Wyndham College

Wyndham College

"Working Together to Widen Horizons"
Location
Quakers Hill, New South Wales
Australia Australia
Information
Type Government, Public Co-Educational Day School
Denomination Non Denominational
Established 1999
Principal Mrs Karen Smith
Staff 60 staff
Enrolment 850 students (Year 11 & 12)
Colour(s) Blue, Grey and White             
Slogan The Wyndham Way
Website web3.wyndhamcol-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Wyndham College is a government senior secondary school located at Quakers Hill, New South Wales, Australia.[1]

Established in 1999, its intake of students comes from three surrounding high schools, namely Quakers Hill High School, Riverstone High School, and Seven Hills High School. They, with Wyndham College, make the Nirimba Collegiate Group of Schools. The Collegiate group operates in such a way that each school maintains its independence yet they are closely related through the collaborative leadership of the four principals involved and through sharing at all levels including staffing and resources.[2]

The College is situated on the Nirimba Education Precinct co-located with: the University of Western Sydney, Blacktown; Western Sydney Institute of TAFE-Nirimba College and Terra Sancta College, Senior Campus.[3][4] Set in a bushland environment, Wyndham College has native award winning gardens and a tributary of Eastern Creek flows through the campus.[5]

The College provides an academic and vocational subject offering for students with a range of learning experiences. Students have the opportunity to access courses offered by the College, University and TAFE. The HSC Life Skills Program is provided for support students identified with mild or moderate disabilities.

Visual artworks completed by students from the college are regularly nominated and featured in Art Express.[6]

History

Wyndham College was named after the previous NSW Director General of Education, Harold Wyndham who was visionary in implementing the HSC for Year 12 students and the School Certificate for Year 10 students. The structure of the Nirimba Collegiate recognises that an emphasis on links between Universities, TAFE Colleges and schools helps to cater for the needs of all students in an "adult style" learning environment. It allows students to be treated as "seniors" in the luxury of a separate campus from the collegiate Years 7-10 schools.[7] Wyndham College is built on the former site of the naval training base HMAS Nirimba, and the campus derives its name, "Nirimba Education Precinct", from this historical connection.[8]

School Crest

Wyndham College's crest was designed by the school's founding principal, Mr Ian Wing, in 1998. The crest features Wyndhams's motto of "Working Together to Widen Horizons", with a representation of a book. Traditionally the book is associated with learning and the motto refers to the broad curriculum that the students have access to through the school's links with the precinct partners - TAFE, University of Western Sydney and Terra Sancta College.[9]

Wyndham College Clock Tower

Facilities

Facilities Facilities
Gymnasium Hall
Canteen Library
Performance Workspace Industrial Arts Workshop
Photography Darkroom Swimming Pool
Multiple Sports Fields and Open Recreational Areas Kitchen
Science Laboratory Computer & Laptop Laboratories
Retail & Office Training Spaces Trade School (Hospitality School now open)
Good Wheelchair Accessibility Huge range of subject choices
Wireless & Cabled Internet Access: Staff & Students Onsite Carparking & Security: Staff & Students

[10]

Entrance to Wyndham College

Admissions and Enrolment

Students who attend the Collegiate Year 7-10 school have automatic right of entry into Wyndham College for their senior years of schooling. As such, the College serves a large and diverse community from established areas in Seven Hills and Kings Langley, newly developed urban areas in Quakers Hill, Acacia Gardens, Stanhope Gardens, Rouse Hill and Schofields to the more semi-rural communities of Riverstone and Marsden Park. Outside of the collegiate schools, acceptance to Wyndham College is highly competitive with many students applying for limited enrolment places each year. The school's enrolment committee conducts interviews with prospective students and their parents when making their decisions about entry for applicants.[11]

School Life

The school life of Wyndham College is different from that of a normal High School in that it offers an adult style learning environment. Students may refer to their teachers by their first name. Students are required to carry an identification card which is used to swipe in and out of school if arriving late or leaving early for study periods. During middle of the day study periods, students are allowed to work in the library or remain within the school grounds. Full school uniform is enforced and parking is available for students driving to and from school. A day at Wyndham college commences at 8am on most days, 9am on Tuesdays, and concludes at 2:40pm Monday and Wednesday finishing at 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. School finishes at 12:20pm on Fridays.[12]

Curriculum

The large number of HSC students means that nearly the full range of HSC subjects, as well as a number of other courses designed to meet students' special needs and interests are provided.[13] Wyndham College is registered and accredited with the New South Wales Board of Studies, and follows the mandated curriculum for Years 11 and 12. Over 58 courses are offered onsite to Year 12 students alone including Board developed or endorsed courses, life skills courses and 6 industry curriculum frameworks in the areas of: Hospitality; Retail; Business Services; Construction; Information Technology; and Engineering/Metal. The College timetable is structured to allow students to access TAFE delivered VET courses and University subjects without interrupting other studies. With this flexibility students can complete the HSC year with multiple accreditations.[14] One free line is also incorporated into student timetables to allow for group study work and access to teaching staff for individual consultation.

Extracurricular Activities

A range of sporting and other extracurricular activities occur at the school, including:

Notable alumni

Sport
The Arts

See also

References

  1. ↑ Price, Sarah (2008-03-16). "Experts to Debate lift in School Leaving Age". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  2. ↑ "Multicampus College Model" (PDF). University of Notre Dame, Western Australia. 2007. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  3. ↑ Doherty, Linda (2004-08-14). "Recess is over, next step TAFE and uni". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  4. ↑ "UWS Partnerships and Programs". University of Western Sydney. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  5. ↑ "Blacktown City Garden Competition:2004 Best Educational Garden". Blacktown City Council. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  6. ↑ Shaw, Roderick (2008-11-18). "Wyndham College's Art Express Hopefuls". The Blacktown Sun. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  7. ↑ Lawson, Amy (2004-10-10). "Mother of Eight Returns to School to do the HSC". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  8. ↑ Wilson, L.G.R (2003). Skilled hands at sea: the story of Her Majesty's Australian ship Nirimba, and naval training in NSW, 1855-1983. Naval Historical Society of Australia, (Garden Island, NSW). ISBN 0-9591942-1-5.
  9. ↑ "NSW HSC Online". Charles Sturt University. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  10. ↑ "Wyndham College School Choice". Universal Magazines. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  11. ↑ "How to Enrol in a Public School". NSW Department of Education and Training. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  12. ↑ "Wyndham College 2008 Student Graduation Clip". UTUBE. 2008. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  13. ↑ "Wyndham College in Channel 7 News Clip". UTUBE. 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  14. ↑ Shaw, Roderick (2009-09-08). ""They're Awesome!" says Mentor". Blacktown Sun. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  15. ↑ "Wyndham College 2009 Multicultural Day Dancing Clip". UTUBE. 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  16. ↑ "Wyndham College 2009 Indoor Soccer Clip". UTUBE. 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  17. ↑ "Western Sydney Gala Day". Ultimate Frisbee NSW. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  18. ↑ Cowley, Michael (2008-12-08). "Bondi to Bronte, he's un-beato-ble". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2010-09-14.

External links