 9-12), Gifted and Talented, IB Middle Years Program (Yr 7-10), Accelerated Literacy and Science (Yr 10), Performing Arts (Yr 9-12) Seaton High School Baseball*, Art*, Students with Higher Intellectual Potential (SHIP)* (Yr 8 10) Seaview High School The Heights School (Preschool Year 12) Urrbrae Agricultural High School Underdale High School Unley High School Rowing (Yr 8-10) Valley View High School Wirreanda Secondary School Woodville High School Tennis*, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), Contemporary Music*, Performing Arts Cricket* (Yr 7 11), IGNITE* accelerated learning program for gifted and talented students (Yr 8-10) Specialist agricultural secondary school. Own enrolment policy. International Football (Soccer) Academy, Netball (Year 8), Gifted and Talented Education (Yr 8-10) Advanced Technologies Sports (exercise physiology, coaching, officiating, biomechanics, sports medicine, psychology) Special Interest Music Centre*, Visual Arts Enrichment*, Students with Higher Intellectual Potential (SHIP)*

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