Is Templestowe College a good school?
What makes the school so good?
5 Answers
I have had 5 of my children go through TC. At first they were experimenting with giving kids a chance to work in different classes based on their learning style. In the last couple years the school has instituted an Independent Learning Plan where each child, with guidance, chooses their own classes based on what they want to do with their lives. This has worked really well for my kids. They are happy at school, they are engaged in their learning and are motivated. Choice is important.
Just to be clear, whilst we have a Montessori Adolescent stream of approximately 50 students, this is just one of the styles of education that we offer at TC.
Jane i am really sorry and shocked to hear about your experience and surprised that the issue did not reach me as the Principal. I am just pleased to hear that your daughter is now doing well.
I personally think TC is quite good at accepting differences in each individual, but theres always going to be the trouble makers. My suggestion is to consider if your son prefers structure, as TC is not very structured compared to other schools. However, typically, children with Aspergers have strong strengths in some areas and great weaknesses in others and I think this is perhaps where TC is good for those on the spectrum. By not having set year levels, your child can select the appropriate level for them for each subject area. However, not many kids like to put themselves into a ie maths class full of kids 1 or 2 yrs younger than themselves and would find it difficult and potentially humiliating. The other thing to consider is the lack of regular homework; this is good if u are struggling w your son to get him to focus after a full day at school and is probably close to meltdown point. But, it also can mean that not a lot gets done because they dont have to study. Its a very crowded school now, so may be worth visiting with your son to see how he thinks the busy environment would suit him.
So according to the school site (it sounds amazing by the way) Templestowe College is very different to other schools:
1. Students get to choose one third of what they study, choosing 2 electives each semester from over 20 electives - comprising 7.5 hours of study each week that the student gets to choose.
2. Students may take more or less than 6 years to complete their education. The school says that there will be the opportunity for the adventurous few to complete secondary education in five, four, even three years!
3. Students complete home learning NOT home work. Students get to negotiate with their parents what is learnt. Students taking VCE subjects are required to complete homework so as not to negatively impact on the rest of the class.
4. Students receive feedback every three weeks from their teachers in the form of a Grade Point Average.
5. Students directly help design the curriculum through a student curriculum committee.
It isn't very good academic-wise.
http://bettereducation.com.au/Results/vce.aspx
Its a montessori school which gives kids a freedom many might find strange but many swear by.
The fees are the same as most other government schools .This school has made amazing changes and is great for some .My daughter personally wasn't believed that she as we proved had a medical illness therefore missed quite a deal of school and they were under the impression she was a school refuser .Totally not the case as the more school through illness she missed and the lack of work sent home or support she received on times she could attend school meant that she just felt the school after a few unpleasant comments by one particular person didn't care about her so she just gave up. Not everyone fits into the self directed model and she likes myself prefers structure so we pulled her out as we did give a general medical report to this school but when she attended from yr 8&9 and hardly any of yr ten and when she didn't attend for weeks at a time and not a phone call to see her progress unless we mostly initiated it. I found my daughter was left to slip through this schools cracks by this attitude of education as others have stated similar .My daughter is currently completing yr 12 vce elsewhere at another school ,receiving amazing results and the present school she attends regularly without missing a day off unless extremely unwell as the medical condition was treated and is now non existent .Our daughter has been told after an excellent report elsewhere that the teachers expects her to achieve excellent vce results and in yr 11 achieved academic awards for most subjects .So even though I believe this school has a great policy and type of education for some our child whom was well behavoured whilst at Templestowe didn't suit this type of schooling so people need to access what type of child they have prior to considering this school as the quite ,well behavoured ,child of mine that wanted an education but lacked some confidence or rather was shy didn't thrive at this school but not saying they didn't at first try but their methods I thought weren't the right way to help my child .
After experiencing East Doncaster and Doncaster Secondary colleges a small group of students transferred to Templestowe Secondary College...This group could not be happier...Due to the extra study groups on a Wednesday and Friday with ready availability of teachers as guides and tutors this group has excelled...they have all successfully completed year 12 and entered noted university ...3 of them are about to complete their first year of uni and are only 17... Never seen a happier and well structured group...TEMPLESTOWE COLLEGE. ..great work...Vic Gov are considering a numbers cap as this school will be in demand. .
Very, very disappointing. If your kid is brilliant and independent - maybe. But the school is RIGID about their approach and idealises the capacities of adolescents to an extreme degree.. They are unable to adapt in any way to a student who does not fit their idealised mold. Yes it is OK for a school to have a philosophy - but this is a public school not a private one, so they must also be able to cater to a wide range of abilities, maturity levels and special needs. They absolutely cannot do this. Kids who are not mature, independent learners simply fall through the cracks.
Very, very disappointing. If your kid is brilliant and independent - maybe. But the school is RIGID about their approach and idealises the capacities of adolescents to an extreme degree.. They are unable to adapt in any way to a student who does not fit their idealised mold. Yes it is OK for a school to have a philosophy - but this is a public school not a private one, so they must also be able to cater to a wide range of abilities, maturity levels and special needs. They absolutely cannot do this. Kids who are not mature, independent learners simply fall through the cracks.
There are plenty of school for all sorts of children, this one suits some and not others just as others suit some and not others. Absolutely nothing to do with being public or private. When you join TC its clearly spelt out that this is the way the school operates, its your choice at the end of the day.
Respectfulliy - not so. A public school must be able to cater to a range of temperaments and abilities as many people who live in the zone do NOT have any choice but to send their child to that school, if they cannot afford private school fees (or cannot secure one of the highly sought after private school places). A public school has no business having such a specialised model, if it is "zoned" school as TC is. Besides, part of the problem we had was the ideological rigidity of the school and its staff, not just their ethos per se. It appears many of the staff who were a bit more conventional and flexible have done a runner and gone elsewhere.
Sorry, my comment was supposed to say, we are not zoned to TC and chose to attend because of the amazing curriculum and inclusive environment. Everyone has different experiences, Im sorry yours hasnt worked out, and I also hope youve found a school that supports your child and educational expectations.
Peter would you give my son a chance at your school? He has Aspergers, a brilliant mind, a well natured & respectful teen. He is amazing at science and loves mature and animals. He is socially awkward and different, for this he has faced relentless bullying by his peers.