Department of Education - Victoria

Trafalgar High School is a 7 to 12 regional high school with a student enrolment of approximately 700 students.  Of these students many travel from outside of the immediate area to make Trafalgar High School the school of their choice.  It is situated in a pleasant environment between the Strzelecki Ranges and Mount Baw Baw. Located on a large, attractive site adjacent to Trafalgar Primary School, this unique rural setting nurtures a strong school identity based on wide community support, providing a stable, caring environment in which each individual attains a sense of identity and self-worth. Many students travel to the school by bus or train from well beyond the local area.

Our vision at Trafalgar High School is to provide a caring, supportive and challenging learning environment where all students have the opportunity to achieve and develop as lifelong learners who actively participate in their community.

Trafalgar High School is dedicated to providing a valuable education that aims for excellence through creating opportunity for every student in its community.  The program offered at the school is comprehensive including a strong academic curriculum that is well balanced across the Key Learning Domains and a variety and range of extra-curricular activities that enhance learning opportunities for all students.  The commitment to learning for all students is a core belief and value at Trafalgar High School 

 Our values provide the platform for all relationships and interactions within our community:

 Respect

 Effort

 Kindness

In addition, a Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program (SEALP), established in 1997, enables selected students to cover an enriched Years 7 to 10 curriculum, potentially in only three years. Many SEALP students choose to remain in this program into Year 10, however, undertaking some VCE units in the process. The school seeks to offer the broadest VCE curriculum possible each year. The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is available to Years 11 and 12 students more suited to `hands-on' work. Aiding is available to students assessed as having learning difficulties.

The school has successive high achievement in VCE results and excellent On Track data.  Striving to meet the needs of all students whereby they can experience success through their efforts is undertaken in a learning environment where high aspiration and effort is encouraged.

A balanced approach to the development of the whole child is also of paramount importance and fundamental in the education philosophy of the school.  An ongoing focus on pedagogical practices has involved the continuing development of the school's instructional model including in this, the tenets of positive education.  Approaches through positive education are explicitly taught focusing on using strengths to succeed and approaching all opportunities with a growth mindset. Students are supported throughout their Years 7 to 12 education in a safe and caring learning environment where the tenets of positive education, mindfulness and restorative practice form the basis of the engagement and wellbeing approaches.  A strong sense of community is also important at Trafalgar High School, with over 34 feeder primary schools links and partnerships with community and community organisations.  These are vital in building and strengthening a sense of connectedness and are evident through our partnerships with Trafalgar Youth Resource Centre, service clubs and organisations, business partners and the involvement and real input through student voice with student leaders.

Currently the school has 54 experienced teachers comprising of 5 principal class, 43 full time and 13 part time teachers with 38 education support staff and a school nurse.

Camps, outdoor education, excursions, LOTE study tours, work education and career advice, further enrich the curriculum across a range of year levels. Generally, our school leavers successfully enter adult life by joining the work force or pursuing further studies. VCE results have been consistently above the state average, as has success in a range of sports, national competitions, and musical endeavours. An active Student Representative Council encourages student support and ownership of the curriculum.

 

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the capacity to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated capacity to respond to student learning needs.

SC2    Demonstrated capacity to implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3    Demonstrated capacity to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated capacity to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement.    

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated capacity to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.