Senior School

Age Appropriate Learning

Beaconhills embraces a four sub-school structure that recognises and endorses the understanding that students in the senior years of their schooling are a distinct group. Students from Year 10 to Year 12 have very specific and legitimate needs which should be addressed if they, as young people, are to function effectively, successfully and positively.

Our Senior School staff are highly qualified with many involved in the development of the curriculum and assessment of examinations at a State level.

In the senior years at Beaconhills, we aim to give the students the opportunity to follow a diverse range of pathways which suit their varied aptitudes, interests and characters. Our teaching and learning programmes are based on the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Vocational Education Training (VET), with selected students undertaking University Enhancement studies at Year 12. Our students undertake between 23 to 26 VCE units by the end of Year 12 and have a wide range of 42 subjects from which to choose.

Personal Best

Beaconhills achieves excellent results; students have achieved Premier’s Awards in English, Economics, Dance, Information Processing and Management, Chemistry, Agriculture and Horticulture, Systems Technology, Media, Art and Graphic Communication. Each year the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority have invited students to participate in Top Acts, Top Arts and Top Design exhibitions. We have Dean and Vice Chancellor’s Scholars amongst our Alumni as well as a Rhodes Scholar.

Our high achievers are encouraged and supported through invitations to join the Lux Luceat Society which has a special scholars’ dinner each term.

There is a strong emphasis on providing leadership training and opportunities. Students are sent to numerous seminars and conferences. Our Student Council actively encourages democratic decision making. House and College leaders participate in our annual Leadership Programme.

The Senior Assembly programme, House Church Services, Debating and Public Speaking Competitions give students an array of public speaking opportunities.

Beaconhills is involved in the Gippsland Independent School Sporting Association (GIS) and Southern Independent School Sporting Association (SIS), fielding competitive senior teams in a range of summer and winter sports that cater for a range of student talent.

Community

There is a strong emphasis on career guidance, which begins with regular careers lessons at Year 9 and continues through individual counselling with our Careers Counsellor, Head of Senior School, Head of Senior Learning, Head of Senior Students and Heads of House.

The care and nurturing of each Senior School student is underpinned by a very strong and authentic House system. A culture such as this enables us to promote each student’s sense of identity, belonging and self-esteem. Led by the staff tutor, vertically integrated groups are composed of students from a range of year levels. In addition to these daily morning meetings, there are weekly House meetings and Headmaster’s Assemblies.

The College runs a variety of international tours to Japan and France for language development and cultural tours to Europe, The Americas and South East Asia.