The Kalamunda Senior High School

Academic Excellence Program

is designed not only to develop academic talent but also leadership, resilience and persistence, to enhance each student's ability to achieve success at school and beyond.

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Students are initially chosen to enter the program in Year 8 through school based testing. However, any student attending Kalamunda SHS is eligible to be considered for entry provided they fit the Program's entry criteria.

 

Entry testing is held towards the end of Term One each year. To be eligible, students must in Year 6 or Year 7, be of above average academic ability in three out of four academic learning areas - English, Mathematics, Science and Society & Environment - and be recommended by their teachers.

 

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The focus of the Academic Excellence Program is on the academic learning areas, Mathematics, English, Society and Environment and Science. In other learning areas they combine with other student to access these subjects.

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Specialist teachers for the program are selected to deliver the Curriculum Framework as is expected in all Year 8 classes. The curriculum is differentiated by the teachers using their specialist knowledge to add breadth and where appropriate accelerate talented students.

 

The school and teachers within the program have high expectations of students offered places in this program, with their behaviour and progress being closely monitored. This means that if a student's behaviour or progress is falling below the expected standard, the student may join the mainstream after appropriate review and consultation has occurred.

 

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If places become available in these classes during the year, they may be offered to students from other classes who show talents within the Humanities or Science/Mathematics areas, or both.

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Each year students in the program attend a three day academic camp where leadership, self confidence and problem solving activities are emphasised. There are also annual visits to University of Western Australia or Curtin University which give students insights into possible future studies and university life.

 

Year 8 and 9 students are required to carry out an extended research project over one semester culminating in the "AEP Presentations Week". During this week all students present their research findings to a panel of peers from the Year group above them. Students also produce a written report which is assessed by specialists in the area of the topic chosen by the student.

 

Students in the Academic Excellence Program are strongly encouraged to be involved in opportunities available outside of the normal school program for example the Siemens Science Experience. To enable students to attend these events Rotary International often subsidise the cost and in return, as part of the AE Programs involvement with the wider community, the students participate in activities to raise money for Rotary International.

 

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