Joint letter from La Trobe and GOTAFE regarding new school

Dear Editor,

We write to express our support for the Greater Shepparton College proposal – a transformational project that will go a long way towards addressing the poor student outcomes that have been evident in the Shepparton region for some time, despite the best efforts of many excellent and dedicated teachers and school leaders in our state secondary schools. It is clear that a major shift is required to achieve better outcomes for young people in this region.

The one school approach will provide a better learning environment, significantly increase options and pathways for all students, and make it easier to cater for the needs of individual students. The new school will offer all VCE subjects, a VCAL program and a broad range of VET options, providing a significant increase in the number of subjects currently available at the existing four state secondary schools.

We note that designs for the new College campus were recently unveiled by Minister Merlino, and focus on positive attributes that can only be provided in a large school – greater subject choices, new learning and pathway opportunities and better student support – while maintaining the community atmosphere of a smaller school environment. Three ‘neighbourhood’ buildings, comprising three small houses with about 50 students in each year level, will each have their own library and dedicated wellbeing spaces. An Enterprise and Innovation Centre, a gymnasium and outdoor space for recreation, wellbeing and education have been incorporated into the plans which have been directly informed by feedback from students, teachers and the wider community.

The transformation will greatly help La Trobe University and GOTAFE to streamline the way we work with local schools, enabling more coherent and embedded process that better support students to move to further education, careers and employment. More importantly, this project will help to lift educational outcomes for local secondary school students, and build greater levels of aspiration towards further study. While post-secondary school study is not always the answer for every student, it is essential for the productivity, health and wellbeing of the Greater Shepparton community that every student with the ability and aspiration has the opportunity to move to further study.

We acknowledge the fact that some community concerns about the project have been expressed in recent months, especially in relation to aspects of the transition arrangements that will be in place for several years. Given the scale of this change, there are many details to be worked through, and we recognise the importance of addressing and allaying community concerns to the extent that is possible. We have every confidence that the Greater Shepparton College Executive Principal, Shepparton Education Plan Project Board and Department of Education regional leaders will continue their work to this end.

We strongly believe that making this change, while inevitably requiring a period of transition that may not always be easy, will be worth it in the end because it is the best solution for improving student outcomes in Shepparton. It will give young people across the region the opportunity to transition to further education and rewarding careers, which is an investment not only in their future but that of the whole community.

La Trobe University and GOTAFE are excited to partner with the Department of Education and Greater Shepparton College to do everything we collectively can to ensure all Greater Shepparton students reach their full potential.

Yours sincerely,

John Dewar,

Vice Chancellor,

La Trobe University

 

Travis Heeney,

CEO,

GOTAFE