Enrolment Information

YEAR 7 – 2014

Thank you for taking the time to investigate Balwyn High School as a secondary school option for your son/daughter entering Year 7 in 2014.

Balwyn High School can offer your son/daughter a broad curriculum, a renowned music program, leadership opportunities and access to a wide range of co-curricular activities. Our school has excellent facilities including new home rooms for Year 7 classes, a 340 seat theatre, a modern science wing and canteen facilities, state of the art ICT network and computer facilities, a laptop program for Year 7 students, a Performing Arts precinct and an Open Learning facility.

Although Balwyn High School is a zoned school, every effort is made to accommodate all requests for enrolments. The demand for Year 7 places can vary from year to year and the following enrolment criteria are applied when determining Year 7 placements:

• Students who are permanent residents within the designated neighbourhood area as defined in the school's designated neighbourhood area map.
• Successful applicants to the Accelerated Learning Program.
• Out of zone siblings.
• Out of zone applications based on curriculum grounds such as a music placement. Applications for a music placement occur in late May.

You are warmly invited to attend the school’s 2014 Year 7, Discovery Night which will be held on Thursday 2 May, 2013. See homepage for more details.

Your son/daughter’s primary school will organise the 2014 Year 7 secondary school application process. If you would like your son/daughter to attend Balwyn High School in 2014, you will need to select it as your first choice. If you are an out of zone application, please remember that while every effort is made to accommodate all enrolment requests, careful thought should be given to your remaining choices.

YEARS 8 – 12

Background Information

The school has experienced exceptional, unabated and unprecedented growth in its school population over the past five years. The increase in numbers has been particularly exacerbated by the number of families moving into the designated school zone as well as the increase in the number of multi-dwelling properties in the school zone. As Balwyn High School is a zoned school, permanent residency in the school’s zone is essential.

As outlined above, the demand for places far exceeds the positions available in each year level. The school endeavours to maintain the integrity of the school zone as a means of maintaining a productive learning environment for staff and students alike. Due to accommodation constraints and taking into consideration health and safety issues for both students and staff, it may be necessary for the school to assist you in enrolling your child in another government school.

ENROLMENT INFORMATION

To ensure the correct decision is made in relation to your son/daughter’s education, carefully note the following:

1. The school (i.e. the Registrar) should be contacted before accommodation arrangements in the designated school zone are finalised. This is essential as places may not be available in preferred courses.
2. Balwyn High School is a zoned school and therefore requires families and students to be permanent residents in the school zone. Requirements of permanent residency in the zone involves:
   • The purchase and occupation of a property in the zone; or
   • A long term lease and occupation of a property in the zone

The expectation of this eligibility requirement is that the family will remain permanent residents within the zone for the duration of their child’s education at Balwyn High School. Balwyn High School cannot guarantee a child’s continuing enrolment if their residential status changes during that time. From July 2004, it has been a requirement for new enrolments to sign a residency declaration stating the family’s intention to remain a permanent resident in our designated school zone as long as their child is enrolled at Balwyn High School.

The School is constantly liaising with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development regarding the acute accommodation problems it is currently facing as well as investigating the possible provision of places into other government schools for new students to the Balwyn High School neighbourhood zone as a means of alleviating the current accommodation crisis.

The requirement of permanent residency in the zone will be actively monitored and enforced. As such, where a family whose child is High School moves out of the zone, the School requires that, at the end of the school year, the parent/guardian enrol their child in the neighbourhood school closest to their new residential address or any other school of where places are available. Demonstrate their permanent residency.

• Property and lease name must be under parent’s name. A commercial lease, i.e. a lease completed through a real estate agent, is required. A private rental agreement, i.e. between landlord and tenant, is not acceptable. Please be aware that the requirement for eligibility is permanent residency within the zone. The intention of the neighbourhood area policy is for residency to continue for the duration of the child’s enrolment at the school. Residency must be taken up and authenticated by a member of the Principal Team or representative before the enrolment procedure can commence.
• Proof of permanent residency within the school's designated neighbourhood area will be required for all applications seeking a place on residential grounds`. It is the responsibility of the family to provide satisfactory evidence to the school to
• All applicants must provide a certified copy of birth certificate and a copy of the most recent school report. Applicants born in an overseas country must provide a certified copy of passport and visa. ons for VCE courses can only be considered after all currently enrolled students have confirmed their courses in December. Living in the zone or completing a successful enrolment application does not guarantee VCE subject choices. Over the past two years, many VCE subjects have been filled by students currently enrolled at Balwyn High School and have therefore not been available to new enrolments. This possible limitation of subjects being available for selection must be taken into account when considering enrolment and it is recommended that other educational alternatives are investigated. Elective choices may be limited for Years 8 – 10.
• An enrolling student will live with his/her parents. Staying with a relative or friend does not qualify you as “a resident". Guardianship is not a criterion for enrolment unless supported by the relevant papers endorsed by the Family Court of Australia.
• Students who intend enrolling in an English Language Centre prior to enrolling at Balwyn High School must contact the registrar before any accommodation arrangements in the school’s zone are finalized.
• Applications for transfer from nearby schools on residential grounds may not be granted.
• Siblings of currently enrolled out of zone students cannot be guaranteed a place in future.