Too popular: Glenunga High tightens intake rules
One of South Australia’s most sought-after state schools is tightening its intake rules to deal with its burgeoning popularity.
Glenunga International High School has brought in a capacity management plan under the Education Act to control its enrolments – a plan which may involve turning away students from within the zone.
The plan has been applied due to a significant increase of families moving into its school zone and applying to enrol their children.
In the past five years, Glenunga has grown by 20 per cent with its enrolments rising from 1595 students in Term 3, 2014, to 1733 in Term 3, 2015.
While the growth prompted the State Government to invest $14 million to redevelop and build new learning areas, the Department of Education and Child Development announced today a new enrolment plan was needed to cope with demand.
The plan outlines the requirements for enrolment at the school and includes some enrolment restrictions.
Enrolments in three of Glenunga’s highly sought-after programs – the IGNITE program, offered to students with high intellectual potential, the International Baccalaureate program, and its international education program – will be reduced and capped.
For local students, the department said it would take different action depending on the year level:
- For students starting secondary school: the school will aim to accommodate all primary school students living in the school zone at the time families apply through the department’s central Year 7-8 transition process. After this process is completed, late applications will be considered if or when vacancies exist. If no vacancies exist, families will be referred for enrolment to neighbouring schools and placed on the enrolment register (which is reserved for children living inside the school zone).
- For students Year 9 to Year 12 applications: priority consideration for enrolment will be given to families living in the school zone. If the school is unable to offer a vacancy, the school will assist parents in finding an alternative placement at neighbouring schools and if requested the child will be added to the school’s enrolment register.
Department of Education and Child Development executive director, School and Preschool Improvement, Anne Millard, said the school would do everything possible to accommodate local students.
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“Glenunga is a highly sought after secondary school, which has prompted the decision to establish a capacity management plan for the school,” she said.
“This will provide families a clear and transparent tool in relation to enrolling, while ensuring current students continue learning in a comfortable and safe environment.
“Glenunga will do everything it can to accommodate local students.
“If needed, it will assist families to find a vacancy at another high school in the surrounding area, all which offer a quality education through the public system.”
Surrounding high schools include Unley, Norwood Morialta and Marryatville.
