Principal's Column

Welcome to Kensington Community High School, a school that prides itself on practical learning initiatives, a safe and supportive educational environment and improved futures for students.  At Kensington we believe in providing a quality education to students who have had difficulty accessing or maintaining an education within the mainstream education system.

Students from years 7 to 12 have a choice of targeted and managed electives that provide students with a broad and engaging curriculum program. At years 10, 11 and 12 Vocational Education and Training (VET) certificate programs are also provided with a focus on easing the transition between school and the workforce. In Years 11 and 12 a VCAL program is offered with emphasis placed on practical “hands on”, applied learning. This is supported through strong links with the Local Learning and Employment Network, CERES, Youth Connections, the School Focused Youth Program and Selmar Institute of Education. These organisations work closely with the school to assist in meeting the needs of students both during their education and upon finishing at Kensington. Engagement and interaction with the wider community are key aspects of the learning process and such partnerships give students a solid foundation for a positive future.

The emphasis at Kensington Community High School is also on committing a high level of resourcing toward student development in order to ensure that the students are supported in a positive teaching and learning environment. The staff to student ratio is sufficient to allow staff the opportunity to address the very complex needs of individual students. We also have a school welfare team focused on supporting teaching and learning and the development of students as socially responsible members of the community. Enhancing such an environment are initiatives designed to guide and support students through the learning process. These include Individual Learning Plans to assist students’ progress and individual digital portfolios for students’ assessment.

A major part of engaging with students is to provide a learning environment that focuses on aspects of the student’s development perhaps not addressed in other areas of their lives. This includes aspects such as encouraging respect for others, taking responsibility for individual behaviour and support for students to resolve conflict positively. We at Kensington believe strongly in working closely with parents and caregivers to achieve the best possible outcome for each student in all areas of their education and provide the foundations for a successful and fulfilling future.

Kensington Community High School- “Practical Learning for Positive Futures”

Gary Power

Principal