High Achievers' and Enrichment Program Links
The High Achievers’ and Enrichment Programs run from years 7 to 10, and selection is based on academic data as well as learning behaviour data.
The focus is on deepening critical thinking and students’ ability to apply their skills and knowledge to a range of situations. Students are supported to develop the learning behaviours required to independently apply study and learning habits to high-performing educational opportunities, including VCE and/or tertiary education.
You will need to apply, or be identified by the college, each year to be a part of the program in the following year.
Prospective Year 7 Students must ensure they have a confirmed enrolment before they can officially apply. While you are welcome to apply early, the college is unable to recognise your application until after the 24th of June, when year 7 2027 placement offers are made.
Application reminders will be sent to all families with the enrolment confirmation. All year 7 applicants will need to forward NAPLAN data and other evidence to support the application. Applicants will need to sit Literacy, Numeracy and Aptitude testing in either later term 3, or early in term 4 to be eligible for selection.
While students in years 8 to 10 will have their data considered by the college, parents and caregivers can request that their child be considered for the programs at any time. The first step is to contact your year level hub who will put in a request on your behalf.
The High Achievers’ Program runs for years 7 to 9 and the Enrichment program runs for years 8 to 10.
Details are as follows:
Year 7: There is one High Achievers’ class where selected students work together for all subjects.
Years 8 and 9: In addition to one set High Achievers’ class, a wider range of students may be selected for Enrichment English or Enrichment Maths.
Year 10: Students may be selected for Enrichment Maths or Enrichment English, as well as offered opportunities for early entry into VCE General subjects or early entry into VCE VET (Vocational Education & Training).
All students in years 7 to 10 have further enrichment opportunities outside of the program in those year levels and within the year 10 subject choices. These opportunities include:
- STEM excursions to Casey Tech
- Model United Nations Assembly
- Chess Tournaments
- ICAS [International Competitions and Assessments for Schools]
- Escape rooms
- Plain English Speaking Awards
- Exclusive sessions with the Victorian Space Science Education Centre
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do I need to apply? | Yes | Applications welcomed; however, the college will use the data gathered within the school to determine eligibility. | ||
| What information is used? |
You will need to send us your Grade 5 NAPLAN data and an endorsement from your Primary school teacher. You will need to attend a diagnostic testing day to allow us to gather data. |
Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN results Diagnostics testing results - these tests are run in Terms 2 and 4 of each year. Please note that the tests are different in each of the terms. Teacher judgement: academic results and learning behaviours. |
||
Key Dates
| Year 7 | |
|---|---|
| NOW OPEN | Expressions of interest in the High Achievers’ Program registered via the HAP - Expression of Interest Registration Form |
| April 22nd | Year 7 2027 placement applications open |
| May 8th | Final date to submit application for 2027 year 7 placement with your Primary School – put FGSC as your first preference to indicate our school as your preferred choice |
| June 24th | Families have year 7 2026 enrolment confirmed via your Primary School |
| July 13th to 17th | HAP applicants informed of testing dates via email. |
| August 17th | Diagnostic testing begins |
| August 31st | HAP applicants informed of outcome |
| December 8th | Statewide Orientation Day |
| Years 8-10 | |
|---|---|
| Monday 20th April | Data Passport available |
| Monday 27th April to Fri 1st May | Diagnostic testing in preparation for 2027 course and/ or elective counselling |
| Monday July 20th | Course Handbooks published |
| From Monday August 3rd | 2027 Course and subject selections |
New Enrolments
Anyone enrolling during the year will be asked if they would like to have their data considered for HAP opportunities. Please indicate yes at this stage of the enrolment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please use the registration link which takes you through the process. You will be prompted to add the attachments and information we need.
Students will need to have diagnostic data that is, at a minimum, at the age-appropriate expected level of understanding in literacy and numeracy. Most likely, students will be working at a higher than expected level of understanding in at least one, if not both of these areas.
Students will also need to have positive learning behaviours, whereby they require minimal teacher intervention regarding classroom behaviour. The students will have their critical and creative thinking processes and behaviours strengthened within the program, so being open to this work is also required.
Contact the college as soon as possible. This way we can advise you of the places available, and wait list options. It is also possible that your child can be given the extracurricular opportunities offered.
We look at NAPLAN results and use tests from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). These tests are run at the college and assess reading comprehension PAT-R (Progressive Achievement Test Reading), and Numeracy skills PAT-M (Progressive Achievement test Mathematics).
We also use the AGAT (Australian General Ability Test) to confirm data.
We recognise that students demonstrating a strong academic potential learn better when they are surrounded by like-minded peers. Such students need to be given regular opportunities to go beyond surface level knowledge and develop their critical thinking, problem solving and creative skills. Our High Achiever Program offers engaged learners a more challenging and diverse curriculum designed to enhance these skills.
The program’s purpose is:
- To offer a challenging academic program for students in order to extend their learning.
- To provide more focus on deep learning. This includes providing work that targets the students’ critical and creative thinking skills, their problem solving skills and their inquiry skills.
- To build a learning culture wherein like-minded students learn from and challenge each other.
Any student who expresses interest, but doesn’t receive an offer, will be offered their diagnostic data as feedback. The feedback will contain information regarding suggested areas of focus. This will allow students and families opportunities to hone skills for future expressions of interest.
Departmental legislation requires Secondary Schools to adhere to policies surrounding enrolments, and placements must be secured at the college before any HAP offers are made. Primary schools will confirm your place with us on June the 23rd and we will confirm HAP expressions of interest and diagnostic testing dates after this.
Your Primary School teacher will know you best and will detail your Learning Behaviours. This could include your:
- organisational skills
- working stamina
- writing skills and stamina to complete sustained pieces of writing
- reading stamina
- problems solving skills
And the way you:
- approach difficult tasks
- encourage collaboration and teamwork with peers
- apply feedback
- use new opportunities to strengthen your skills and understanding
Our aim is to offer as many opportunities as we can for students, but there are times when your child may have to choose between one opportunity and another. They may be able to access most of their preferred extra programs but you (and they) will need to be mindful there could be times when they need to make a clear choice.
In these cases, we encourage students and families to consider their current desires and future needs knowing that some opportunities can be taken up from year 11 if need be.
The best time to discuss these pathway choices and options would be within the course counselling session so an informed choice can be made.