Shepparton Education Plan

UPDATE: TWO YEAR TRANSITIONS PLAN FOR GREATER SHEPPARTON COLLEGE (INTERIM NAME)

As Executive Principal of Greater Shepparton College (interim name) I have spoken at a number of Meet the Principal events this week regarding my vision for the new school and our plans for the future.

During these events I committed to informing school communities regarding the transition plans for 2020 and 2021 as soon as these were confirmed.

The Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, James Merlino, visited Shepparton on 28 March 2019 to announce the transition plan for the merger of the four secondary schools (Shepparton High School, McGuire College, Wanganui Park Secondary College and Mooroopna Secondary College) in 2020. Minister Merlino outlined the staged transition plan that will be implemented from next year (2020).

Staging the transition plan was considered important to minimise disruption for students during the next few years while still enabling our important work to be commenced to establish Greater Shepparton College (interim name).

In summary the staged transition plan will look as follows:-

• In 2020 Shepparton High School students move to Wanganui Park Secondary College, except for Year 9s
• They, and Year 9s from the other 3 secondary schools, will go to a dedicated Year 9 program at Mooroopna
• Mooroopna’s Year 8 and 10 students remain at Mooroopna campus, while Mooroopna’s senior students will move to either Wanganui Park campus or McGuire campus depending on their subject choices
• All Year 7 students will start at McGuire campus, studying a program specifically designed to enhance literacy and numeracy skills and extend their critical thinking.
• Other students remain at their current school site.

This provides the foundation us to bring year levels from the four schools together, offer a broader curriculum, give students more choices, and implementation of teaching and learning programs aligned to student needs.

TWO YEAR TRANSITION PLAN FOR GREATER SHEPPARTON COLLEGE (INTERIM NAME)

From 2020, three of the existing secondary school sites will be utilised as campuses of Greater Shepparton College (interim name). We have prepared a summary of year level and campuses for the next two years.

We have also prepared a table which will enable parents, carers and students to see which campus their child will attend in 2020 and 2021, which follows.

We are making big changes in terms of secondary education provision in Greater Shepparton over the next few years, and understand that this change brings some uncertainty for families, parents, carers and children. Please know that I am committed to creating the new school to improve the educational outcomes for our young people, with our students at the centre. They are, and will continue to be, our number one priority.

There are some logistical challenges with the new school, which we are currently working through, so that arrangements are in place for 2020.

I intend to continue to engage with school communities on a regular basis during the year, and encourage you to attend the next round of Meet the Principal events that we are planning in May 2019.

Regards,

Genevieve Simson

Executive Principal, Greater Shepparton College