Starting in term one 2020, there are many questions that remain unanswered which has created concerns for many.
In order to combat this issue, The News has created 'Ask Gen', a regular column written by Greater Shepparton College (interim name) executive principal Genevieve Simson.
Ms Simson will be answering your questions in the lead-up to the transition next year.
To submit a question, contact editor@sheppnews.com.au
Why disrupt pupils and staff from four schools while the construction of a new school goes ahead? Why not just move everyone from Shepp High as the time frame for construction will always be blown out from what is proposed. The Department of Education could move portables onto the other three sites if necessary for the construction period. They can always find them when disasters occur so that should not be a problem.
The development of Greater Shepparton College (interim name), specifically the necessary closure of Shepparton High School to allow construction of the new school, will cause some short-term pain. We’ve done a great deal of planning to minimise disruption throughout the building phase, while bringing forward the benefits for students of the one-school model.
We are staging the transition to the new school over the next two years, so we can begin developing the new school’s culture from day one of 2020. This will mean our teachers can begin to share best practice with their peers right from the start of Term one, to improve outcomes for all students in Greater Shepparton.
Having senior secondary students consolidated on two campuses in 2020 during the transition will give our senior secondary students access to more pathways and subject choices, and study options. Students won’t need to travel out of Shepparton, or attend virtual classes, to study subjects of their choice as currently happens.
Why not build a senior school and have three feeder schools leading up to specialised teaching in years 11 and 12?
Based on the outcome of two phases of public consultation in 2017, the single school model was identified as the best way forward for secondary education in Greater Shepparton. More than 1880 individual comments, received through an online survey, community workshops, and focus group discussions, were analysed as part of phase two of the consultation, which focused specifically on future options for secondary education in Greater Shepparton.
Retaining the four existing local secondary schools was an option discussed as part of the consultation, as was a feeder school model. However, there was overwhelming sense that we needed to do something different – and much more than simply improving each individual school’s infrastructure – to transform secondary education in Greater Shepparton.
What is going to happen to the existing school sites? Will they be sold? Will the special school move into one of the sites? It has currently outgrown its current site. Will one be made over and modified into housing for the homeless?
We’ve received a number of education-focused ideas through community consultation on how our existing school sites can be used to support future educational needs. We’re currently working through these ideas so that the future use of these sites best meet the needs of our community.
Are you aware that staff have to apply for their jobs and specify the areas they want to teach?
We have asked staff to nominate the campus they would prefer to work at during the transition period, and are currently working through our campus staffing arrangements. We want our staff to not only begin to share excellent practice with their peers but also to follow their current students if they are changing campus, so students have a recognisable, friendly face they are familiar with.
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