About Us

Message from the Principal

Welcome! We extend a warm welcome to your family and hope you will form a close and rewarding association with our school. At Balwyn Primary School, the culture of a learning community is fostered through educational programs that cater for students, parents and teachers. Our guiding principle is to provide educational excellence through vibrant teaching and stimulating learning programs in an affirming, secure and structured learning environment. We provide a developmental curriculum within a multi-age structure. This child centred approach acknowledges that children learn at different rates and have preferred learning styles. The school provides a stimulating and supportive environment, with engaging and challenging educational programs beyond the basic curriculum.

At Balwyn Primary School we aim to develop in our students a love of learning, strong communication skills, the ability to be responsible, creative and critical thinkers and to be socially connected and resilient. The school values the whole child and strives to develop strong self-esteem, confidence and independence. At Balwyn Primary School we believe that all students need care and support as they grow. Students are better prepared for learning when they are happy, safe and healthy and our learning environment promotes independence, self-motivation and cooperation. As a caring learning community we promote ‘norms’ rather than ‘rules’ based upon values that will frame attitudes, behaviours and responsibilities. Throughout the year, students participate in programs which practise human values, encourage a sense of personal responsibility and empower students to make conscious choices. Students are supported to develop and apply their thinking in a productive, supportive and relevant learning context. The school highly values education as a partnership of children, staff, parents and the local community.

Olivia Richards

Enrolment

 

This year our school will use an online system for new enrolments to Victorian government schools called VicStudents.

VicStudents will be available for students who are enrolling in a Victorian Government School for the first time. This includes Foundation (Prep) enrolments for 2025.

The link to enrol via VicStudents will be available from the beginning of Term 2 on15 April.

VicStudents has been assessed by the Department of Education to a high degree of security in line with the Victorian Protective Data Security Standards and is compliant with ISO 27001, the leading international standard for information security.

What you need to do:

  • After Monday 15 April, complete an online enrolment form via VicStudents: https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/
  • Submit an enrolment application for Prep, along with requested supporting documentation, inlcluding documents to verify your permanent address**, by Friday 26 July 2024.
  • You will be notified of the outcome of your application between Monday 29 July and Friday 9 August 2024. If you receive an enrolment offer, you should contact our school to accept the offer by Friday 23 August 2024.
  • Await further information about our Foundation transition program held in Term 4 2024.

Enrolment applications submitted after 26 July 2024 will be processed by our school as they are received, in accordance with the department’s Placement Policy.

**We require documents to verify your child’s permanent address and these must be in the name of the parent/carer. Please see the 100-point address checklist document on this page which will help you determine which documents to provide.

Our school zone

Our school zone is available on findmyschool.vic.gov.au which hosts the most up-to-date information on school zones in Victoria. 

Students residing within our school zone are guaranteed a place at our school, which is determined on the basis of your permanent residential address.

Our school manages enrolments using the Placement Policy to ensure that students have access to their designated neighbourhood school and may enrol at another school, if there are available places.

For more information, you can:

 

School Philosophy

Nurturing global citizens for personal success in an ever changing world. We strive to provide educational excellence through vibrant teaching and a challenging, innovative and relevant curriculum which enables students to become internationally minded, responsible and respectful lifelong learners. We aim to develop in our students a love of learning, strong communication skills, the ability to be creative and critical thinkers and to be socially connected and resilient. Our school values the whole child and strives to develop strong self-esteem, confidence and independence within a stimulating, supportive and collaborative learning environment. Student voice is valued and encouraged to shape and influence learning. We provide a developmental, differentiated curriculum with personalised learning within a multi-age structure. Our child centred approach acknowledges that children learn at different rates and have preferred learning styles. As a caring learning community we promote ‘norms’ based upon values that will frame attitudes, behaviours and responsibilities. Throughout the year, students participate in programs which practise human values, encourage a sense of personal responsibility and empower them to make conscious, considered choices. Students are supported to develop and apply their thinking in a productive, supportive and relevant learning context A technology rich environment supports student learning and our strong commitment to providing opportunities to enrich and enhance student learning is articulated through our Learning Enhancement program. The school highly values education as a partnership of children, staff, parents and the local community. Our motto “Aim High” and School Values underpin our philosophy and these values are embedded in our teaching and learning programs and are reinforced through our student negotiated norms. The values that form the basis for all our learning are: Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Belonging and Empathy.

History of Balwyn Primary School

The history of Balwyn Primary School reflects many parallels existent today. The school was established by a group of enterprising local residents keen to provide an education for their students. The opening ceremony was well attended and the participants enjoyed music, singing and recitations.

That was back in 1868 and the same strong parental support and interest is still apparent. This is backed by a dedicated staff committed to providing quality programs.

1868
Opening of school at site of present RSL (22 pupils)

1869
Official title granted – Common School No 1026 Balwyn Road, Boroondara

1870
Gordon Bennett appointed headmaster

1872
The first music teacher appointed to teach singing

1880
Moved to present site (120 pupils)

1889
271 pupils. Despite extensions, the adjoining Parish Hall had to be leased

1890
A gymnasium class for girls commenced at St Barnabas

1914 – 1915
Purchase of land facing Rochester Road

1927
Second storey section built (608 pupils)

1951
Fire!! 83 years of records destroyed

1956
New buildings completed including an assembly hall

1992
New hall opened

1994
Balwyn Primary School – A School of the Future!

1996
Early Years of Schooling Complex opened

2002
Top Flats – Synthetic Grass Opening

2008
Redevelopment of Rochester Road Flats – synthetic grass and mural

2008
Completion of ICT Capable Classrooms Initiative

2010
Opening of New ‘Prep-2 Learning Space’

2012
Planting of the BPS Vegie Garden, “The G”

2013
A new shade structure – The Pavilion is erected

2014
Two new classrooms are installed as Balwyn grows

2015
Student numbers continue to grow – a further two classrooms are installed on the Rochester Road Flats

2015
Refurbishment of the Music Centre

2016
Two large sandpits installed north of the P-2 learning space
New synthetic turf and a running track on the Top Flats

2017
The Piazza is repaved and shade sails installed
Two new classrooms on the north side, new 3-6 playground and ropes equipment
Large shade sail over the sandpits on north side of F-2 learning space

2018
Two new classrooms, Amphitheatre, 150th Anniversary Celebration

2019
Prep active and passive play space in the North West corner
Large shade sail installed above the 1/2 playground equipment
Tree placement and hedging along Northern boundary

2020
Large pavilion shade sail is repaired following damage from high winds

2021
Sandpits renovated and enlarged

2022
Shade Sale installed 3/4 Ampitheatre
Southern Boundary Passive Play Space and Garden

Employment

All job vacancies are advertised on Recruitment Online. Please copy the link below into your internet browser to access Recruitment Online: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/careers/pages/advacssch.aspx