School Profile
Kalamunda Senior High School is a local area high school set in the hills region of the Perth metropolitan area.
The school was established in 1960 and comprises of a faculty plan with wings separated by established gardens and attractive quadrangles. Recent additions and upgrades include the Technology and Design Centre, Art Centre and Music Centre. In 2004 upgrades to Student Services, Home Economics and the Administration took place. The school shares the facilities of a Performing Arts Complex with the Kalamunda Shire.
Kalamunda has a very experienced and stable staff. Teaching and support staff find the school professionally rewarding and tend to remain for an extended period of time, with many staff living in the local community and sending their children to Kalamunda.
Student Population and Background
Between 2002 and 2007 there was an upward trend in enrolments with an increasing number of students enrolling from the optional intake areas of Maida Vale, High Wycombe and Walliston. Additionally students are drawn from further field, many with an interest in the school’s Gifted and Talented Education (Art) program, academic excellence program and the Outdoor Adventure program which commenced in 2007.
The school student population for 2008 is 937. The optimum student enrolment for Kalamunda is around 950, as this number can be accommodated within the existing buildings while still providing students with a full range of courses. There will be a need to plan for declining enrolments and put strategies in place to maintain student numbers.
It is of interest to note that there are nearly 150 more girls in the school than boys. While it is difficult to determine the precise reasons for this the perception of Kalamunda as an “arty” school comes from anecdotal evidence.
Currently the school has an enrolment of around 937 students, predominantly Australian born or from an English or European background and speak English as their first language. There are 20 students of Aboriginal descent in our school.
International Fee Paying Students
The school has recently made itself available to accept International Fee Paying students. These students provide an opportunity for our students to mix with those from other cultures as our school has a very limited cultural mix. There are currently four IFP students enrolled at the school for 2008.
School Directions and Priorities
The school strives to foster a learning environment which values achievement and positive social values including respect for self, for others and the wider Australian community.
The priorities and supporting programs which operate in the school are linked to these twin goals of achievement and the positive social values which underpin the Curriculum Framework and are reflective of the Classroom First Strategy.
School Priorities for 2008
- Middle School Reform (Focus Year 9 Reform)
- Senior School: Courses of Study & enhancing learning for 16 and 17 year old students
- Monitoring and Improving Student Achievement
- School Renewal (IDEAS Project)
Ongoing Priorities from 2001-2007
- Middle School Reform (Year 8 Learning Team)
- Curriculum Framework – Curriculum Improvement Plan Implementation
- Students at Educational Risk
- Building Links with the School Community