Enrolment Management Policy

(Introduced 2007)

School Purpose

At Thornbury High School, our purpose is to prepare students for a changing, diverse and sustainable world by;

• Developing a caring and cooperative learning community
• Building knowledge and skills (including higher order thinking),
• Encouraging effort and excellence,
• Fostering resilience and integrity

Background

Thornbury High School recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to an appropriate education for students resident within its community as defined by its local catchment area. The loca catchment area is based on equidistance boundaries with other schools.

Enrolment of students from outside the local catchment area will be managed to ensure that the total current and forecast enrolments do not exceed the school's current built capacity and where applicable will ensure there is an even spread of students across year levels or class groupings. The school is currently exploring a maximum enrolment capped at 150 students from 2010.

All new students (and their parents) are expected to follow all school policies especially those regarding discipline, uniform, promotion and anti-harassment policies (see web site).

Years 8-12

Students enrolling at these year levels must complete an enrolment expression of interest form (see web site) and provide a current school report then attend an interview after which the Principal will make a decision about enrolment. At certain year levels there are waiting lists to enrol. Applications for admission into Years 8 to 12 will be accepted each year from the beginning of Term 2 for enrolment to commence from the beginning of Term 1 the following year. Applications will remain current only for the year of submission.

Some students will be provisionally enrolled on a contract which will be reviewed after one term. This allows new students with unsatisfactory references to demonstrate that they accept and follow the rules and values of the school. For enrolments at year 8-12 contact the appropriate sub school coordinator.

Year 7

At year 7 parents normally complete a preference expression of interest through their current primary school. Parents will be notified by mid August if their child application for enrolment has been successful. Sometimes year 7 places become available after this date due to change of circumstances.

There is also an information evening towards the end of term 1. The school encourages parents especially at year 7 to tour the school during the day and to pick up an information package. For year 7 enrolments contact the Principal. If a year 7 student is enrolling from another secondary school they must follow the procedures outlined for years 8-12.

Admissions Criteria

Students will be enrolled based on the following criteria and order of priority:

• Students who reside within our enrolment boundary (Residence within the defined local catchment area)
• Students accepted into the school's High Achiever program or SEAL program.
• Siblings of students already enrolled and living outside the catchment enrolment boundary.

Where there is spare capacity, preference, on a waiting list, will be given to students who reside outside the school's enrolment boundary and have a satisfactory report.

Proof of Residency

Parents who wish to enrol their child/ren at Thornbury High School under the Enrolment Management Plan may need to demonstrate that the child/ren to be enrolled, reside within the catchment area.

Review

All enrolment applications will be considered on merit in accordance with the admissions criteria. Parents wishing to have an unsuccessful enrolment application reviewed may seek clarification from the principal. Parents may provide a written submission seeking a review of an unsuccessful enrolment application. This submission should present evidence to substantiate a claim that the stated criteria have not been applied fairly and equitably. Further appeals should be directed to regional director whose decision will be final.