International students

The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code 2007 are part of the ESOS framework governing the responsibilities of education providers in Australia towards overseas students.  Further information and a description of this framework is available at:

http://aei.gov.au/AEI/ESOS/QuickInfo/ESOS_Framework_pdf.pdf 

Principal: Mr M G Clapper, B.A.(Hons-Oxon), M.A.(Oxon), Dip.Ed. (Monash)

Gippsland Grammar was founded in 1924 as the St Anne’s Church of England Girls’ Grammar School.   Gippsland Grammar School for Boys commenced in 1961.   The two schools amalgamated as St Anne’s and Gippsland Grammar School in 1971 and became known as Gippsland Grammar in 1997.   The School currently has an enrolment of 1110 and now provides quality private education for girls and boys from Kindergarten level to Year 12.

School Philosophy

Gippsland Grammar aims to nurture and develop the intellectual, social, spiritual and creative talents of each of its students within an environment committed to Christian principles and practice.  As each student makes a gradual transition from child to young adult they will forge lifelong friendships in a school environment that nurtures academic excellence and effort, acknowledges the individual while stressing the need for teamwork and encourages self-discipline and the motivation to succeed.   The School welcomes international students to join the School community

Location

Gippsland Grammar is in Sale, a small city (population 14,000) in the Gippsland region of the State of Victoria.

Sale is situated 215 kilometres to the east of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria.  A major highway and frequent train service connect Sale to Melbourne.

Sale is surrounded by farming land and national parks, and is close to the mountains, the sea and the Gippsland Lakes.

School Details

There are currently 1110 students, 330 in Years Prep-6 and 660 in Years 7-12.   120 students attend our Early Learning Centre for three and four year olds.  Gippsland Grammar is a well-established, highly respected school in a clean rural environment. 

The School is affiliated with the Anglican Church, but accepts students of all denominations.

School Facilities & Equipment

The school has three campuses, all situated in large grounds with sporting fields.

Each campus has very well equipped classrooms, computer laboratories, and excellent general facilities and grounds.

The Garnsey Campus (Years 7-12) features modern classrooms, with an information technology network which provides multi-media services as required.   There are specialist rooms for science, information technology classes, art, visual communication and design, media, food technology, drama and music.

The Information Services Centre is a state of the art and flexible learning facility designed to cater for rapidly advancing electronic communication and learning.

Large grounds include a gymnasium, tennis courts, an athletics track and sporting arenas.

Students have the benefit of a canteen, stationery store and a clothing shop.

Blackwood House, the School boarding house, is currently situated adjacent to our Senior campus in Sale.

Curriculum

Gippsland Grammar offers a broad and dynamic curriculum designed to meet individual needs and to respond to the ever-changing demands of contemporary society.

We seek to foster in all of our students a genuine desire to learn about their world, and a commitment to personal achievement and excellence.

In meeting this objective, our focus is as much on how young people learn as on what they learn. The teaching of skills in information literacy, information technology, problem-solving and verbal communication, together with Christian values, is embedded in every class and every subject in our curriculum.

Since the inception of VCE, we have had a 100% pass rate, and over 90% placement in tertiary courses

Our curriculum for Years 7-10 is based on the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS).

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) curriculum for Years 11 and 12 is as specified by the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA).

Year 10 students have the opportunity to study some VCE units.

Year 12 students can add to their tertiary entrance scores by undertaking university work while at the School; these programs give Gippsland Grammar students an advantage in the competition for university places.

Year 11 and 12 electives include: Arts - Art, Studio Arts, Media, Drama, Theatre Studies, Visual Communication and Design, Music Performance Solo, Music Performance Group, Music Styles, VET Music Technical Production Cert. II, VET Multimedia Cert. II, VET Hospitality (Operations) Cert II  Humanities – Accounting, Business Management, English, English Language, Economics, French, Geography, Health and Human Development, History, Japanese, Legal Studies, Literature, Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Physical Education Mathematics – General Mathematics A, Further Mathematics, Mathematical Methods CAS, General Mathematics B, Specialist Mathematics Sciences – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology Information Technology – IT in Action, IT Applications, Software Development, VET: Information Technology Certificate III.

English Language Tuition

Prior to (if possible) and following arrival, students will have their English language capability assessed.  The School has English as a Second Language program (ESL) and will prepare an appropriate Foundation program including English language tailored to the needs of each international student.   If it is found that further English language assistance is needed, the School will provide this service outside the timetable and the cost will be charged to the student’s school account.

If the student’s English level is below IELTS 4.5 for Years 7-10, or IELTS 5.5 for Year 11, or the TOEFL equivalent, an intensive ESL program will be required.

Academic Results

The School has a strong tradition of academic excellence.  For more than ten years all Year 12 students have passed the Victorian Certificate of Education.

In 2008 of all Year 12 students, 27% were placed in the top 10% of the State and 48% of our students were placed in the top 20% of the State.

International Connections

The School warmly welcomes international students.  It has a sister school in Japan.  Students have come to the School from many overseas countries including Belgium, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Africa and the United States of America.

Pastoral Care for International Students

Gippsland Grammar was the first coeducational Anglican school established in Victoria. The school is committed to the Anglican ethos and to ensuring that religious and values education informs all aspects of school life.

Students at each year level to Year 10 receive Christian religious instruction. All students also regularly attend Chapel and Assembly in a spirit of reflection, celebration and community.

Pastoral care is also fundamental to student welfare. As part of our integrated Pastoral Care program, Senior School students belong to Home Groups that meet daily, each guided by its own dedicated Group teacher. The Home Group fosters individual wellbeing and builds self-esteem, by giving students a true sense of place within their school.

Gippsland Grammar supports internationalisation of its school community and curricula.

The School has a nominated International Student Co-ordinator responsible for all aspects of pastoral care.

A “buddy” system for all new students ensures they have someone to be a friend during the settling-in-period.

Strong support structure, including full time Careers Counsellor, Chaplain and Mentors.

Student Grievance Procedure

All students have the right to have their grievances taken seriously, whatever the cause of the grievance.

All students are bound by the "Rights and Responsibilities of the students at Gippsland Grammar", School rules and the policies which detail the school's response to allegations of sexual harassment and the response to allegations of bullying and harassment.   In each case the documents outline clear procedures for the resolution of such grievances.   (Refer to pages 33 to 37 in the Gippsland Grammar school diary.)

All grievances of overseas students will be treated with respect and in confidence.   They will be responded to in the following way:

Any grievance can be reported to the Overseas Student
Co-ordinator, Head of Year, or any member of staff or a senior student that the student feels comfortable with.

The student may report the incident but request that nothing further be done but seek advice about how to deal with the situation.   The staff member concerned will monitor the situation carefully.

The student may report a grievance and request action.   The School will then act appropriately.

If the situation is not resolved satisfactorily then the student may request that the Principal, Head of Senior School or Head of Year take an interest in the grievance.

The Principal or Head of Senior School has the responsibility of responding to the grievance, if required, by referring it to a small panel that will contain a member from outside the school staff and students.  

The panel has the ultimate responsibility of recommending to the Principal or Head of Senior School what action could be taken to resolve the grievance.

Note:  Gippsland Grammar is a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (AISV); hence any full fee paying student may take their grievance to this peak body that has a complaints process agreed to by the State.

Counselling and Support Staff

The School provides a variety of personnel for different counselling.

The School has:

-           An Overseas Student Co-ordinator who is responsible for all aspects of pastoral care for international students.

-           An International Student Committee made up of senior staff who oversees all services and activities arranged for international students.

-           A Careers Counsellor to assist all students in all matters associated with tertiary studies.   The Careers Counsellor can also assist with study skill development.

-           A full time Chaplain to assist all students in personal and private matters

-           An education support structure comprising a Homeroom teacher and Year Level Co-ordinator whose role, in part, is to assist students in the development of study skills, and who are responsible for the general welfare of students

-           Access to a registered school psychologist if required.

-           A Head of Boarding who will assist in the general welfare of the student if residing in the Boarding House.

-           An ESL teacher who can provide individual assistance with academic work should this be required.

An orientation program that comprises:

·           information regarding location, climate, accommodation, and travel, etc.

·           information and guidance from the Director of Curriculum about educational programs and expectations of the School

·           a “buddy” system which places a new student in the care of a fellow student for a period dependent on the needs of the new student.

Tuition fees                                           Years              Years                   Years

                                                              7 - 8             9 – 10              11 – 12

Overseas Student Health Cover
Premium (OSHC)(per year)                    $388.80........... $388.80................$388.80

Uniform – girls (one Year Only)              $950................ $950.................... $950

Uniform – boys (one Year Only)             $950....... ........ $950.................... $950

Purchase text books (VCE subjects)           .......................................................$600

Stationery                                              $100....... ..........$100......................$100

Tuition                                              $18,000.............$18,500.............$19,200

2010 Term Dates

Term 1:   Monday 1 February– Friday 26 March
Term 2:   Monday 12 April– Friday 18 June
Term 3:   Monday 12 July – Friday 17 September
Term 4: Monday 4 October – Thursday 9 December

Although preferable to commence at the School at the start of term, applications will be considered at any time of  the year.

Student Accommodation

Blackwood House

The school has on campus boarding facilities for boys and girls, in a family style environment.

Blackwood House, the School’s boarding house, has overseas students in residence. The Boarding House is fully supervised at all times and curriculum support is offered to resident students. Weekend activities and tours are undertaken. During holidays and exit weekends, homestay can be arranged. The Boarding House has a very supportive and positive environment. Students who have experienced both Boarding House and homestay prefer the support offered by students and staff at Blackwood House. The Overseas Student Co-ordinator is able to arrange limited homestay accommodation with members of the School community in special cases, however, we would prefer them to experience the language and conversational benefits offered in the boarding House by students of their own age.

Boarding Fee (39 weeks per annum)                                     $14,260 (which includes GST of $460)

Download overseas student application form here