Willetton Senior High School

Willetton Senior High School
Location
Willetton, Western Australia
Australia
Coordinates 32°3′37″S 115°52′42″E / 32.06028°S 115.87833°E / -32.06028; 115.87833Coordinates: 32°3′37″S 115°52′42″E / 32.06028°S 115.87833°E / -32.06028; 115.87833
Information
Type Public, Secondary, Co-educational, Day school
Motto Give, Grow, Guide
Established 1977
Principal Chris Booth
Staff 200
Years offered 7-12
Enrolment 2,229 (14 February 2016[1])
Colour(s) Light blue and maroon (7-10); White and maroon (11-12)
Website willettonshs.wa.edu.au

Willetton Senior High School (WSHS) is the largest government high school in Western Australia and one of the top schools in the state.

History

The school first opened in February 1977 with a student population of 77. It currently has a 2016 enrolment of 2229 students and employs 200 staff. It is located about 11 km due south of Perth City and 15 km east of the port of Fremantle. The school is located near community facilities and the Southlands Boulevarde shopping centre. The catchment area in the 1990s used to include optional enrolments from Riverton. The student catchment area[2] for WSHS encompasses the suburb of Willetton and part of the suburb of Bull Creek, which is shared by Leeming Senior High School. Willetton and nearby Rossmoyne Senior High School (with features similar to Willetton) are highly competitive.

The school underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation starting in 2014.[3] At the commencement of Semester Two in 2014 the school was found to have been contaminated with asbestos after construction workers found pieces of asbestos had fallen off the roof of a building slated for demolition.[4] The school was closed for a week so the site could be inspected.[3] Teachers were sent to work from North Lake Senior High School where they connected with students via the internet so that classes could continue.[5]

Campus

WSHS covers an area of approximately 4500 m2. There are seven main buildings along with numerous transportable buildings some many years old. A $5 million upgrade completed in 2008 saw the construction of a new gymnasium and several new facilities.

The state government announced in 2012 that it would commence a A$80 million upgrade to the school in early 2013.[6]

Academics

The school has performed well in the WACE exams and is often rated as one of the best public schools in the state.

Year % +75 in WACE[lower-roman 1] State ranking[lower-roman 2] % +65 in WACE[lower-roman 3] State ranking % graduation[lower-roman 4]
2014 20.42 15 46.94 16 97.25[7]
2013 15.95 17 40.39 20 96.70[8]
2012 17.21 17 46.03 21 97.22[9]
2011 24.02 10 59.11 12 99.13[10]
2010 16.93 20 51.07 33 97.60[11]
2009 22 19 96.34[12]
  1. ↑ Based on the number of Stage 3 course enrolments in the school where a WACE course score of 75 or above was achieved
  2. ↑ Ranking of school compared to other schools in the state
  3. ↑ Based on the number of Stage 3 course enrolments in the school where a WACE course score of 65 or above was achieved
  4. ↑ Percentage of Year 12 cohort that graduated with a WACE certificate

Special programs

WSHS is one of several schools offering the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) entry to which is through a rigorous centrally organised testing program. Entry to the science focus Talented And Gifted (TAG) program is managed at the school level. There is also a specialist fine arts course for Years 8 to 10 and an exceptionally successful senior school art program. The centrally endorsed specialist course in computing was the first of its kind in WA and has recently been expanded to include a multimedia stream. The centrally endorsed specialist basketball course which runs from Year 8 to 12 is unique in the State as it offers students a TAFE Certificate III and a tertiary entry interface. Both male and female teams have won multiple national championships.

International Relations

WSHS has a sister school relationship with The High School and Junior High School of University of Hyogo located in Akō District of Hyogo Prefecture. Cultural exchange between the two schools commenced in 1995 and a collaborative international partnership was established in 2005. WSHS also maintains relations that provide opportunities for students of French and Italian to study overseas.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Education Department of Western Australia, Alphabetical List of Western Australian Schools
  2. ↑ http://www.willettonshs.wa.edu.au/resources/Willeton-SHS-School-boundaries.pdf
  3. 1 2 Katie Robertson, Yasmine Philips and Kaitlyn Offer (22 July 2014). "Willetton Senior High School closed after asbestos residue found". Perthnow. News Limited. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Liam Ducey (22 July 2014). "Willetton Senior High School closed after asbestos scare". WA Today. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Asbestos discovery forces closure of Willetton Senior High School on first day of term". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "School rebuild defended". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  13. ↑ Excellence in Languages
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