Aspiration Overview
Colo High School has an outstanding history of academic excellence. We pride ourselves on encouraging all students to reach their goals in a supportive environment. We recognise that students in Years 7 & 8 are all at different stages of learning. To encourage every student to feel comfortable and achieve continued success, we offer both Aspirational and mixed ability class groupings in our Year 7 & 8 organisation.
Aspirational Classes are specialised classes for students who meet selection requirements. Such classes are designed for students who are highly motivated, academically aspiring and are proven independent learners. They are not necessarily students who have been recognised for academic excellence in the past. The classes involve extended expectations regarding involvement in enrichment activities, extension of learning and taking significant personal responsibility for learning.
* The number of Aspirational Classes offered at Colo HS are dependent of the number and quality of applicants.
Not every student suits an Aspirational class.
It is important to realise not all students desire to be in performance classes. Many are simply not yet ready for this challenge. Others desire a more moderate pace of learning. Be advised, we do offer the same opportunity for Year 8 classes and your child may choose to wait until then to apply. Selection in an Aspirational class in Year 7 does not guarantee placement in Year 8. A separate process is used for Year 8.
Students not in an Aspirational class will be in mixed ability groupings. These classes are designed for students who have varied interests and strengths. Such students enjoy greater teacher direction and learning encouragement. These students are often working towards independence but require some support to become resourceful learners.
Selection process:
The selection process for both the Year 7 & 8 Aspirations takes place in Term 4 each year, with successful students notified by the end of the school year. Information regarding the process will be provided to all local primary schools and email to parents who have completed the school enrolment process early in Term 4.
Colo High School will always work very closely with our feeder primary school around class placement. During Year 6 the Head Teacher Transition and Academic Performance will attend each local primary school to conduct a brief literacy and numeracy assessment (this task will be sent to students from non-feeder schools via email). Year 6 teachers provide a great deal of valuable information regarding their students. We do also look at NAPLAN/standardized test data.
Colo Scholarship
Each year Colo High School awards a scholarship to the top performing student from each of our local feeder schools, who will be continuing their (high school) education at Colo High School.
These scholarships seek to acknowledge these individuals as exemplary academic students who have understood and valued the benefits of a public education. We aim recognise their dedication to their studies and the academic success they have achieved.
These scholarships are proudly sponsored by Bendigo Bank North Richmond and the Colo High School P&C.