Herne Hill Primary School

## 1. Overview Herne Hill K-6 is a public primary school serving Prep to Year 6 students in the local Victorian community. The school typically operates as a medium-sized campus with a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that emphasises student well-being, community involvement, and a positive learning culture. Class sizes are generally in the 20s, with teachers aiming to provide supportive, differentiated instruction that helps every child progress. The school strives to balance academic development with social and emotional growth, fostering a nurturing environment where students feel safe to explore, collaborate and participate in school life. --- ## 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths often include solid foundations in literacy and numeracy, with opportunities to engage in STEM-inspired activities and cross-curricular projects. The school may also emphasise leadership, communication, and creative thinking as part of daily learning. - Special programs can vary by year and term. Some schools offer Gifted & Talented opportunities, extension activities, or acceleration within their own curriculum plans. - NAPLAN trends (where available) are typically discussed in terms of year-to-year progress and cohort performance, focusing on improvements in reading, writing, and numeracy rather than raw scores. - Student-teacher ratios at primary level are commonly around 1:20 to 1:24, with variations by grade level and class allocations. - Support for diverse learners (EAL and SEN) is usually provided through dedicated support staff, in-class differentiation, and targeted interventions to help students access the curriculum. --- ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered commonly include team sports such as athletics, cricket, football (soccer), netball, basketball, and swimming as appropriate to the season and facilities. - Many schools run inter-school or intra-school competitions, along with school-wide sports days and clubs. - Music, arts, and drama programs are typically part of the broader curriculum, with opportunities to participate in choirs, ensembles, and school productions. - Extracurricular clubs often include robotics, coding, chess, debating, and other interest-based activities that run before or after school. - Partnerships may exist with local community clubs, junior academies, or regional competitions to broaden opportunities for students. --- ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approaches are implemented through clear policies, proactive classroom practices, and student welfare programs. - A house system is commonly used to build belonging and healthy competition, promote teamwork, and support wellbeing events. - Schools typically provide access to counsellors or wellbeing officers who work with students, families, and staff on social-emotional learning and support plans. - Transition support helps new students settle in, including orientation activities, buddy systems, and communication with families during key change points. --- ## 5. Facilities - Sports grounds and playing surfaces suitable for PE and inter-school events. - Libraries with a diverse collection to support reading and research. - Science labs or designated science spaces for hands-on learning. - Music and performing arts spaces or studios to support concerts and productions. - Tech/innovation labs or ICT spaces for coding, robotics, and digital projects. - A canteen or on-site dining options, with a focus on healthy food choices. - Updated playgrounds and outdoor play areas to encourage active break times and exploration. --- ## 6. School Values & Community Culture - Core values often include respect, responsibility, resilience, teamwork, and integrity, guiding everyday behaviours and interactions. - Leadership style tends to be collaborative, with opportunities for student voice through student councils or leadership roles. - Behaviour expectations are clear and consistently applied, with a focus on positive reinforcement and restorative approaches. - The school’s community reputation typically reflects a welcoming, empathetic environment with active family involvement and community partnerships. - Diversity and inclusion are promoted to ensure that students from different backgrounds feel valued and supported. --- ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours commonly run from around 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays, with scheduled breaks and a lunch period. - Before/after school care programs (OSHC) or similar arrangements are often available to support working families. - Uniform requirements are usually in place, with guidance on acceptable attire and any seasonal adjustments. - Transport options include local bus services and easy access to public transport routes; drop-off and pick-up arrangements are typically in place for safety. - Canteen availability varies; many schools offer snacks or lunches through on-site canteens or vending during permitted times. - Fees: As a public primary school, tuition is not charged, but families may incur costs for materials, excursions, optional activities, and uniforms. --- ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions ### 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? The school typically handles enrolment via a formal application process. Families should contact the school to obtain the current enrolment form and gather the required documents. Prep (entry year) timelines usually involve submitting enrolment forms well in advance of the start of the school year, with orientation or information sessions offered prior to commencement. For other year levels, applications are often assessed based on space availability and capacity. ### 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? If the school reaches capacity, a waiting list may be established. Families on the waiting list are usually kept informed of their position and any changes; placement from the list depends on space, year level, and any priority placement criteria the school uses. It’s common for admission to be conditional on availability at the time of entry. ### 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? Prep entry may involve information sessions or readiness conversations, but formal entrance testing is not universally required for public primary schools. For other year levels, additional assessments or discussions may occur only if the school needs to determine appropriate placement or required supports. Always confirm specific requirements with the school. ### 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? Mid-year transfers are sometimes possible subject to space and the receiving year level’s capacity. Prospective families should contact the school as soon as possible to discuss availability, placement timelines, and any transition supports the school can provide. --- ## 9. Frequently Ask Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - Parents often cite a welcoming community, strong focus on student wellbeing, supportive teachers, and opportunities for involvement in sport, arts, and clubs. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who are curious, collaborative, resilient, and engaged in classroom learning and school life tend to do well, along with those who participate in a range of activities beyond the classroom. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - There are typically opportunities across academics, sports, music, drama, coding/robotics clubs, debating, and other enrichment programs, with pathways to develop leadership and teamwork. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Communication often includes regular newsletters, a school app or portal, email, parent-teacher interviews, and notice of upcoming events and outcomes. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - The approach tends to be student-centered, with differentiated instruction, evidence-based practices, integration of technology, and a focus on literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Support usually includes targeted small-group or one-on-one interventions, in-class differentiation, and access to learning support staff and resources. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Additional tutoring, learning plans, and collaboration with families to identify and address barriers to learning are common components. - How does the school communicate with parents? - See above: newsletters, portals/apps, emails, and parent-teacher meetings. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes typically range around 20–24 students, with teachers providing differentiated instruction and opportunities for small-group or one-on-one attention. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A broad range of sports, arts, music, coding/robotics clubs, chess/debating, and participation in inter-school activities and local competitions. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Facilities commonly include sports grounds, a library, science spaces, music/performing arts areas, tech/innovation spaces, a canteen, and updated playgrounds. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Integration of digital tools to support learning, with age-appropriate devices and online safety practices, alongside traditional teaching methods. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Access to local bus routes and public transport; designated drop-off/pick-up areas for safety; accommodations where possible for accessibility needs. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - As a public primary school, there is no tuition; families may incur costs related to materials, excursions, uniforms, and optional activities. --- ## 10. Short Pros & Cons list - Pros - Public, community-focused environment with emphasis on wellbeing and inclusion - Moderate class sizes enabling some individualized attention - Broad range of sports, arts, and clubs to engage diverse interests - Supportive staff and opportunities for family involvement - Facilities that support STEM, music, and performing arts - Cons - As a mid-sized public school, availability of highly specialized programs may vary by year or term - Some extracurricular activities may have eligibility or scheduling constraints due to capacity - Transport and uniform costs are ongoing parental considerations, as with most public primary schools