Overview

TPS School Profile

Purpose:

To provide a dynamic learning environment that engages and inspires students to achieve their personal best in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation.

Mission Statement:

We continually improve procedures and practices at Toorak Primary School so that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Vision Statement:

We provide a dynamic learning environment that engages and inspires students to achieve their personal best in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation.

Values:

The following values underpin our purpose:

• Honesty
• Responsibility
• Friendship
• Respect
• Kindness

Environmental Context

Toorak Primary School (established in 1890) is located in a quiet residential area in the city of Stonnington. 

The school comprises of an attractive 133 year old building, a modern Library, Multi-media centre, Hall, Art room, two open plan classrooms, four double story portables and two basketball courts. We are also on track to commence construction of a new Foundation playground. As part of our social, recreational and learning facility, the school utilises the adjacent magnificent parklands at Brookville Gardens. OSHClub provide quality before and after school care and also operate a holiday program.  This service is valued by the community.

We have 470 students enrolled at Toorak Primary School who largely come from the local Stonnington municipality and surrounding suburbs. The school celebrates its culturally diverse members of the school population. Each student is valued as an individual.

Curriculum

Toorak Primary School offers a comprehensive, innovative and flexible curriculum based on the Victorian Curriculum. The curriculum is structured to ensure that every child has access to quality literacy and numeracy programs. English and Mathematics are a core focus supported by parent and community volunteer involvement in classroom activities.

Toorak Primary school is committed to the academic success of each child, informed by an instructional approach based on the best available evidence including a commitment to understanding how we learn.  The school has commenced a strategic journey to embed the use of evidence informed practices across all Curriculum areas.

Core instruction involves English and Literacy and Mathematics and Numeracy, with emphasis on the development and maintenance of a ‘knowledge-rich curriculum’ via Language Arts and the Humanities and Science learning areas.

Students also take part in a broad range of specialist programs designed to cultivate their interests and broaden their experiences.  Specialist learning areas include Physical Education, Visual and Performing Arts, and L.O.T.E (French).

A strategic and explicit approach to curriculum delivery is utilised to maximise students' academic growth. Students are guided and scaffolded through the learning process with clear intent.  Teachers use a responsive approach in classrooms to ensure high levels of student engagement whilst allowing them to become independent, resilient and  develop high-quality interpersonal skills. 

In line with the Victorian Curriculum we endeavor to keep all classes in single year levels. This structure supports current reporting methods, curriculum content at each grade level and the range of abilities within classes. Small class sizes, where possible, are maintained to ensure that all students develop effective literacy and numeracy skills.

Specialist Program

Specialist teachers provide enrichment in Visual Arts, Music and Performing Arts, Physical Education and French. We also offer a German program for native German speakers (user paid), in which students are withdrawn from their classroom for 100 minutes per week.

As part of the Performing Arts Program, a school production is staged biennially with the involvement of both the school and wider communities. In 2023, our students performed 'The Lion King Junior'. In previous years, we have staged The Wizard of Oz, Aladdin and Peter Pan. 

Our Visual Arts Program, undertakes an art show in the in the alternating 'Musical' year displaying works of art from each child in the school.

In addition to our specialist music program, Musicorp offer individual or small group tuition (user paid) in a wide range of musical instruments. Students from grade 1 to 6 are withdrawn from the classroom for 1/2 hour to attend these lessons.

Further breadth and extension for all students is provided through:

• sporting skills clinics taken by accredited coaches
• excursions and camps
• Foundation Perceptual Motor Program (PMP)
• leadership opportunities through the house system, School Captains, the ‘buddy’ system, Junior School Council, class captains, Green team and Wellbeing leaders
• extra curricula activities such as chess, tennis, soccer, basketball, music, Young Engineers and art classes.

Toorak Primary School is committed to maximising the educational opportunities for all students with staff professional development playing a vital role in achieving this.  Staff members are encouraged and supported to plan and work collaboratively to improve student outcomes and cater for different learning needs. 

Teacher collaboration via the Professional Learning Community (PLC) framework, represents our commitment to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning. This forms the core of our curriculum and assessment program, whilst embedding in the school a culture of continuous improvement and a drive to ensure students are at the centre of our practice.

The school also supports an open door policy with regular participation and communication between teachers and parents in order to achieve continuous improvement.

All members of our school community are encouraged to familiarise themselves with policies that govern our school operations. Please click here to view our policies. 

Parental involvement and participation in the educative process can take many forms, ranging from helping at election day stalls through to involvement in Parents Group and School Council. This is a vital part of education at Toorak Primary School. Parental involvement enables many educational activities to be undertaken that would otherwise be out of the reach of the school. In addition, parents have the opportunity to establish new friendships where the school can become a valued part of their social life in the community.

We pride ourselves on our open and friendly community atmosphere at Toorak Primary School. We look forward to establishing a positive and enduring partnership throughout your child's primary years of education.