AddressMuch like the town of Williamstown itself, Williamstown High School is steeped in a rich history. The Yalukit-willam clan of the Kulin nation were the first people to live where our two campuses are situated, and they called it "koort-boork-boork", meaning "She-oak, She-oak, many” - a reference to the abundance of She-oak trees across the Hobson’s Bay municipality. Today, the school maintains a focus on the environment with the Bayview Middle Years (7-9) Campus being located on the Port Phillip Bay waterfront, and featuring award-winning and environmentally sustainable building designs. The adjacent Jawbone Marine Sanctuary has also enabled the creation of an engaging and environmentally focused curriculum for students, that reflects the unique surroundings, and is complemented by our Marine Science program. The Pasco Later Years (10-12) Campus comprises a unique variety of architectural styles. Our oldest school building dates from 1867, and the most recent addition, our Centenary Theatre, opened in April 2017, contributing to a visually interesting and mature learning environment to meet the needs of our students as they move towards VCE studies.
POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS
A Williamstown High School education supports students to “Be Respectful, Be a Learner and Be Safe” - a message we have carefully crafted as a lead school in School Wide Positive Behaviours Support (SWPBS), and which is immediately visible throughout the school environment and enthusiastically supported by our 125 teachers and 30 ES Staff.
We create a dynamic learning culture that promotes integrity, innovation and the individual, and that values:
- excellence and creativity in our achievements and ambitions
- integrity and honesty in our actions and relationships
- diversity in our curriculum, in each other and in our community
- strong and open communication between our school and our homes, and between our teachers, our students and our families
- a commitment to social justice and a passion to protect and improve our environment and our community
HISTORY
Williamstown High School opened as a government high school in 1915 on the Pasco Street site of the original Williamstown Borough Grammar School. The school colours - red, yellow and black - were adopted from the flag of Belgium to draw inspiration from the spirit and resilience shown by the Belgians in World War One, and the anchor in the logo was used to honour the nearby Naval Depot. The school’s maritime association continued when our motto ‘Hold Fast’ - a sailing cry encouraging commitment, determination, loyalty, strength and courage, won out over “Don’t Drift”. Today, the school caters for more than 1480 students from years 7 to 12 on two campuses that are a ten-minute walk apart. The Bayview Street Middle Years Campus is built on the site of the former Point Gellibrand Girls’ Secondary College which it merged with in 2000. The Pasco Street Later Years Campus is housed in several heritage buildings, including the original 1867 Williamstown Borough Grammar School block. Centenary celebrations and strong community support has delivered a state-of-the-art 300 seat theatre to the campus, completing Stage One of the Performing Arts Centre of Excellence facilities.
OUR UNIQUE OFFERINGS
In addition to co-educational home groups, the school offers a Select Entry Accelerated Learning program, an International Students’ program and a dynamic and growing STEM/STEAM culture where our students engage in Robotics and other technologies that are fast-becoming essential areas of need and development as the twenty-first century progresses. We also offer an Accelerated Sports program which includes triathlon, netball, soccer, basketball, cricket and lacrosse. Our excellent Music Program includes multiple Concert/Stage Bands and Guitar/Vocal Ensembles, in addition to Classroom and VET Music Programs. Our ensembles perform regularly, including at Generations in Jazz, the Victorian State Band Championships and numerous other local and interstate events. Our very special and iconic ‘Warchild’ concert also showcases the incredible talents of our young people and staff working together at this annual event.
While Williamstown High School is proud to perform strongly in NAPLAN, VCE Study Scores and ATAR results, we are most proud when we can help our diverse community of students grow, and that means from whatever position they are starting from. Our Literacy and Numeracy initiatives, community connections, care for our students’ wellbeing and the wellbeing of their learning, and attention to the pathways they will embark upon after moving on from us, means our focus on students’ growth and opportunities is targeted and ongoing, so that they can become their best selves. We encourage you to apply to join our special community, where we will warmly welcome you to contribute to the education and success of our young people.
