Independent Schools Guide 2024: Rapid growth underway at Westbourne Grammar

Westbourne Grammar School is in one of the fastest-growing areas in Australia and is expanding itself.

But the vision for growth isn’t being driven simply by the geographical location – there is a deliberate strategy in place to build new and better campuses, to raise the number of students and teachers, and to grow each person’s potential.

In the past three years, student numbers across the Truganina and Williamstown campuses have grown from 1700 to 2000 and will rise to 2350 by 2027.

A proposed campus in Lovely Banks, on the outskirts of Geelong, is part of a new master-planned community and will enrol an additional 1500 students in the coming years.

“As you grow in scale, you need to grow your people, too, otherwise you stagnate,” says Principal Adrian Camm.

“I see Westbourne Grammar as a talent incubator that attracts, develops and retains the best professional staff and teachers. If our people are the best they can be, they will offer the best learning experiences to each child.”

Camm is determined to carve out well-defined pathways for all staff – from graduate teachers to the grounds staff who help maintain the school.

Internal development programs, leadership opportunities, postgraduate study, individual growth and development plans, conferences, and opportunities for staff to meet and share ideas are designed to support and grow skills, expertise and aspirations.

New graduate teachers are supported and mentored as they transition from studying to a full-time job, and all staff talents and interests are encouraged so they can continue to develop greater professional  expertise and confidence.

“Our three-tier Learning to Lead program is designed to develop leadership,” Camm says.

“It helps those who are seeking leadership opportunities for the first time and it also enhances the skills of leaders who want to step up and lead projects, faculties and schools.

“We support staff who want to study further and encourage staff to network and increase their standing in the educational community by sharing their expertise at conferences,” Camm says.

“We also regularly bring together teachers and professional staff because that cross-pollination creates a strong culture. When the Head of Maths interacts with our Head of Finance, they look at how things can be improved in the school from different and equally valuable perspectives.”

Fostering the growth of the Westbourne Grammar staff has obvious flow-on benefits for students.

“Every child experiences growth at our school, including academic, physical, social and emotional growth,” Camm says.

“We cater for individuality, meet students at their point of need and harness their interests and strengths.

We’ve been achieving outstanding academic results and we’ve recently had our best ATAR and NAPLAN results in the school’s history.

“That is important, but my focus is ensuring every child has a pathway to develop and succeed.”

The Westbourne Grammar community is diverse and includes students from 47 cultural backgrounds.

“We celebrate being very multicultural and are launching a program called Character Studies that enables students to get together and discuss big issues through a philosophical lens,” Camm says.

“We want our students to debate, hear different perspectives and engage in important conversations.

“Developing ‘good’ people – staff and students – who have a sense of character and agency and who have the skills, tools, attitudes and attributes to succeed in whatever they set their minds to – if we do that, we’ve done our job well.”

Westbourne Grammar School

Truganina Campus: 300 Sayers Road, Truganina, VIC 3029

Williamstown Campus: 67 The Strand, Newport, VIC 3015

westbournegrammar.com

Enquiries: info@westbournegrammar.vic.edu.au

Campus Tours: westbournegrammar.com/campus-tours

Years: ELC–Year 12

Denomination: Non-denominational

Gender: Co-educational

Fees: $17,600–$24,692

Boarding: No

Scholarships: Yes

ATAR (median for 2023): 85.65