1. Overview
Anne Hamersley Primary School is a public primary school serving the Ellenbrook community. As a public school, it operates under Western Australia’s Department of Education and focuses on delivering a comprehensive state curriculum in a supportive, inclusive environment.
The school is medium-sized, with class groups typically in the mid-20s. The atmosphere emphasises a nurturing, community-driven culture where students are encouraged to participate, cooperate, and strive for personal and academic growth.
2. Academics & Learning
- Academic strengths: Focus on core literacy and numeracy with opportunities to build skills in STEM areas, contemporary English, and leadership through student programs. A supportive approach to developing literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving is emphasised across year levels.
- Special programs: Access to opportunities for gifted and talented learning and accelerated activities where available, along with targeted supports to extend students who need additional challenge.
- NAPLAN trends: Over recent years, schools in the WA system have shown steady growth in reading and numeracy with ongoing focus on writing; you can expect improvements over time as programs and supports are refined.
- Student-teacher ratios: Class sizes are typically mid-range for public primary schools, with a focus on maintaining accessible student-teacher ratios to support learning and individual attention.
- Support for diverse learners: Strong commitment to EAL/D and SEN supports, including intervention and inclusion strategies to help varied learning needs participate in the curriculum.
3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths
- Sports offered: A range of team and individual sports typical for WA primary schools, such as soccer/football, basketball, netball, cricket, athletics, and cross-country activities; participation in inter-school events is common.
- Strong teams or achievements: Students participate in inter-school sports and regional events, with opportunities to contribute to school teams and showcase athletic talents.
- Music, arts, drama programs: Active music and performing arts programs, regular performances, and opportunities to engage in drama and creative arts.
- Clubs: Robotics, coding, chess, debating, and other STEM- or language-focused clubs are commonly available to extend learning beyond the classroom.
- Partnerships: Collaborations with local clubs, community groups, and regional competitions help broaden opportunities in sport, music, and STEM activities.
4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care
- Anti-bullying approach: Clear anti-bullying policies and positive behaviour frameworks to promote respectful interactions and safe school culture.
- House system: A house system is used to foster belonging, healthy competition, and peer support across year levels.
- Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to school wellbeing staff and counsellors to support mental health, social-emotional learning, and general wellbeing.
- Transition support for new students: Structured transition programs, buddy systems, and orientation activities to help new students settle in smoothly.
5. Facilities
- Sports grounds: Ample outdoor spaces and playgrounds to support physical activity and recess.
- Libraries: A school library/learning hub to support reading, research, and collaborative learning.
- Science labs: Dedicated spaces for hands-on science activities and experiments.
- Music/performing arts centers: Facilities that support music education and school performances.
- Tech/innovation labs: Materials and spaces for coding, robotics, and digital projects.
- Cafeteria: On-site canteen facilities to provide meals and snacks.
- Updated playgrounds: Modern, safe play equipment and shaded areas for outdoor learning and play.
6. School Values & Community Culture
- School values / mission: Emphasis on respect, responsibility, resilience, and teamwork; a learning community that supports growth and inclusion.
- Leadership style: Distributed leadership with opportunities for student voice and leadership roles, supported by staff.
- Behaviour expectations: Clear behavioural guidelines and consistent expectations across all year levels, with positive reinforcement and restorative practices.
- Community reputation: Known as a welcoming and engaged school community with active parent involvement and local collaboration.
- Diversity & inclusion: Commitment to an inclusive environment that welcomes diverse backgrounds and abilities.
7. School Logistics & Daily Operations
- School hours: Typical school day runs in the standard WA schedule (start and finish around conventional primary school times).
- Before/after school care: After-school care arrangements are commonly available through external providers or school-supported services.
- Uniform requirements: A school uniform is expected, with guidance on appropriate attire for daily wear and events.
- Transport (train/bus routes): Transport options include local bus routes and public transport connections; families should check current routes and school pick-up points.
- Canteen availability: Canteen services operate on designated days to provide meals and snacks.
- Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Public schools in WA generally operate with low to medium voluntary contributions for resources and activities; exact costs vary by year and program.
8. Enrolment & Admissions
11. What is the enrolment process and timeline?
- Enrolment is typically handled through the WA Department of Education, with catchment areas guiding eligibility. Parents should submit the application within the school's enrolment window and prepare required documentation (proof of residence, child’s birth certificate, immunisation status, etc.). Timelines vary by intake period and school capacity.
12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work?
- Waiting lists can occur if the school reaches capacity. Placement from the list is usually prioritised by catchment eligibility, date of application, and available places. Families may need to remain patient for mid-year or upcoming intake.
13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews?
- Generally, public primary schools do not require entry tests for standard enrolment. Some programs or specialist opportunities may involve additional steps (e.g., discussions about placement or program suitability), but routine enrolment relies on standard documentation and eligibility.
14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers?
- Mid-year transfers are possible if there is available space and capacity within the relevant year cohort. Prospective families should contact the school early to discuss placement and required documentation.
9. Frequently Ask Questions
- Why Parents Choose This School?
- A welcoming, inclusive community with a focus on core learning, student wellbeing, and opportunities across academics, sport, and the arts.
- What type of student thrives at this school?
- Students who engage with a balanced approach to learning, value teamwork, and participate in a range of activities from literacy to sport, music, and clubs.
- What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)?
- Access to enhanced literacy and numeracy supports, gifted and talented opportunities where offered, STEM/tech clubs, sports teams, music and drama programs, and arts activities.
- How does the school communicate with parents?
- Regular updates through newsletters, emails, parent meetings, and digital platforms; open channels for feedback and involvement.
- What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning?
- A standards-based, student-centred approach with differentiation, ongoing assessment, and emphasis on foundational skills alongside inquiry and collaboration.
- How does the school support students who need extra academic help?
- Targeted interventions in literacy and numeracy, EAL/D and SEN supports, and access to specialist staff and programs.
- What support is available for academic challenges?
- Differentiated instruction, intervention programs, and partnerships with families to tailor support plans.
- How does the school communicate with parents? (Repeated)
- See above: regular updates via multiple channels and avenues for involvement.
- What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive?
- Class sizes are typically mid-range for public primary schools, with a focus on maintaining opportunities for individual attention through teacher-led differentiation.
- What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available?
- A broad range of sports, arts, music, drama, and clubs such as robotics, coding, chess, and debating; participation in inter-school events and community partnerships.
- What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)?
- Sports grounds, library, science labs, music/performing arts spaces, tech/innovation labs, canteen, and updated playgrounds.
- What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning?
- Integration of digital tools and coding opportunities; emphasis on developing digital literacy as part of the modern learning mix.
- What transport and accessibility options are available?
- Access to local bus routes and public transport; consideration of accessibility needs in transport planning.
- What are the typical school fees or additional costs?
- As a public school, costs are generally low to medium in terms of voluntary contributions and essential resource charges; exact amounts vary by year and program.
10. Short Pros & Cons list
Pros
- Public school with an inclusive, supportive community and strong focus on core learning.
- Balanced emphasis on academics, wellbeing, and engaging extracurriculars (sports, arts, and clubs).
- Varied facilities to support science, technology, arts, and physical education.
- Clear anti-bullying policies, house system, and structured transition support for new students.
- Opportunities for student leadership and involvement in decision-making.
Cons
- As a medium-sized public school, some specialist programs or facilities may be more limited compared to larger or independent schools.
- Transportation options rely on local bus routes and public transport, which may require planning for families outside core catchments.
- Enrolment capacity can lead to waiting lists during peak intake periods; mid-year transfers depend on space.
