Enrolments

General information

Not all students who seek admission to The University High School can be accommodated. Parents who feel that the learning of their child would be best fostered at The University High School are invited to make an application.
It is Government policy that parents may apply for a place on behalf of their child in any Government School regardless of where they live. The University High School is held in high regard and, consequently, experiences a very heavy enrolment demand. The School is constantly liaising with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) regarding the management of enrolment applications which greatly exceed the capacity of the school.
This information sheet outlines the procedures which have been adopted to process all applications in an open, consistent and equitable way. The School has an Enrolment Committee that processes all applications.

CRITERIA FOR ENROLMENT

Places at The University High School will be allocated in the following priority order.

1. Permanent Residency in the School’s Zone

   Please note the designated school zone is outlined on the neighbourhood map. The boundary is the innermost sides of these streets. The requirement of permanent residency in the zone means:
• The ownership and occupation of a residential property in the School’s designated neighbourhood zone OR
  A long term lease in the school’s designated neighbourhood zone. Evidence of a renewed lease within the school zone will be required whenever a lease expires. Property and lease name must be under the parents’ name. A lease completed through a Real Estate Agent is required. A private rental agreement ie: between landlord and tenants, is not acceptable.
• Staying with a relative or friend does not qualify as “residents”. Also, guardianship is not a criterion for enrolment unless supported by relevant legal documentation.
• The expectation of this eligibility requirement is that the family will remain permanent residents within the zone for the duration of their child’s education at The University High School. Those families that move out of our zone will be expected to relocate their children to their neighbourhood school. For accurate school records, parents are required to update residency details each year. It is the family’s responsibility to immediately notify the School of any change of address and contact details during an enrolment period and/or when any details change after the student has commenced at the School.

2. Siblings

   • Siblings of currently enrolled students, who will continue as students in 2014, will be offered places based upon available spaces and in order of the proximity of their permanent residence to the School.

3. Curriculum

   • Students who seek enrolment on specific curriculum grounds

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SELECTION CRITERIA FOR APPLICATIONS ON SPECIFIC CURRICULUM GROUNDS

Music

• The University High School has an extensive music program involving individual tuition in a range of music instruments, as well as an extensive orchestral and ensemble performance program.
• Consideration will be given to evidence of the instrument/s played, the level of proficiency, prior learning and ongoing commitment to the study of the instrument/s.
• This will be balanced by consideration of the School’s ability to provide appropriate tuition in a range of instruments at various levels.

Other

• Other claims relating to specialist curriculum at the school will be considered. However, the number of student accepted is normally very small depending on the School’s capacity to meet these needs. These applications will be assessed by the Enrolment Committee.

ENROLMENT CONSTRAINTS

• High retention rates restrict enrolments at Years 8 to 12
• Sibling curriculum and music claims can only be given consideration after all local applications have been dealt with
• The school cannot guarantee enrolment of other siblings of currently enrolled out of zone students
• Applications for transfer from nearby schools on residential criteria may not be granted.
• The state government neighbourhood policy supports the belief that a student’s learning and social needs are best met by attendance at their local high school. There is, therefore, a strong expectation that families that move out of the local area will enrol their child in their new neighbourhood school.
• Enrolment applications for Year 7, 2014 received after the confirmation of year 7 places has been issued by the primary schools (August 2013) will only be considered for local residents. Applications for years 8 to 12 received after the closing date (October 2013) will automatically be placed on the waiting list and enrolment cannot be guaranteed. All other applications (sibling or curriculum) received after the application closing date will be rejected.
• When the School enrolment has reached the ceiling approved by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, families who move into the neighbourhood of the School after that time, will be placed on a waiting list, and referred for enrolment to other schools in the Carlton , Flemington, Brunswick or Collingwood area.
• The University High School curriculum policy is to support equally both LOTE subjects offered at Year 7. Consequently preferred choices may not be available and a student may have to study a non preferred LOTE subject . Requests for specific LOTE subjects in Year 8, 9 and 10 are subject to availability of places in those classes.

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YEAR 7 MAINSTREAM ENROLMENT

For students in Year 6 in a Government Primary School

Key Dates:

• 17 April 2013 - Primary schools distribute Application letters to parents.
• 31 May 2013 - Last date for parents to return Application for Enrolment Year 7 2014 to their Primary School.
• 9 - 23 August 2013 - Parents notified of results of placement applications.
• 30 August 2013 - Closing date for parents to lodge placement appeals with secondary schools/ Regional Director.
• 10 December 2013 - Orientation Day for Year 7 2014.

 Parents are required to complete the Application for Enrolment, Year 7, 2014 and return it to the Principal of the Government Primary School by 31 May, 2013. This form serves to ‘track’ the progress of a student’s application in accordance with the expression of preference (priority) listed on the form.

Parents who place The University High School as their first preference must also complete The University High School Application Form. Either phone 9347 2022 or visit the General Office to collect the form.

The University High School Application Form must be returned directly to The University High School by Friday June 21 2013. Only ONE copy of the Application form needs to be submitted for each student.

Applications will be processed using the Application for Enrolment and The University High School Application Form. Primary schools are responsible for monitoring the placement of each of their students into a secondary school. The Principals of Government Secondary Schools will inform parents directly of the outcome in August, 2013. The University High School is not permitted to discuss outcomes with anyone before this date in accordance with Department policy.

For students in a Catholic Primary School and other Independent Primary Schools

Parents can apply for a place for their child at The University High School by completing The University High School Application Form and returning it to The University High School by Friday June 21, 2013.

The University High School Application Form will be available directly from The University High School.
Either phone 9347 2022 or visit the General Office to collect the form.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR YEAR 7 MAINSTREAM APPLICATIONS

• Students for whom this is the nearest Government School to the true and permanent place of residence of the students custodial parent or legal guardian. Documentary proof is required. Further details of the residential criteria are included in The University High School Application form.
• Siblings of current students who will continue as students at the University High School in 2013. Places will be offered based on availability and proximity of permanent residence to the school and other personal and curriculum needs.
• Students seeking enrolment on specific curriculum grounds (e.g prior learning of an orchestral instrument, and/or a foreign language offered at The University High School).

The Enrolment Committee may wish to interview applicants, seek reference statements from the current school and/or read the reports from the school currently attending.

Availability of the full Enrolment Policies and Procedures

The information above is a simplified extract of the schools Enrolment Policy and Procedures. The full policy statement can be obtained on The University High School website www.unihigh.vic.edu.au

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR THE ACCELERATION PROGRAM IN 2014

This is a special program for gifted and talented students. Admission to this program is at year 7 level only and the selection process involves a series of tests and an interview. Applications close on Friday 3rd May, 2013. Please go to the Gifted Students section of our webpage for timeline and general information.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS GOING INTO YEARS 8, 9, 10 AND VCE

Application forms for entry into Years 8, 9, 10 in 2013 will be available from mid-August. Please phone 9347 2022 to request that an application form be posted to you. The applicants will be notified within two weeks of the closing date for General Entry which will be late October. All unsuccessful applicants will be advised by letter as soon as possible after this time. Applications will be considered by The Enrolment Committee in the order set out below.

1. Students for whom this is the nearest Government School to the true and permanent place of address of the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian (for which documentary proof is required). Further details of the residential criteria are included in the application for enrolment form.
2. Siblings of currently enrolled students who will continue as students at The University High School in 2013. Places will be offered based on availability and proximity of permanent residence to the School and other personal and curriculum needs.
3. Students seeking enrolment on specific curriculum grounds (e.g. prior learning of an orchestral instrument; and/or a foreign language offered at The University High School).

The Enrolment Committee may wish to interview applicants, seek referee statements from the current school and/or read the reports from the school currently attending. The head of Music may arrange for Curriculum (music) applicants to be auditioned.

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VCE – YEARS 11 AND 12

Applications for places in VCE will be considered by the VCE Enrolment Committee which is chaired by the Head of VCE. The Committee assesses applications on evidence provided of the applicant’s relative capacity to complete successfully the VCE course, the relative merit of each applicant, and the availability of places in the various subjects. Living in the zone or completing a successful enrolment application does not guarantee VCE subject choices. Many VCE subjects are filled by students currently enrolled at the school and therefore are not available to new enrolments. This possible limitation of subjects being available for selection must be taken into account when considering enrolment and it is recommended that other educational alternatives be taken into consideration.

MUSIC PLACEMENT

This school is recognised as a specialist Music School, and may be able to offer a small number of curriculum (music) places to students in Years 10, 11 and 12. Such applicants need to include detailed evidence of musical interest and ability. Auditions may occur. Students who accept Music Places also accept an obligation to participate in music activities and to study music (both theoretical and practical) to the Year 12 level.

INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICANTS WHO ARE PERMANENT AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS

The eligibility of a student to enrol in a Victorian Government School is determined by the student’s age, course of study and residential status. Students who have Australian Permanent Residency or are deemed equivalent to Australian residents are eligible for enrolment in Victorian Government Schools.

INFORMATION FOR AUSTRALIAN TEMPORARY RESIDENCE APPLICANTS

Prospective applicants for a student place at The University High School who intend to enter or have entered Australia with a passport containing an Australian Visa which is a Temporary Resident Visa should contact the International Student Unit of the DEECD to obtain information about their eligibility to enrol in a Government School

International Student Unit

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria
GPO Box 4367
Melbourne, Victoria 3001
Australia
Telephone: + 613 9651 3700
Facsimile: + 613 9651 3981
Email: overseas.students@edumail.vic.gov.au

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL) STUDENTS

Students who are recent migrants to Australia should have their language skills assessed at an English Language Centre before enrolment procedures begin. The language centre will accurately assess when the student is able to attend a mainstream school.

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