Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Twelve schools to specialise

The Minister for Education, Phil Gude, has announced that 12 of the State’s 51 self-governing schools are to specialise in areas including the arts, physical education, information technology and science from the start of next year.

Mr Gude said that the move was intended to expand the range of programs available in Government schools.

"All the schools chosen have demonstrated a high level of expertise in their specialist area, and they have also agreed to share their expertise with other schools," the Minister said.

The schools will be able to enter into partnerships with TAFE institutes, community organisations and local business and industry as a means of expanding their expertise.

Each of the schools will be required to accept all students from within their catchment area who wish to attend, and offer the curriculum contained in Victoria’s Curriculum and Standards Framework (CSF) and the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).

The Specialist Schools are:

Balwyn North Primary School                                          Primary Science

Bayswater South Primary School                                      LOTE

Bendigo Senior Secondary College                                   On Line College

Berwick Secondary College                                              Visual Arts

Box Hill Senior Secondary College                                    Sports

Corio South Primary School                                              Learning with Technology Across Curriculum

Karingal Park Secondary College                                      Athletics (track and field)

Ringwood Secondary College                                            Performing Arts

Traralgon Secondary College                                             Performing Arts

Warrnambool College/Port Fairy Consolidated School      The Arts

Wooranna Park Primary School                                         Autonomous Learning School

Yea High School                                                                Remote Access Technology, Enhanced Rural Learning and Health

A further 18 schools are expected to become specialist schools by this time next year.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Education, May 26, 1999)