Principal's Report

Dear Collingwood College,

The Victorian Government committed to opening 100 new schools between 2019 and 2026. This includes opening a new senior secondary campus for Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School in 2022 at Fitzroy Gasworks. Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School have had a senior secondary program partnership, offering students a choice of VCE, VCAL and VET certificate courses along with a range of innovative senior programs, for over 10 years. The campus will predominantly cater for Year 11 and 12 students from Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School. Year 10 students from both schools studying VCE, VET or VCAL subjects will also attend the Gasworks campus as required. These new campus facilities will give students a greater choice of senior programs and subjects with a focus on building 21st century skills. The campus will also help ease enrolment pressures from population growth in Melbourne’s inner north. Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School will be able to enrol extra Years 11-12 students at the new campus and more younger students at their existing sites.

Gasworks SiteThe campus will be located at the old Fitzroy Gasworks site. The Fitzroy Gasworks is an important part of Fitzroy North's industrial and social heritage, and the school is part of an important urban renewal project to re-energise the site. This larger project by Development Victoria will rejuvenate an iconic inner-city site and create positive outcomes for the local community. The site is close to public transport, open space and established community facilities. 

Campus FacilitiesThe striking, six-storey, stepped building design features a series of outdoor terraces, balconies and rooftop spaces. These outdoor areas will maximise opportunities for active sport, recreation, social connection, contemplation, learning, daylight and fresh air. Diverse learning precincts throughout the campus will provide specialist settings for performing arts, art and design, technology, science, food, resources centre and sports. Connections between precincts and general learning hubs on each level will foster learning across different subjects and disciplines – known as ‘interdisciplinary learning’. We have designed flexible facilities and learning environments that support the schools’ ‘futures-thinking’ curriculum and help prepare students for ’jobs not yet invented’. Key features include the campus:

·         performing arts precinct with amphitheatre, music hub, adaptable project space, practice rooms, green room, drama and performing arts spaces

·         technology precinct with digital design and technologies laboratories, wood and metal workshops, fabrication studio, project exhibition space, small group spaces, breakout and individual study areas

·         food precinct with canteen, student dining area, food technology kitchen, food technology outdoor terrace, laundry and preparation facilities

·         resource centre (library) precinct with collaboration space, wall booths, quiet workspaces, breakout areas, IT support, wellbeing and careers

·         art and design precinct with outdoor terrace and covered learning area; 2D and 3D studios; wet art, sculpture, visual arts, textiles, visual communication and media studios; kiln and dark room; exhibition zone and an integrated arts learning space

·         science precinct with chemistry, physics and biology laboratories, preparation rooms, informal breakout space, covered outdoor science terrace and learning spaces

·         sports courts precincts for basketball and netball comprising an indoor ground level gymnasium for shared use with community; an indoor level three gymnasium and fitness studio and an outdoor rooftop court

·         learning hubs with learning studios, commons, maker space and adaptable conference/exam spaces

·         outdoor terraces integrated with indoor learning hubs.

 Campus Principal

Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School are pleased to announce that Chris Millard is the successful candidate for the role of Campus Principal (Assistant Principal) for the new Fitzroy Gasworks (Senior Campus) - Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School.  His appointment follows a competitive recruitment and selection process, jointly managed by Sam Luck, Principal of Collingwood College and Linda Mitchell, Principal of Fitzroy High School. Chris's role, which begins in Term 1 2021, will be to build on the collaboration and continuous improvement of both schools, and to oversee the continued joint provision of the senior secondary programs. From 2022, Chris will manage the new campus, along with continuing to build a culture of innovation and excellence that benefits all students.

 Construction NewsTerm 4, 2020 key construction milestone activities include

·         Campus building - ‘out of the ground’

·         Structural foundations laid – steel and basement concrete slab pour

·         Ground floor slabs poured

·         Steel frame structure installed close to level two

·         Some level one concrete slabs placed.

 EnrolmentsThe Designated Neighbourhood Zone (DNZ) for the Fitzroy Gasworks (Senior Campus) is the Collingwood College DNZ and the Fitzroy High School DNZ together. Any student currently attending either of these schools or living in the Collingwood College DNZ or the Fitzroy High School DNZ, will be able to attend the senior campus. Statewide school zone maps are available at findmyschool.vic.gov.au . Policies on enrolment, placement, and admission are available on the Department of Education and Training website. Enrolment information for Collingwood College is available on the college’s website. Enrolment information for Fitzroy High School is available on the school’s website. 

Senior Secondary Program Collingwood CollegeDownload the 2021 Senior Program Guide here View the transition to senior pathways virtual information session here

Fitzroy High SchoolDownload the 2021 Senior Program Guide here View the transition to senior pathways virtual information session here

Kind regards,

Sam Luck

Collingwood College Principal