Principal's Message 

Dear parents, carers, students and staff

The end of Term 3 is upon us!

Thank you to all our staff and students for their efforts this term. Congratulations to our Year 12s for completing their internal SAC assessment regime. No more SACs! The sprint down the final exam straight of Year 12 awaits our senior students and we wish them luck.

End of year Instrumental Music Concert

Congratulations to the instrumental music staff and students for their performances at the recent End of Year Instrumental Music Concert held at the Clocktower. More than 200 students performed or worked backstage to deliver a fantastic show. There were some standout solos from our Year 12 students that served to highlight the talent on display. In my speech on the night I foreshadowed some investigations the school was undertaking to provide a better performing arts experience for students who are interested in further pursuing music and drama during their time at University High. I hope to be able to present some findings and suggestions regarding this initiative for 2027 during Term 4.

Physical improvements

The recent removal of temporary fencing has provided an opportunity to add additional on-site bicycle parking. There is now room for 20 more bikes on the south and east faces of the technology building. Like the other racks on site, views of these are covered by security cameras.

Site survey, temporary fencing, concrete paving and fence post installation quotes were recently accepted by school council and these works began this week. The concrete paving and fence post installation are expected to be completed for day one of Term 4. Fencing and gates will be completed in the first few weeks of Term 4.

After the new fencing and paving works have been finished, we can begin to prepare the sports fields for a staged maintenance program over the remainder of 2026 and 2027 which will result in an a new, expanded synthetic sports surface supporting additional basketball and pickleball spaces as well as renewed general purpose soccer fields. Additional landscaping will follow late in 2027. The staged nature of these works will ensure that the school’s PE and sports programs can still operate next year while these works are underway.

I’d also like to draw your attention to the 2027 levies list that will provide an opportunity for families to contribute directly to this important work. While the Sports Field fund is not tax-deductible, these improvements are one of the highest-priority capital improvements the school is looking to complete next year, and I commend you all to consider making a donation.

New reports

Following a successful trial of our new Semester reports with Year 7 students at the end of Semester 1, I am excited to announce that all reports at University High will now follow this template. The Semester 2 reports that will be released at the end of this year for Years 7 to 11 will now all be consistent and report considerably more achievement data than has been the case in previous years. Key assessments, SACs and exams will now be reported for each subject across these year levels on a letter grade scale from A+ to D in the VCE, and with raw percentages in Years 7 to 10.

Technology at Uni High in 2027

A staff working group has been convened to work through feedback from staff, students and families about the use of digital technologies in our teaching and learning programs. Departmental advice from earlier in the year about headphone bans and screen time limits coming into effect in 2027 is currently being developed into policies for all schools including University High. In addition to the Department’s requirements, the school is also considering other practices and expectations which we believe will improve the learning environment and capacity of our students. AI, in particular, will be a focus of work next year. The school will integrate upcoming Department advice on AI use in schools with its own considerations of best practice and I look forward to sharing this work with you all in Term 4.

Proposed Melbourne City Council changes to Story St

Melbourne City Council belatedly provided the school with an opportunity to feedback on proposed changes to the road network in Parkville Gardens which includes Story St. It is clear this issue requires significant attention from our school council and community. My preliminary feedback to the council made it very clear that the school, and Department of Education does not support changes that will impact on the safety of students and staff, or utility of Story St to support the needs of the school. Preliminary concepts for Story St changes are provided below for the consideration of families. I hope to be able to provide updates to the school community after further meetings with the Melbourne City Council early in Term 4.

Proposed road changes for the Parkville Gardens precinct

Looking east along Story St at Fitzgibbon St

Looking east along Story St at Benjamin St

I wish our students, staff and families a restful Term 3 holiday break.

With regards

Nick Scott

Principal