AddressTyrrell College is a P-12 school located in the Mallee town of Sea Lake, which is about 400 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. The community is mainly farm-based and the area is well known for its rich grain farming. Our purpose is to provide a safe, positive and challenging environment where everyone aspires to aim high and become responsible, caring and contributing community members.
Our three pillars are the development of high quality teaching and learning practices where learning is differentiated and progress is evidence based, and relationships between all community members are embedded and aligned with the College values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Aiming High. Partnerships with the wider community and parents are an essential and vital part of the College¿s operation. The parents, community, staff and students have high expectations of the College and the outcomes it provides for the students.
The College has excellent facilities set in a large, well-maintained precinct. The adjoining Community Centre provides for sporting and cultural activities and a Building the Education Revolution funded primary wing is an outstanding facility. The Student Family Occupation (SFO) index is 0.46 with 140 enrolled students.
For some years now, the College has had a strong focus on agricultural opportunities for students. In 2011, the school was recognised for its achievements and forward thinking with a National Australia Bank Schools First National Award ($500 000). Through this program the College is agricultural manager of two land holdings of 60 and 70 hectares each on different sides of Sea Lake, with VCE and VET students having opportunities in food and livestock production, some related opportunities for P-6 students, a core subject in Year 8, and an elective in Years 9-12. In 2022, the College was the successful applicant of the Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund in late 2022, securing funding of $200,000. This funding will aid Tyrrell College to deliver a hands-on agricultural program that provides a focus on the overall growth of agricultural industries. We hope to inspire our students to explore the many different pathway opportunities in the industry. As part of this project the school will create a new agricultural learning facility where an innovative and practical curriculum leveraging our existing resources, equipment, land, and industry connections, can be delivered.
The College has composite classes in F-6 and each year level from 7 to 12 is comprised of one class of students. VCE classes operate with one class per study. The College has implemented Pr1me Maths, which is an Internationally recognised contemporary mathematics program. Foundation to Year One students follow the Little Learner¿s Love Literacy program whilst SRA Spelling Mastery is taught three times a week to those in Years Two to Six. This is a research-proven program that uses the evidence-based Direct Instruction method to enable teachers to deliver highly interactive, structured lessons that help students learn dependable spelling skills. Intervention consists of maths tutoring and both Minilit and Macqlit for reading, spelling and phonics.
The College places a great emphasis on a fully-documented curriculum, which is rigorous and personalised, and is currently in the process of finalising the College-wide instructional model. The Victorian Curriculum and VCE curriculum inform curriculum delivery and the College's organisational structures for student learning. In 2023, the College is introducing exciting new studies in VCE, VET and Vocational Pathways to facilitate the new Senior Secondary Pathways Reform. Students at the College also have access to subjects through Virtual Schools Victoria and other external providers. Students can also access shared VCE subject delivery through our neighbouring school partnerships.
The College continues to advance its Agriculture programs (F-12) and digital teaching and learning profile with a College-wide 1-1 digital device program. All students in Foundation to Year 6 are allocated a school-managed iPad and have access to a small hub of laptops, as well as the computer lab. Students in Years 7 to 12 have a BYO 1-1 device of their choice, as well as access to the computer lab. Promethean boards have been installed in classrooms in both the primary and secondary areas. The curriculum offers studies in Digital Technologies (F-7), STEM (3-6 and Year 9) and VCE computing studies including Software Development and Systems Engineering. Students learn to apply code using floor robots and Lego robotics kits, and also have access to 3-D printing and drones.
The small student numbers provides a platform for relationship building between students and students, and students and teachers. Teachers have opportunities in this small school context to know students well, to spend more individual time with students, and to personalise learning for every student. Students participate in an extensive range of cultural, academic and sporting activities, including visiting performances, drama workshops, College productions, camps and excursions, and inter-college sports.[Enter Free Text Description here]
