A Custom Made Education

Every child is unique. By the time they start school they already have their own personality, nuances and capabilities.

Children develop at different speeds. That’s why our teachers listen to children and work with them to build upon a challenging curriculum designed around their interests and strengths and the developmental readiness of the child. The aim is to ensure each child is fully engaged in learning and performs to their potential.

A Non-Competitive Environment

Preshil does not award marks or prizes. Testing is only used for diagnostic purposes and assessment given prior to VCE is richly descriptive. Preshil eschews activities that place students in competition with each other. Fundamentally, success at Preshil is about a child achieving their own potential – not about how they perform against others. Our children are free to develop without judgement, reprisals or the threat of failure.

Two-way Communication

For a lasting education, communication should flow both ways between teacher and student. Traditionally, a teacher stands in front of a class and talks at students, not with them. Learning at Preshil is different. Group discussions with teachers as facilitators rather than directors and extensive one-on-one interaction energises the minds of our young students.

Resilience

The promotion of self-management, responsible decision- making and positive relationships is an integral part of every class at Preshil. Students in Years 7 and 8 participate in a class called ‘Resiliency’ which is designed to enhance their ability to cope with the complexity of everyday life. They explore ways to develop their strengths and assertiveness through games, role-play and discussions.

Forums

Our Forums are a place where thoughts and opinions about Preshil and the world are shared and discussed. Forums underpin the values and philosophies of Preshil. In paired year levels of 7 and 8, 9 and 10 and VCE, students come together to discuss issues that can range from “Should we be selling Fair Trade chocolate in the canteen?” to “How do we want our new VCE area to look and feel?” Committees are formed; action is taken; and consultative decision-making follows.

Peer Support

Each year a group of Year 10 students volunteers to become Group Mentors for those in Year 7. The senior students run one class a week and in doing so, pick up valuable leadership skills. The classes focus on fun, friendship and personal development in a small, safe environment. The bonding carries into the playground where the Year 7 students know they have an older student to support them as they adjust to the demands of being in a secondary school environment.