John Monash Science School

Summary

The John Monash Science School is a government-funded co-educational academically selective and specialist secondary day school, located on the Clayton campus of Monash University, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The school specialises in science and technologies and is the state's first specialist science secondary school.[1] A joint venture between the Government of Victoria and Monash University, the school opened in 2009 with one Year 10 class;[2] and as of 2010 it was running at its full capacity of approximately 660 students.[3][4] The school is named in honour of Sir John Monash.

John Monash Science School
Main entrance to the school
Location
Map

Australia
Coordinates37°54′50″S 145°07′44″E / 37.91389°S 145.12889°E / -37.91389; 145.12889
Information
TypeGovernment-funded co-educational selective and specialist secondary day school
Established2009; 15 years ago (2009)
Founders
SpecialistScience and technology
PrincipalPeter Corkill
Years1012
Enrolmentc. 660
HousesDoherty (blue)
Flannery (green)
Blackburn (purple)
Wood (silver)
Colour(s)Navy blue, white, sky blue    
AffiliationsMonash University
Websitewww.jmss.vic.edu.au
Overview edit

It is one of three recently built selective high schools in Victoria alongside Suzanne Cory High School and Nossal High School. The addition of these schools are the result of a policy of expansion, and doubles the number of fully selective government schools in Victoria. Prior to these schools, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Melbourne High School and the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School were the sole selective entry schools in Victoria. John Monash Science School has an interview process alongside an entrance examination for admittance.

More than 1,400 students apply annually for the 200 places on offer in Year 10, where a 3% rule applies, stating that no more than 3% of any school's cohort can be offered a place. The school also champions gender equality and aims to offer 100 places to males and 100 places to females.

There are also a limited number of places for Year 11, with the number ranging from 30 to 40 students, depending on the cohort size. Typically, more than 400 prospective students apply for Year 11 entrance admission. The 3% rule does not apply to Year 11 entry.

A variety of elective subjects are offered in Year 10 at John Monash Science School which cover nanotechnology, marine biology, biomedicine, geology (terraforming mars), bioinformatics, astrophysics, spectroscopy, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Materials Science. Year 10 students also do a year-long project named EEI (Extended Experimental Investigation), this results in a presentation at the John Monash Science School Science Fair.

John Monash Science School was ranked 4th out of all state secondary schools in Victoria based on VCE results in 2022.[5]

House system edit

The student body is divided into four houses:

  • Flannery (green, house mascot a griffin)
  • Blackburn (purple, house mascot a phoenix)
  • Wood (silver, house mascot a wolf)
  • Doherty (blue, house mascot a dragon)

Each house is named after an accomplished Australian scientist: Tim Flannery, Elizabeth Blackburn, Fiona Wood, and Peter Doherty respectively.

NBN Virtual School of Emerging Sciences edit

On 13 February 2013, the NBN Virtual School of Emerging Sciences (NVSES) was launched in a coalition effort between John Monash Science School, Monash University, and Pearson Education.[6] Utilizing the Australian government's National Broadband Network's (NBN) educational facilities, lessons are taught by JMSS staff and Monash University scientists via internet to schools all around Australia. Two subjects are currently offered: astrophysics (which leads on to quantum physics) and nanoscience (leading on to nanotechnology).

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "First science school to be built in Vic". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 August 2007.
  2. ^ "$20m maths, science school for Clayton - National - theage.com.au". 13 August 2007.
  3. ^ "John Monash Science School". Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Monash Newsline (Monash University)". Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  5. ^ "VCE Public School Ranking - 2022". Better Education. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  6. ^ "NVSES - The National Virtual School of Emerging Sciences".

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Dept. of Education website
  • NBN Virtual School of Emerging Sciences official website