The Heights School School context

General information School enrolment 1250 students Child parent centre through to year 12 Index of disadvantage is 6 Approximately 30 aboriginal students Mainly monocultural student population

School organisation Three sub schools Deputy and assistant principal in each sub school. Curriculum coordinators responsible for each learning area (middle and senior school) Primary coordinator and cluster leaders in junior school

Curriculum Eight learning areas Mathematics, Science, English, Indonesian, Health and Physical Education, Technology Arts, Society and environment

Special programs Ignite program for gifted students Specialist cricket program Automotive pathway Astronomy

The Ignite program Offered by The Heights, Glenunga IHS and Aberfoyle Park HS Commenced at The Heights in 1997 Programme begins at year 8 level Selective entry based on ACER test and interview

ACER selection test Reading comprehension Creative writing Mathematical reasoning Abstract reasoning

Other identification methods Psychological testing Teacher nomination Parent nomination Peer and self nomination

Ignite classes 807 Ignite accelerated-complete years 8,9 and 10 in two years 806 Ignite extended-complete years 8,9 and 10 in three years but complete year 11 units in second year of program 805 Ignite HIP class-complete years 8,9 and 10 in three years but focus on enrichment and extension.

Other points of interest Classes stay together for as many subjects as possible Individual subject acceleration occurs where necessary and possible Very young students Gender concerns Underachievers

Training and development for staff Tier 1 training for all new staff and staff from local schools Provision of T and D to other schools both metro and country Ignite conference GTCASA conference National and world conference