Blackburn conducts a highly sought-after High Achievers’ Program (HAP) for very able students. It is not simply an acceleration program, it is a different way of teaching and learning that enables students to expand their minds in creative and innovative ways. This exceptional program aims to develop lifelong learners who are enthusiastic, adaptable, creative, collaborative, responsive, self-directed, resilient, capable of managing networks, and able to work in hierarchical environments.

 

Examination and Interview

Students sit for an Edutest examination held at Blackburn High School. If the student’s results match the criteria for selection for the program they will then be invited to attend an interview with the Principal and Senior Staff.

A place is then offered based on the  results of the examination and interview.

Description of the Test

The Ability tests

1. Verbal Reasoning 30 minutes long Measures the ability to think and reason using words and language. This includes vocabulary, word relationships, classification and deduction.

2. Numerical Reasoning 30 minutes long Measures the ability to think and reason using numbers. This includes series, matrices, arithmetical reasoning and deduction.

The Achievement tests

3. Reading Comprehension 30 minutes long Measures the capacity to read and interpret meaning from written passages, as well as correct, complete and punctuate sentences.

4. Mathematics 30 minutes long Measures year-level appropriate mathematical knowledge, including items tapping numbers, measurement, algebra, space and data.

5. Written Expression 15 minutes long This is a writing test that assesses the ability to convey ideas clearly in written form. Any of the following modes of writing may be assessed: creative, descriptive, narrative, persuasive, expository or informative. Students will be assessed on a range of criteria, including: Relevance to the topic, accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar, proper sentence structure and paragraphing.

 

For further information please contact:

Mrs Denise Strahan

High Achievers’ Program Administrative Assistant

Phone 8804 6408

Email: strahan.denise.c@edumail.vic.gov.au 

 

Expanding students’ minds in creative and innovative ways

Students are taught questioning strategies, problem-solving skillls, decision-making, and the language of thinking reflectively, critically and creatively. Our approach is enquiry-based learning through the explicit teaching of thinking skills to guide our students’ intellectual development around a central, overarching question in all four core subject areas – English, Science, Maths and Humanities.

Through the following overarching questions students investigate, explore and challenge the ideas and actions of writers, philosophers, social thinkers, mathematicians and scientists.

  • Year 7: How did thinkers of the ancient world make sense of the world?
  • Year 8: What does it mean to be human?
  • Year 9: What is the relationship between ethics, morality and citizenship?
  • Year 10: Students have early access to the VCE and take two Year 11 VCE subjects
  • Year 11: Students take two Year 12 VCE subjects
HAP Information Night

Parents interested in finding out more about the program are invited to attend our HAP Information Night. This is an opportunity to learn about the exciting curriculum, teaching methodology and meet the staff and students involved in this exceptional program.

Date of 2017 Information Night will be advised at the beginning of 2017

Further information

For enquiries about the application process, please contact our High Achievers’ Program Administrative Assistant, Denise Strahan, by phone (03) 8804 6408 or email HighAchieversProgram@blackburnhs.vic.edu.au