URRBRAE AGRICULTURAL

HIGH SCHOOL

MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION

2016

Introducing Urrbrae

Urrbrae Agricultural High School is the only comprehensive special interest agricultural school in South Australia. It

has developed well beyond the original vision of Peter Waite, who bequeathed the land (46 hectares) to the State in

1918 (although the school did not open until 1932). Waite's vision was to provide city dwelling students with the

opportunity to learn about and engage in the primary industry of agriculture. While Waite's view of agriculture focused

on traditional elements of cropping and livestock, Urrbrae today promotes an understanding of a wide and diverse

range of agriculture, horticulture, landcare and environmental issues for its students as well as the wider community.

Urrbrae, through its innovative and creative planning, has a national and international reputation as an exemplary

model of educating for a sustainable future.

Urrbrae has developed strong alliances with government, educational, scientific and industry organizations. Many of

our programs have support from companies who provide opportunities for work experience, traineeships and

apprenticeships for our students as well as through donations of equipment, industry experience for teachers and

input for the development of highly practical and up to date educational programs. The Urrbrae Skill Centre, used for

Vocational and Educational Training (VET) programs was developed with funding from the Australian National

Training Authority. Each of the twenty farm enterprises has strategic industry and/or professional partnerships.

The TAFE schools of Horticulture and Environmental Management share the same campus presenting further options

for collaborative projects. As well, partnerships with the tertiary sector, the South Australian Research and

Development Institute (SARDI), and the CSIRO provide additional valuable learning opportunities for our students and

staff.

It is the physical resources that enhance the learning environment for students and Urrbrae is fortunate to have some

of the best teaching facilities of any school in Australia. The redeveloped school was opened in 2001 and includes

modern teaching classrooms, a joint school/TAFE Learning Resource Centre, new science and agricultural

laboratories, well-equipped technology workshops and farm buildings. Central to the agriculture curriculum is the 25

hectare farm which comprises animal and plant enterprises including a suffolk sheep stud, a poll hereford stud, an

eight sow piggery, poultry, boer goats, horses, alpacas, aquaculture, bee hives, reptiles, native animals and food, a

vineyard and winery, olive processing, an orchard, vegetables, a plant nursery incorporating glasshouses,

shadehouses and laboratories, and waste management systems. The wetland (initially developed in 1996 and

extended in 2004) is used extensively across the Urrbrae curriculum, as well as hosting more than 5000 student

visitors from other schools each year.

Urrbrae is recognised as a centre of excellence in student learning with a focus on agriculture, technology and the

environment. Our motto is "Science with Practice" and this principle is integrated in all activities across the school.

The school community has clearly identified the values of respect, honesty and trust as guiding principles. Quality

relationships between students, their families, staff and the community provide a solid foundation from which to work.

We recognize that a sense of belonging promotes positive outcomes, and we encourage student involvement in a

diverse range of activities to promote feelings of pride and success. Students are encouraged to make a positive

difference to the lives of others, the environment and society as a whole.

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Feeling at Home at Urrbrae

Urrbrae prides itself on providing a positive and supportive learning environment for all. Staff and students together

develop, promote and implement the school values of respect, trust and honesty. The school promotes and supports

positive outcomes for students in academic, service and co-curricular fields.

High school represents an exciting and important change in a student's life. Urrbrae offers a number of initiatives to

support these changes.

An Orientation Day is held in December, at which new Urrbrae students visit the school for half a day. New Year 8

students meet their Home Group teachers, peer leaders and other students in their class.

Pastoral Care

The emotional and social needs of each student are given a high priority to enable a smooth transition to secondary

school. An initial orientation period encourages students to meet new friends, as well as introducing them to the

routines and expectations of high school. During this period, the support mechanisms available through Student

Services are discussed and explained. A regular pastoral care lesson in the weekly timetable includes a

comprehensive transition program covering a range of topics and activities.

Year 8 Home Group Teachers are committed to supporting students in their early induction into high school life.

Each Year 8 group has two Home Group Teachers, with each of them teaching the class for at least one subject

where possible. The Home Group Teachers also lead the Pastoral Care program. Home Group Teachers are the

main point of contact between home and the school.

An overnight Year 8 Camp is held during week 2 of term 1, and is a significant part of the initial orientation period. It

enables the students, peer leaders, and Home Group teachers to get to know one another better, away from the

demands of the routine school day.

Peer Leaders are Year 11 students who undertake training during Year 10 in areas such as supportive listening,

mediation and leadership skills. Each Home Group usually has four Peer Leaders. In the first few days of the new

school year, Peer Leaders spend a great deal of time with "their" class and remain with the Year 8s during the breaks,

showing students around, answering questions, reassuring the anxious, and generally assisting students to quickly

feel at home. They continue to regularly attend Home Group periods and provide leadership and support for Year 8s

on special occasions such as assemblies and the camp. This program is not only valuable for the Year 11 students

who participate, but provides continuing peer support for Year 8s to complement the support provided by staff.

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Student Services provides support for all students at Urrbrae. Student Counsellors, the Pastoral Care Worker

(formerly the Chaplain), Year Level Coordinators, a Middle and Senior School Senior Leader and the Assistant

Principal Student Wellbeing are all available to assist students with personal or school related issues.

Our expectations with regard to student behaviour follow DECD guidelines. We therefore provide for and support

opportunities for student success, safeguard the rights of students to learn and teachers to teach, and recognise

behaviour as a choice with attendant responsibilities and consequences. We have a clearly stated Anti-Bullying

Policy which protects and supports students. We want Urrbrae to be a happy and safe place for all those who attend.

There is a clearly stated Uniform Policy and students who attend Urrbrae Agricultural High School are expected to

understand and follow this Policy.

Opportunities for student leadership exist at all year levels at Urrbrae , with a range of diverse programs such as

Peer Leadership, a Student Representative Council, Urrbrae Trails, Google Cadets, Digital Leaders and various clubs

and student-based initiatives.

The Student Representative Council provides a voice and services for students. Year 8 students can participate in

this through Home Group representation. The SRC is very effective in providing all students with the opportunity to

participate in school decision making.

Beyond the Classroom

Urrbrae Agricultural High School provides students with the opportunity to engage in a variety of programs that enable

them to explore their true potential, extend and expand on their knowledge base and further develop their analytical

and problem solving skills.

Examples of these programs include:

Numerous showing, judging and leadership programs at livestock and agricultural shows

Curriculum based activities such as the Oliphant Science Awards, and many Mathematics, English and Art

competitions

Urrbrae Trails, which gives Urrbrae students the chance to lead visiting primary school students and

members of the public around the farm and help them to learn about the environment and sustainability

World Challenge, which provides students with the chance to volunteer in teams in disadvantaged

communities overseas

Integrated learning which links the Wetlands with enrichment in Agriculture, Science and Humanities

World Vision Fundraising

There are also numerous opportunities for students to participate in co-curricular activities. There is an extensive list

of agricultural-based lunchtime clubs, general interest clubs and a wide variety of sporting activities.

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Examples of lunchtime clubs include the sheep, horse, pig, poultry, steer, heifer, bee, alpaca, goat, plant, marsupial,

Wetlands and photography clubs. Other activities are offered from time to time depending on student interest and

staff specialisation, and currently include the opportunity for students to be Digital Leaders (students who provide

input into, and train staff in the development of E-learning at Urrbrae) and the Environmental Focus Group (students

who research environmental issues specific to Urrbrae and lead learning for other students, including students from

outside of Urrbrae).

Students are provided with opportunities to represent Urrbrae Agricultural High School in a variety of sporting

activities:

zone sport competitions where Urrbrae competes against other schools in our zone, are played on various

days after school. A range of sports are offered based on availability and student interest.

knockout sport involving competitions Statewide run by the South Australian Secondary Schools Sports

Association. The range of offerings is broad, and depends on student interest.

championships and carnivals organised by various sporting bodies. Activities offered in the past include

cross country, athletics, cycling, triathlon, surfing, golf and orienteering.

Lunchtime clubs at Urrbrae

Alpaca club Horse club Sheep club Aquaculture club Marsupial club(Year 8 only) Cattle club (Steers) (Year 10 -12

only) Bee club Pig club Photography Club Cattle (Heifer) club Plant club Google Cadets Goat club Poultry club Digital Leaders All Year 8’s are expected to join at least one lunchtime club

Parent Participation and Involvement

A very strong support network has been established by the parents of the school over many years. This support

contributes significantly to the ethos and tradition of the school. Parents can become involved through the canteen,

library, sport and the School Council and its sub-committees.

What do you study at Urrbrae?

The special focus of the Urrbrae curriculum is the study of Agriculture, including Horticulture, with secondary foci on

studies of the environment and technology.

In the Middle School (Years 8-9), students at Urrbrae Agricultural High School undertake study in eight areas of the

curriculum. These are Agriculture, The Arts, Design and Technology, English, Health and Physical Education,

Mathematics, Science, and Studies of Society and the Environment. As students move from Year 8 to 9 and Year 9

to 10, they have opportunities to choose to study particular aspects of some of the learning areas.

Within the Senior School (Years 10-12), students may choose courses across a broad range of offerings or may

choose to specialise in a particular Urrbrae Pathway. University and TAFE entrance and Vocational Education and

Training are well catered for within the school program.

Senior school students choose whether they wish to continue their studies in the special focus areas of Agriculture,

the Environment and Technology, or whether they wish continue their studies within the broad range offered by the

school.

Detailed information about subjects offered in the senior school, and the pathways that can be followed is available

from the Course Information section on the school website: www.urrbraehs.sa.edu.au. A hard copy of this information

is distributed to students prior to the career and course counselling processes which occur during Terms 2 and 3 each

year.

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Year 8

All students study a full year of:

Agriculture

English

Mathematics

Science, and

Humanities

All students study either:

a full year of Health and Physical Education, or

a full year of Music (The Arts learning area)

Students who choose a full year of HPE also study:

a semester (half year) of The Arts (Drama and Visual Art)

a semester of Technologies

Students who choose a full year of Music also study:

a semester of Health and Physical Education

a semester of Technologies

Year 9

Students make subject choices for Year 9 during Term 3 of Year 8

All students study a full year of:

Agriculture

English

Mathematics

Science, and

Humanities

All students study a semester of offerings in the following Learning Areas

The Arts (1 semester)

Technologies (1 semester)

Health and Physical Education

All students study one more semester chosen from offerings in the following learning areas

The Arts

Technologies

Health and Physical Education

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Graduate Qualities

The Urrbrae curriculum offers students the opportunity to develop lifelong learning skills and strategies both in the

classroom and in the wider school context. Employers and enterprises are increasingly seeking a more highly skilled

workforce possessing generic and transferable skills and qualities as well as the capacity to learn and apply

knowledge.

At Urrbrae we believe that, as well as achieving a pass in all subject areas, there are six specific qualities that

students should be aiming to attain before they graduate. These Graduate Qualities are as follows:

Effective Communicator

Teamwork

Citizenship (digital and working world)

Initiative and Enterprise

Planning and Organising

Self-management

These Gradate Qualities enhance the social capital of our community. Students at Urrbrae have unique opportunities

to develop these qualities through the variety of clubs and curricula and co-curricula activities which are on offer.

All students spend time documenting evidence of attainment of these Graduate Qualities during the Pastoral Care

program. The Graduate Qualities can be attained through involvement in academic studies, sporting activities,

cultural activities and enterprise activities at school, at home and in the community. Students are expected to provide

evidence of the first three Graduate Qualities by the end of their middle schooling and the final three by the time they

leave Urrbrae at the end of Year 12.

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Middle School Subject Summaries

Agriculture

Topic Summary

Year 8 Year 9

Plant Studies

Vegetable Garden

Introduction to Horticulture and Cereal Crops

Plant Studies

Vines /Fruit Trees/ Cereals

Animal Studies

Layer poultry

Farm animals - animal breeds and uses

Animal Studies

Pigs or Meat Chickens

Farm Environment Scientific Investigation

Wetlands/Landcare

Home Project Agricultural Pathways/Careers

Aquaculture

Agricultural Clubs

The clubs as listed earlier in this booklet are run by Agricultural and other interested teachers. They are associated

with the different enterprises we run on our school farm, and are a great opportunity for students to gain knowledge

and practical experience in a range of areas. Students receive recognition for their regular attendance and

participation. Relevant industry leaders visit club meetings to discuss issues relating to their industry.

Home Project

As an extension to Year 8 Agricultural Studies at school, students complete a practical activity at home, of at least 14

weeks duration. Selection of an activity will be greatly influenced by seasonal considerations, but all projects are

completed by the end of Week 9, Term 3.

The Home Project allows students -

To gain experience in an area of agriculture

To develop organization and management skills

To observe and record the progress of the project

To communicate information about the project in both written and oral form.

Shows and Excursions

Students have an opportunity to attend several Shows as part of their Club involvement. These include: Mt Pleasant,

Mt Barker, Gawler and Royal Adelaide. All Year 8 students participate in an excursion to the Royal Adelaide Show

with their Agriculture teacher and peer leaders.

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The Arts

Middle School students have the opportunity to study Music, Drama, Art, Design and Media (Year 9 only). Students

who wish to continue with The Arts can follow SACE pathways in all these subjects at Stage 1 and Stage 2.

At Year 8 students study both Art and Drama for a term each, or Music for a full year. Art and Drama are short

introductory courses for students to experience these subjects at secondary level so that they can make informed

decisions for the selection of semester or full year courses later. Students who have chosen a full year of Music at

Year 8 can still choose to study Art, Design, Media and/or Drama in other year levels.

At Year 9 students can again choose a full year or semester of Music or semesters from Art, Design, Drama and/or

Media.

Art/Design

Students cover essential Art and Design skills involving colour theory, perspective, observation, drawing and drawing

from imagination. Students use a variety of traditional art media and contemporary electronic media. They

experience working with paint, printmaking and sculpture. They look at the work of artists and designers and discuss

the influence of artists in what we see around us every day.

Drama

Students cover essential Drama skills of using their voice, improvising, developing characters and mime. The focus is

on building confidence and creativity, working in small and large groups and developing performance, staging and

audience skills.

Music

All students enrolled in Music play their chosen instrument in class ensembles/bands, study music theory and music

appreciation and have the opportunity to join extra-curricular lunchtime ensembles and to perform at concerts

organised throughout the year.

Students who choose to study music will need to learn, or already be learning, an instrument in addition to the Music

class. Tuition (at cost) is available through the school with visiting instrumental teachers (one lesson per week), or

students may learn from a private music tutor outside the school.

Media

This subject commences in Year 9. Students develop and understanding of communication media. The course is

mainly practical with a focus on the production of media such as video, radio, print, advertising and web pages.

The classes take place in a well-equipped Media block using industry standard editing software.

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English

The curriculum is built around the strands of Language, Literature and Literacy, to develop students’ knowledge,

understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. Teachers revisit and strengthen

concepts, skills and processes developed in earlier years as needed. Students interpret, create, evaluate, discuss

and perform a wide range of texts, including texts designed to inform and persuade.

Students work and learn in well-equipped classrooms. Students are encouraged to take part in activities such as the

Premier's Reading Challenge, the MS Readathon, the Meet the Writers Festival, and writing and debating

competitions.

Students will be expected to:

Study Print, Visual and Multimodal Texts

Produce Texts and engage in a Language Study

Analyse Texts

Perform Written Tasks under timed conditions

Students attend one or more performances, which bear a cost extra to school fees of about $20 in total. Students

complete ACER PAT-Reading assessments twice a year to inform teaching and learning.

At Year 9, classes are levelled as Advanced, Standard and Modified, with placement based upon Year 8 results in

combination with teacher recommendation.

Health and Physical Education

At Year 8 students complete two semesters of Health and Physical Education (unless they are Music students, in

which case they complete only one). A range of sports is included. The focus is on Being Healthy, Safe and Active,

Communicating and Interacting for Health and Wellbeing, Contributing to Healthy and Active Communities, Moving

our Body, and Understanding and Learning through Movement.

In the full year H&PE course, students complete a 10 week Home Economics unit. The focus of this unit is on

vegetables and strong links are made with the vegetables grown in Agriculture to encourage the consumption of

vegetables and a healthy diet.

An extensive unit of Health Education is also included. The focus is on developing decision-making skills.

Students at every year level are expected to change into the Physical Education Uniform. Modifications are made to

the program for students with long-term medical problems.

At Year 9 students must study one compulsory semester of Health and Physical Education. The course gives equal

time to Health and Physical Education. In Health the students study fitness of individuals and the community,

recreational drugs, alcohol and the young person and sexuality. In Physical Education, students work on a variety of

highly energetic team sports such as Touch, European Handball, Ultimate Frisbee etc, to promote participation in and

enjoyment of physical activity as a lifestyle choice.

Students have the opportunity to select a second semester of study from the following:

Physical Education, which develops further some of the practical skills covered in Year 8 as well as

introducing new ones. The focus is on Fitness, Community Recreation, Sport, Sports Injuries Theory and

Biomechanics.

Home Economics, which has an emphasis on Food as a Socialiser, Cottage Industry Foods, Foods of other

Cultures and Menu Planning and Entertaining.

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Humanities

This subject is taught over two semesters and combines topics in Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship, and

Economics and Business. Topics covered are:

Year 8 Year 9

Geography

Landforms and Landscapes

Changing Nations

Geography

Geographies of Interconnections

History

Japan under the Shoguns

The Black Death

Medieval History

History

The Industrial Revolution

Forming a Nation

World War 1 and the ANZAC spirit

Civics and Citizenship

The Law and You

Civics and Citizenship

Value of International Tourism to Australia

Government, Democracy and Law

Economics and Business

Domestic Tourism Business Case Study

Economics and Business

Biomes and Food Security

Mathematics

Students explore mathematical content and develop mathematical skills described by the four proficiencies:

Understanding, Fluency, Problem Solving and Reasoning. Modified, Standard and Advanced courses are offered to

support different learners, with smaller groups in Modified to allow for time to support student improvement, and

appropriate adjustments made to assessment at all levels. Students can move from Modified courses during the year

if appropriate.

Below is a chart indicating what is taught at each Year Level:

Year 8 Year 9

Number and Percentages

Algebra, Laws and Equations

Geometry of Polygons

Coordinate Geometry

Statistics and Probability

Measurement – length, area, volume

Rates, Proportion, Ratios

Algebra, Indices and Formulae

Measurement, Surds and Pythagoras

Factorisation, Linear and Simultaneous Equations

Coordinate Geometry

Trigonometry

Probability

Additional information

Students undertake the ACER PAT-Mathematics assessments twice a year to inform teaching and learning.

Calculators and appropriate Information and Communication Technologies are used throughout each year.

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Science

The Year 8 and 9 Science courses at Urrbrae integrate study in the four branches of science (Biology, Chemistry,

Geology, Physics) in easily accessible units that are designed to make science relevant to students’ experiences and

appropriate to the Urrbrae setting.

Topics covered are:

Year 8 Year 9

Working Scientifically and States of Matter

Rocks and Minerals

Using Energy

Cells and Digestion

Elements and Materials

Living Systems

Mining

Heat Energy

Atoms

Plate Tectonics

Light, Sound and EMR

Coordination, Control and Disease

Living Together

Types of Reactions

Electrical Energy

Technologies

Urrbrae is renowned for its outstanding Design and Technology facilities and its innovative "state of the art" courses. .

Urrbrae aims to reflect modern industrial practices with an emphasis on Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer

Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and computer controlled (CNC) machines and 3D printers. We have extensive

industry sponsorship and Urrbrae has pioneered the use of high-level industry standard CAD software "Unigraphics

NX" and CAD/CAM software "Surfcam". Courses focus on designing solutions to practical problems with an

emphasis on CAD/CAM, modern industry practice and the environment.

At Year 8 all students complete one semester which covers many aspects of the learning area. Students design and

make products from a variety of materials, solve practical problems and learn to work safely in a workshop

environment. Students move with the one teacher through different areas and complete work in electronics,

Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), digital technology, wood, sheet metal,

web publishing and 3D printing

At Year 9 students choose semester length courses from the list below. All courses involve solving problems and

working safely in a practical environment with a focus on design, technical communication, modern industrial

practices and the environment.

Electronics: Students learn through the use of circuit wizard software and building a project and practice basic

electronic principles of circuit analysis, design and construction.

Computer Aided Design: Students are introduced to CAD using "Siemens NX" software.

Environmental Technology: Students investigate issues surrounding sustainable energy technology and use

various materials to model these systems and principles.

Metal Technology: Students design and make metal products, solve practical problems and learn to work safely in

the workshop and with machines.

Wood Technology: Students design and make wood products, solve practical problems and learn to work safely in

the workshop and with machines.

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Information and Communications Technologies

Urrbrae values the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as tools that facilitate creativity,

structured thinking, organisation, communication, collaboration and presentation.

Our teaching areas are equipped as digital classrooms with projectors, interactive whiteboards and high quality sound

systems. In conjunction with school facilities, Urrbrae has a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program for general

classroom use. The BYOD program allows students to A) buy a recommended laptop bundle; B) bring a laptop that

they already own and use it at school, or C) use the school laptops on a lesson by lesson basis, by application to the

Principal. This offers students the ability to choose the device they are most comfortable using.

Secure internet access is provided at school and school resources, including assessment plans and tasks are online.

These can also be accessed securely from home and login in details are provided for both students and parents.

Some learning areas have specialised hardware and software that have particular application within their associated

industries. Design and Technology use CAD/CAM packages. Sony Vegas and Sonar are used in media for industry

standard movie and audio editing. The Arts use music writing and editing programs as well as industry standard

graphic manipulation packages such as the Adobe Design Suite. Maths and Science use software for graphing,

geographical mapping (GIS), and investigative science software for topics such as the solar system and the human

body. Software packages for farm management help with record keeping, paddock management and livestock

recording.

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Financial Information

School charges

The School Council sets a material and services fee for students each year in 2016, this was set at $730.00. This

includes levies for Information Technology, Agriculture, Sport and Pastoral Care worker support, plus an initial student

computer printing fee.

Year 8 students are required to attend the orientation Camp in Week 2 of Term 1 and this bears a separate cost of

$130.00.

If students elect to buy a laptop within the school's Bring Your own Device scheme, there are separate costs involved

in this purchase.

The school year book "Harvest" is extra, and can be ordered and paid for early in the year for issue in December.

Families are encouraged to make a tax deductable contribution to the School Building Fund.

Not included in the charges above are the costs of co-curricula activities, such as excursions, camps or theatre visits,

music tuition and musical instrument hire. Students may also be charged for materials for take home projects in Art,

Design and Technology or Home Economics.

Application for School Card is renewable each year. An amount is granted to the school for each approved School

Card holder. We ask that parents pay the balance.

Text books and stationery

Text books are distributed by the school to students as they are required. The provision of stationery packs including

some specific subject workbooks has been out-sourced and requires payment directly to the company concerned.

Details are provided to all families during Term 4.

School uniform

Our Uniform Shop, located in the Canteen Building, is managed by Devon Clothing, and is usually open on two

mornings each week during school time. New students have the opportunity to order their uniform needs during Term

4 of the year before they commence at Urrbrae. The main branch of Devon Clothing is located at 84 Daws Road,

Edwardstown.

Mortlock Scholarships

Mortlock Scholarships are from a bequest to Urrbrae Agricultural High School by the Mortlock family and are awarded

each year to Urrbrae students based on their academic results. These scholarships are available to students from

Year 9 onwards.

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Applying for entry to Urrbrae

Entry to Urrbrae Agricultural High School is not restricted by zoning rights and each year students come from across

the metropolitan area and country districts. The school is accessible by public transport from all metropolitan

suburbs. Sibling rights do not apply and there is a ceiling on the number of students who can be enrolled. Urrbrae

does not have boarding facilities, but can assist families to find home stay accommodation.

Applications

An application for Urrbrae must:

Include a completed Application for Enrolment in Year 8 at Urrbrae cover sheet.

Address the selection criteria. The selection criteria may be addressed in writing, for example in the form of

a letter, or in any other way which provides evidence which meets the selection criteria.

Include a copy of the student's two most recent school reports.

Include a $20 non-refundable Administration fee.

In addition, applicants will need to give a Student Information form to their current school for completion. This will be

returned direct to Urrbrae by the current school.

Selection criteria

Students are selected based on the degree to which they have provided evidence of:

A demonstrated interest in, and commitment to, any or all of the school’s focus areas of Agriculture,

Horticulture, the Environment and Technology

A demonstrated positive attitude towards learning, school and study.

Participation in a range of co-curricular activities.

A willingness to join with and build an Urrbrae school and community spirit.

Other Information

Please do not submit an application on a CD as these days very few devices are able to read them. Please submit

digital applications on USB.

Closing Date for Applications

Completed applications should reach the school by 5pm on Wednesday 4th May 2016. Please address completed

applications to:

Student Services

Urrbrae Agricultural High School

505 Fullarton Road

NETHERBY SA 5062

For further enquiries, contact Student Services on 8372 6955 or by email at dl.0798.admin@schools.sa.edu.au

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Application Process - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the process that the school uses to assess applications?

A panel of senior staff considers each application in terms of the degree to which they provide evidence of the

selection criteria. Each application is awarded points against each criterion (see below)

Selection Criteria Maximum points

1 A demonstrated interest in and commitment to

Agriculture, and/or

Horticulture, and/or

The environment, and/or

Technology

20

2 A demonstrated positive attitude towards learning, school and study, including academic merit

20

3 Participation in a range of co-curricular activities both in and out of school

5

4 A willingness to join with and build an Urrbrae school and community spirit

5

Each application is given a final point score, and the applications are then ranked in order of score from highest to lowest.

How are offers of enrolment made? There is an enrolment ceiling (208 students) which determines the number of offers of enrolment which can be made. The first round of offers of enrolment is made to the group of highest ranked applications up to this ceiling, in early June.

What does it mean if I am on the Waiting List? Students who meet the Selection Criteria, but whose place in the rank of applications exceeds the ceiling, are put on the ranked Waiting List.

Some students decline their first round offer of enrolment, creating vacancies. A second round of offers of enrolment is made from the ranked Waiting List to fill these vacancies up to the ceiling. Any subsequent vacancies are filled promptly from the ranked Waiting List, a process which sometimes continues until the beginning of the following school year.

Does being on the Waiting List mean that eventually I will be offered a place? Unfortunately, it is possible that students on the Waiting List will not be offered a place if no vacancy becomes available.

What does “Meeting the Selection Criteria” mean? In order to meet the Selection Criteria, students must

Provide evidence towards each of the 4 Selection Criteria, and

Achieve a score of at least 25 points. Students who do not satisfy both of the above dot points do not meet the Selection Criteria and are not offered a place, nor are they placed on the Waiting List.

Can I find out how long the Waiting List is and where my child is on the Waiting List? DECD policy prohibits the school from providing students or parents with information about the size of the Waiting List, or about an individual’s place on the Waiting List.

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Appeals Process

Families who wish to appeal the outcome of the Application Process can do so in the first instance by contacting

Cassie Dickeson at the school by telephone (8372 6955) or email cassie.dickeson944@schools.sa.edu.au. The

process for considering appeals is as follows:

Families are given feedback about their child’s application, including the score it received for each of the

Selection Criteria

Families who still wish to appeal the process need to lodge their appeal on the Application Appeal Form

provided to them on request after receiving feedback

Applications will be reconsidered on receipt of the Application Appeal Form, by a panel of senior staff

A successful appeal will result in

Either

o an applicant being moved to the Waiting List in rank order with other applicants (if the appeal

results in a decision that the applicant has met the Selection Criteria)

Or

o an applicant being moved up the Waiting List in rank order with other applicants (if the appeal

results in a decision that more points should have been awarded to the application)

Families will be advised in writing of the outcome of their Appeal.

Families should note that the Appeal Process will not consider any new information about an applicant. All details

which an applicant wants considered by the panel at any stage of the process must be included in the

original application.

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Frequently asked questions about Urrbrae

What is the total enrolment of the school?

o Approximately 1000 students

What is the average size of Year 8 home groups?

o We have eight Year 8 home groups, with an average of 26 students in each.

What are class sizes in practical and non-practical subjects?

o Class sizes vary depending on the type of activity being undertaken. Practical classes are smaller

because of Work Health and Safety requirements.

How is a typical day organised?

o Each day, apart from Wednesday, has 6 lessons. School starts at 8:45am and finishes at 3:25pm.

Single lessons are 50 or 55 minutes long. Double lessons are 105 minutes long. Each subject has

two single lessons, and one double lesson per week. On Wednesdays, there are only 5 lessons,

with dismissal early at 2:35pm. Recess is 20 minutes and lunch is 45 minutes long.

I've seen lots of opportunities for students to learn in very practical ways at Open Day. Is more

academic study important at Urrbrae?

o Even though Urrbrae has an Agriculture/Horticulture/Technology/Environment focus, we are also a

highly successful comprehensive school which offers the full range of subjects in every learning

area at all year levels (excluding Languages).

o Our NAPLAN results in year 9 in 2015 were as follows:

Participation rate: 95%

% of students above the National Minimum Standard:

Reading 96

Writing 82

Spelling 87

Grammar and Punctuation 88

Numeracy 99

o Last year our South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) completion rate was 94%.

o Our highest Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score in 2015 was 97.45 of a possible 100.

This ATAR score enables admission to Medicine (with the UMAT) and Veterinary Science.

o 3 students achieved a Merit Certificate (score of 20/20) in a Year 12 subject.

o 12 Students achieved an ATAR above 90 in the top 10 % of the state. This ATAR makes University

courses like Speech Pathology, Nanotechnology and Midwifery accessible.

o 32 students achieved 2 or more A’s for their results.

o A+ grades were awarded to our students in the focus area related subjects of Agricultural and

Horticultural Studies.

o Our SACE grade distribution was

A 19%

B 49%

C 27%

D 4%

E 1%

o Our average ATAR was 70.4.

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o Our 2015 Year 12s gained entry to the following courses in 2016

Science (including the specialisation Wildlife Conservation, Nanotechnology,

Environmental Science, Animal Behaviour, Forensic Science, Marine Biology &

Aquaculture, Animal Science, Biotechnology, Biodiversity & Conservation, Agricultural

Science, Geospatial Science)

Engineering (including Chemical, Biomedical, Petroleum)

Mathematical Sciences

Medical Science

Education

Nursing

Health Science

Human Movement

Arts and Creative Arts

Commerce

o 61% of Students who applied to University gained their first preference University course.

o 42 students completed a School based Apprenticeship or Traineeship in 2015, while 6 went onto an

Apprenticeship after leaving Urrbrae.

Apart from University, what other kinds of pathways do Urrbrae students follow?

o School based Apprenticeships within the Mechanical and Engineering trades that are related to

Agriculture are very popular

o The most highly sought after Vocational and Educational Training (VET) courses at present are in

Hair and Beauty

Media

Electrotechnology

Information Technology

Sport and Recreation

Fitness

Early Childhood Education and Care

Construction

What role does TAFE on site play in the life of the school?

o TAFE classes use separate classrooms to school classrooms – these classrooms are located away from

school students

o Having TAFE on site enhances our leadership of Horticulture education

o Our students have ready access to TAFE resources and courses

How do you report on student progress to parents?

o Reports go home at the end of each term. There are two long reports (including grades and written

comments) and two short reports (grades and ratings of learning behaviours). We have a parent-teacher

interview night at the beginning of term 2. Daymap is the Learner Management System that the school

uses to communicate information to parents and students about individual tasks and learning programs in

different subjects.

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