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A number of state high
schools offer programs for very able children which accelerate them
through high school and reduce secondary schooling from six years
to five years. SEAL programs. Entrance is by competitive
examination, interview and teacher reference. Due to the
large volume of applicants, some schools do not interview for the
positions.
A number of other schools
offer a High Achiever Program for able students which allows the
school to extend a group of children, without the
acceleration.
Sometimes the reason for
students pursuing places at these schools is because of their
excellent reputation. Entry into the programs can give a
family outside the school zone an opportunity to enter the
school.
Our Year 6 workshops provide excellent preparation for the
examination section.
The Education
Department website carries an excellent description of these
programs. They provide a concise guide to the SEAL program.
Students may do five years in six or possibly extend their
VCE by an additional year.
Accelerated Learning and High
Achiever Program examinations are similar to scholarship tests.
While an ordinary school exam aims to measure what has
already been taught and should have been learnt, entrance exams aim
to predict the future achievement of the child.
Understanding the exam format
is the first step in your child's preparation. You will note that
the ACER (HAST) format and Edutest format differ.
Schools may change from one
exam-setting body to another, therefore the date of the school's
exam in one year is not necessarily a guide to the current year.
The majority of Victorian high school entrance exams were
held in late April and early May in 2010. However, it is
important to watch carefully for the dates of entrance exams for
any school in which you are interested. You usually have from
three to six weeks to make applications.
We must emphasise that it is
the responsibility of the parents to contact the school of their
choice and to lodge the relevant entry forms.
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