About The School

The Principal

Thornbury High is about to change forever but the important question is will it change for the better.

The school has started a conversation with its community (and the Department) about the best school size and the need to plan for this in the near future. A figure in the 800's seems a reasonable size if the school is going to maintain its current results in terms of engagement, retention, attendance, parent and student opinion as well as year 12 results. This has implications about the number of year7 students that the school should accept in the future.

One of the major achievements in 2008 is the reaching of an agreement with the Education Department to provide funds for new facilities in the light of the school's growth in numbers. The school portable classrooms are going with a new double permanent classroom already in its place. Fiona Richardson our local member of parliament has been very helpful in reaching this agreement.

The school for the first time in over 10 years is now operating in a surplus. This allows the school to take firm control over all future staffing and financial decisions. In terms of staffing for 2009, the school has advertised 8 positions and we have had close to 200 applications and have interviewed over one fifty candidates. As a result new teachers have been appointed in English, Mathematics, Music, Drama, Mandarin, Science and Physical Education. Many of these teachers are graduates (first year out teachers) and I am sure they will complement our current experienced and very capable teaching staff.

Because teachers make the biggest difference to student's learning there has been a strong focus on staff professional development especially this year. The school has conducted up to four early dismissals (of students) each term which allows staff significant period of time to work on improving their teaching content and methods. One particular focus has been on improving literacy across all subject areas using strategies developed by Professor John Munro.

Teacher pay and workload has been in the media this year. A new local agreement on staffing conditions has resulted in the Thornbury High teachers having the best conditions in the state. This agreement was reached as a result of the considerable contribution that all staff have made to the tremendous growth in the school's enrolments and reputation over the past five years.

The school once again has received awards in a range of areas, some include

Winner of the state under 100m sprint
Best youth program on channel 31
$200,000 grant to develop video packages on healthy food and eating
Acknowledgement for its work with student teachers and retention
Science, mathematics, reading and debating awards
Funding for a Trade Training centre in hospitality

One of the strong features of Thornbury High is the number of students involved in learning outside of school through

Camps at year 7, 9 & 11
Music camps
City school
Alpine school
Gallipoli
Many subject excursions

Sustainability remains a significant priority with the building of the new sustainable classrooms and music studio and the installation of solar panels in 2009. Peter Lee and Greg Parker continue to drive these initiatives.

Our VCE results continue to be excellent with a number of outstanding performances (above 40 study score) in a range of subjects. All Year 12 students successfully completed their program with an overall median study score of 29 which is above like schools.

While all these achievements are remarkable what is not remarkable is how they were achieved and that is through the development and maintenance of strong positive relationships between the teachers, students, parents and the local community.

I have now begun my second 5 year contract and while the school has seen significant improvements in almost all areas there are still lots of challenges ahead. There is considerable evidence that schools with a strong focus on developing literacy skills for all students in all subject areas are also the schools that have significant improvements in student outcomes. The school is setting an ambitious target of over 75% of students operating at or above the expected level in reading, writing and spelling by the year 2011.

Thornbury High is about to change forever and it will be a change that not only values our current strengths but continues our focus on student achievement and well being.

Peter Egeberg
Thornbury High School Principal