two new selective-entry schools

The Herald Sun, Jane Metlikovec, 27 September 2007

 

The Victorian Government has revealed plans to open two new selective-entry schools in Melbourne by 2010. In
June this year, the Victorian Government released a discussion paper on the way in which students should apply
to these academically selective co-educational schools, and invited key education groups to comment.

The Association of Independent School of Victoria (AISV), the Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP), the Catholic Education Office (CEO) and the Australian Education Union (AEU) have all made submissions regarding the selective-entry schools’ discussion paper.

Most of the respondents shared concerns that the state’s best students would be poached from across all education sectors by the addition of two more selective-entry schools. AISV has suggested that the use of enrolment caps
should continue, to ensure that ‘no other school or their students suffer an undue adverse effect as a result of the
transfer of students to selective-entry schools.’

The current enrolment cap does not allow more than three percent of a year 8 cohort from a single school to be
selected for enrolment at a selective-entry school. This cap is applied to both government and non-government
schools.

VASSP said that once the new selective-entry schools open, all schools’ VCE results should no longer be published.
It believed that it is ‘absurd and deceptive to continue publishing league tables when government schools are losing
their top students.’

Even though the AEU remains opposed to the addition of two new ‘elite’ schools, it argued that ‘entry processes
should include a written application, an exam and an interview.’

The Victorian Government is believed to be finishing its review of submissions by the end of the year.

 

 

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