Principal’s Welcome

There are many important factors to consider when choosing a school for your child, particularly navigating the many programs, curriculum offerings, pathways, and extra-curricular activities, it’s no wonder the decision can feel overwhelming at times.

At Wantirna College, we fundamentally believe the quality of a student’s educational outcomes and experiences is mostly dependent on the quality of the teaching. When I ask parents to reflect on their own educational experience, many identify the great teachers they had who had a profound impact on their learning and personal development. Research evidence supports this reflection concluding that the single most important factor in improving student outcomes and achievement is the quality of the teacher.

At Wantirna College, we are committed to having outstanding teachers who know their students and target their teaching to meet the learning needs of their students regardless of where their starting point is on the learning continuum. Our teachers are committed to a progressive teaching approach using innovative assessment practices to know their learners and support them in maximising learning growth.

In 2023, we achieved outstanding Naplan and VCE results which validates our progressive learning and teaching approach with 74% of our Year 9 students achieving strong/exceeding levels of achievement in reading and 76% of Year 9 students achieving strong/exceeding levels of achievement in numeracy. In 2023, our VCE study score improved from 27 to 29, making us one of the top performing schools in Outer East Melbourne.

Beyond the classroom, we offer a range of extracurricular activities and programs designed to foster skills and talents in a variety of areas. Rather than specialising in one area, we believe in offering students a wide range of experiences and choices which we know will lead to greater pathway opportunities. Our commitment to fostering supportive and inclusive environments means that every student has the opportunity to shine and grow in confidence.

Further to these experiences, we are committed to offering a breadth of curriculum that caters to all types of students’ interests and learning needs. At Year 7 and 8, students experience all areas of learning however, from Year 9 onwards, students can choose from 70+ speciality subjects and build a personalised timetable tailored to their specific interests and needs. At VCE we proudly offer three viable pathways: a traditional VCE pathway to achieve academic success and entry into University, a Vocational Major applied learning pathway to support students who want to pursue TAFE or full time apprenticeship/work and a hybrid of both VCE and Vocational Major subjects with students being able to access greater choice and opportunity. In 2025, we look forward to offering onsite Sport and Recreation VET training in addition to our current onsite Building and Construction VET offering.

Our facilities continue to improve with our new 17 million dollar, state of the art, double court basketball stadium and performing arts spaces currently in construction with completion expected in June 2025. This outstanding facility will not only provide our students with enriched learning experiences, but also make an impact in improving the sporting opportunities of our wider school community.

Our end goal is to ensure that students experience significant learning growth in all subjects. Whilst we acknowledge the fundamental importance of this goal, we also understand that students want a positive experience at school and to be happy. We know that the happier students are at school, the more likely it is that they will experience success. The support of all staff (including our teachers and wellbeing staff), our commitment to inclusive learning, and the opportunities inside and outside the classroom allow all our students to Discover their Wings and thrive.

Carrie Wallis