Our School

About Us

Who we are

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).

What we do

Blackburn ELS provides:

focused learning environment that supports all students to reach their potential in English language development and aims to prepare them for the academic, behavioural and social challenges of mainstream schools or alternative learning pathways.
a school environment that encourages students from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to become confident and active participants in the wider Australian community.
a supportive and stimulating work environment for all staff that encourages commitment, innovation and excellence.
learning opportunities for newly-arrived families that broaden their knowledge of the Victorian schooling system and prepare them for involvement in the school community.

Where we are

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.

Annual Report

Blackburn ELS Annual Report 2021

(pdf download)

Wellbeing

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.

School Policies

Click here to access our School Policies

School Values

Our beliefs as a school are based on the following core values:

Future Making

Teacher Practice

Explicit focus on:

learning how to learn
learning how the English language works
personal responsibility
resilience, problem solving and social skills
goal setting
cooperation and collaboration
understanding of mainstream system

Learner Behaviours

independent learning
taking responsibility for self and supporting others
setting learning goals
adapting to new environments
organisational capacity
confident and active learners
striving for personal best

Parent Behaviours

attending relevant meetings
providing a space for learning at home
showing an interest in their child’s learning
following school procedures
openness to learning about the Victorian schooling system

Embracing Diversity

Teacher Practice

Explicit focus on:

students working collaboratively and across varying learning styles
acknowledgement/celebration of school/class cultural and linguistic diversity
students’ personal journeys
inclusive classroom environment
choosing texts that reflect a range of perspectives
MEA’s assisting with communication and/or issues
multiculturalism in Australia

Learner Behaviours

working collaboratively with all classmates
showing respect for others backgrounds
encouraging others to do their best
inclusive of others during learning tasks
embracing opportunities to learn from others

Parent Behaviours

participating in school events with other families
providing a positive model for their children by interacting with those from other cultures
encouraging their child to use their first language at home
seeing difference as an opportunity
respecting all members of the school community

Building Communities

Teacher Practice

Explicit focus on:

strategic management of group composition in learning tasks
individual identity within the group
collective responsibility
celebrating success and being motivated by challenges
strength of team-work
understanding that our attitudes and behaviours have an impact on the people around us

Learner Behaviours

feeling safe in the classroom and school environments
respecting all members of the school community
engaging with school and having a sense of belonging
involvement in whole school activities
participating in the wider community with confidence
making good choices about how to treat others

Parent Behaviours

showing interest in their child’s learning
encouraging their child to be positive about all members of the school community
providing a positive role model for their child by engaging with the community
facilitating active participation by their child in the wider community