One College
Two Campuses

Our Pakenham and Berwick campuses offer high quality education to students from Early Years to Year 12. Pakenham is also home to our International programs including a specialised English Language Program and residential facilities.

Beaconhills College offers an holistic education that inspires excellence and nurtures confident, independent learners. Our mission is to ensure our students have values that empower them to be responsible, caring citizens in their local and global communities. Our vision is to be an innovative learning community that is focused on Learning That Matters.

The Learning That Matters at Beaconhills centres around our three core values of Integrity, Compassion and Respect. In turn these values underpin our six Key Pillars below.

Learning

We are regarded as an academic school in our region with most of our families aspiring for their children to graduate and move on to higher learning. Our students consistently achieve VCE Season of Excellence awards in subject areas such as Technology, Media and Performing Arts.

Environment

Most schools now have some environmental focus, but we have taken a strategic approach and embed this into all of our decision making. We are proud of our:

sustainable building program
extensive solar power systems
food gardens and worm farms
three-bin recycling programs across the College
sustainability curriculum at all levels, such as our fee-inclusive Outdoor Education program

Our World and other Cultures

The size and scope of our Global Beacons program is unique to schools in our region. We offer:

An exciting Year 9 experiential program where students travel and volunteer in orphanages and schools in East Timor or Vietnam. Learn more about Beacon Explorers
Language programs in French, Japanese and Mandarin
International language and culture tours for students to France, Japan, China, Bangladesh and the USA
Long-term full fee paying international students
International study tour program for incoming students (with many Beaconhills families providing Homestay accommodation)
Exchange students program in Senior School

Citizenship and Service

Through Learning that Matters, the College is committed to the holistic education of each student. There are many ways that our students can ‘give back’ and be actively involved in the broader community. A meaningful and purpose-driven College Citizenship and Service program invites and encourages participation through:

the ‘three Ts’ of service at Beaconhills College – time, talent and treasure.
three levels of service at Beaconhills College – local, national and international.
offering choices in programs and organisations, to help foster genuine compassion and make a real difference in helping create a better world for all.
understanding the importance of respect for all and advocating for social justice in our world.

BeaconNet (login required)

Wellbeing

The wellbeing of our students matters. We are committed to integrating wellbeing learning throughout the curriculum and daily College life, within a Child Safe environment. Our House system is a secure point of connection for students, with staff trained to engage, monitor and respond to individual students. The House Program gives students opportunities to participate, excel and develop all areas of personal wellbeing including physical health, mental health, resilience, personal safety and emotional intelligence. Counselling, learning support and chaplaincy structures support students throughout their time at the College.

Code of Conduct

Values and Character

We want our students to become positive and active world citizens, who care deeply for others and their environment. Our challenging and diverse curriculum leads to many and varied career pathways. Religious and Values Education (RAVE) is a compulsory program from early learning at Little Beacons and the College has six chaplains.

Students have many opportunities to extend their learning in Sport, the arts, international travel and service.

Enrolling your preschool child at Little Beacons gives them the strongest and most seamless start to their schooling. Little Beacons children are well prepared for Prep as confident and independent learners.

Little Beacons’ beautiful, purpose-built centre is a spacious and peaceful place of learning. The centre has excellent in its government assessment by earning the highest possible rating under the National Quality Standards – exceeding standards in all seven areas.

Natural materials used throughout the centre
Freshest produce and nutritious meals by our in-house food services team
A collaborative, community approach to each child’s care and education
Sharing Journals with educator’s observations, notes, photos, artwork and stories to communicate between the Centre and home
Highly qualified staff with lower than standard group sizes
Specialist support from individual learning teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapist, behavioural optometrist and pediatricians
In-house café called ‘the nest’ where children learn good social and eating habits
Before/after school and vacation care

Junior School lays the firm foundations in English, Maths and fundamental skills, along with developing a positive attitude and healthy social skills.

Science, Humanities, Health, Computer Studies and Technology subjects are integrated into topic-based study units. Special subjects include Physical Education (Human Movement), French, Japanese, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Library and Religion and Values Education.

Three Physical Education classes each week led by specialist teachers, with an extra 90 minutes of class sport each fortnight for Years 3 and 4
Inter-school sport competitions
Extensive Performing Arts program including choirs, instrumental program, dance groups, drama club, musical productions and interstate tours
Outdoor Education beginning with camp crafts and progressing to short camps includes swimming, raft building, orienteering and horse riding

The exciting and broad Middle School curriculum encourages students to develop autonomy, problem-solving skills and the ability to work co-operatively with others.

Middle School is an exciting and vibrant place with exhibitions and celebrations of learning a regular feature. Students take part in the Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research, a Variety Night, Performing Arts Festival and Middle School Expo – a creative showcase of student projects and performances.

Double lesson of Physical Education plus extra Health classes focusing on healthy life choices
Outdoor Education include week-long Canberra camp focusing on Australia’s history and democracy, base camp experiences including challenging and specialised Year 8 program with surfing, bushwalking and camping
Performing Arts including drama, dance and music, instrumental music program, theatre games and school production
Visual Arts
Product Design and Technology, Textiles and Food and Technology
Fundraising for community charities such as the local 4Cs Food Bank

Beaconhills was the first school in Victoria to launch an on-campus Year 9 program. The College has purpose-built Year 9 centres staffed by teachers with special skills in teaching Year 9s.

Key learning areas include English/Humanities, Maths/Science, Languages other than English and Personal Development. The week is broken into four academic days and one experiential day.

Focus on Experiential Learning
‘Personal Best’. Students spend a term creating a major project that is their personal passion – everything from restoring a boat to creating an intricate fashion garment
‘City Experience’ is a time to discover Melbourne’s history, geography and art. Regular city visits include spending time with charity groups such as Urban Seed and the Salvation Army
Year 9 students can tour Vietnam working in schools and an orphanage, help rebuild our sister school in East Timor or do a nine-day ‘Outward Bound’ trek in the Snowy River region with rafting, abseiling and climbing
‘Common Good’ is a chance for students to extend their awareness and become responsibly global citizens. They may raise funds for our sister school in East Timor and Bangladesh, support a charity of their choice, work in a soup kitchen or volunteer in a variety of ways
Students meet each morning in House groups with a staff tutor. Counsellors, chaplains and nurses form part of a strong student welfare support network

With 42 VCE units and a possible 400 course combinations, our Senior School offers Year 11 and 12 offers students an exciting and diverse range of subject choices

Year 10 students have a choice of elective subjects and VCE units. The Year 10 program ensures future pathways in Years 11 and 12 stay open until students have a clearer idea of their career aspirations

Beaconhills has an excellent history of high academic results, with students receiving Premier’s Awards in English, Chemistry, Economics, Accounting, Theatre Studies, Systems Engineering and Visual Communication Design. Many students have also earned VCE Season of Excellence awards in Top Arts, Top Class, Top Screen and Top Designs, placing them amongst the State’s best.

Career guidance starting in Year 9, with strong relationships established with Careers Counsellor
Skilled teachers, a number who develop curriculum and exam assessment at state level
High achievers can join the ‘Lux Luceat Society’, which holds regular dinners featuring guest speakers
Inter-House sporting carnivals with team sports such as softball, basketball, netball, volleyball and football. Inter-school competition in team sports plus swimming and athletics