Blackburn English Language School (ELS) is part of the New Arrival Program (NAP) and provides intensive English language programs to primary and secondary aged newly arrived students from language backgrounds other than English (LBoTE).
Blackburn ELS provides:
Blackburn ELS delivers intensive English language programs to newly arrived students across the North-eastern Victoria Region (NEVR). The school provides an environment that encourages students from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to become confident and active participants in the wider Australian community.
The school operates across three locations, two metropolitan and one regional. The main site, Whitehorse, is located in Burwood East, the Maroondah Campus is in Croydon North and the Wodonga campus is in the north-east of the state in Wodonga. Each site attracts newly-arrived students from their respective geographical areas.
Settlement of newly arrived students from wide-ranging cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds is the major planning focus in the school. Resources are targeted to support the development and delivery of a stimulating learning environment in which all students are expected to reach their potential. Student learning is focussed on English language achievement and preparation for the academic, behavioural and social challenges of mainstream schools. The school acknowledges that student engagement is influenced by a wide range of factors and, given that newly arrived students are unfamiliar with the Australian education system and have varied needs and vulnerabilities, provides a comprehensive and high quality approach to student welfare.
Our beliefs as a school are based on the following core values:
Explicit focus on:
Explicit focus on:
Explicit focus on:
Find my School
Vic TESOL (VATME)
DET – Department of Education and Training
DET EAL Unit
VITS – Victorian Interpreting & Translating Service
MIC
EMR – Eastern Metropolitan Regional Office for DET
When placing a student in a class, consideration is given to their age and English language stage. Secondary aged students are given a placement test at enrolment. Teachers regularly review the English knowledge and skills of each student and class placements are revised at the beginning of each term. This ensures that students are offered a program that supports their stage of English language.
Secondary students learn English while studying different subjects.
Below is an example of a sample secondary timetable:
Students are given homework appropriate to their age and English language stage. Students borrow books from the school Library and should read these at home. Students should also revise work done each day and complete any unfinished work. Specific homework tasks are regularly given to students in the advanced language groups.
Excursions provide valuable English language learning experiences for students. Excursions are a planned and important part of the curriculum and all students are expected to fully participate. In term one, all students visit the zoo to support their Science studies and in term three students visit Sovereign Hill as part of the Humanities program. When an excursion is being organised, detailed notices will be sent home to inform parents and guardians.
At the end of the year, the younger secondary students at the Burwood campus and all Maroondah students participate in a three-day residential camp. This camp is fully integrated into the curriculum, with a clear focus on English language and social development. Parents and guardians are notified well in advance and have opportunities to discuss issues and concerns.
The senior secondary students participate in a five-day program in the city of Melbourne once during their program at the school. This program is fully integrated into the curriculum and aims to develop students’ English language skills as well as independence, problem-solving ability, time management and organisational skills. Parents and guardians are notified well in advance and have opportunities to discuss issues and concerns