Year 7 Enrolment

Upwey High School is a medium-sized government school, accommodating students in Years 7 – 12 from across the Dandenong Ranges and its wider area. We pride ourselves on our acceptance and embrace of students from a diverse range of backgrounds and believe that everyone deserves the opportunity of a quality education and a place where they feel nurtured and heard.

Starting high school marks a pivotal point in a student’s educational and developmental journey. At Upwey, we recognise this and work to make the transition to high school as smooth and informed as possible for both students and their families.

Our Enrolment 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.

You also have the choice to seek enrolment at a school that is not your local school. If Upwey High School is outside of your dedicated school zone then you are welcome to apply and we will endeavour to accommodate for your child if we have sufficient capacity.

Please also see information on local public transport options for families in the School Bus Program Eligibility Guide.

Year 7 Enrolments

The transition from primary to high school can be both an exciting and daunting time with students facing a variety of challenges and opportunities. We encourage all students to make the most of the opportunities offered and support them to embrace new experiences openly.

If your child attends a government primary school then their administration team will coordinate much of the application process on your behalf. If however, your child attends a private school then this may not be the case and you will need to contact us directly to discuss enrolment.

Every year the Department of Education produces a comprehensive guide for families seeking to enroll their child in Year 7. The Year 6 to 7 Information Pack for Parents and Carers can be downloaded here.

How to Enrol

Step 1

Check our enrolment zone

Applications are categorised based on your primary residential address in relation to our enrolment zone and catchment area. See above for Upwey High School’s current enrolment zone.

Step 2

Complete the Application for Year 7 Placement 2025

The Application form can be found in the downloadable Year 6 to 7 Placement Information Pack for Parents and Carers (pages 11-14) or may be distributed by your primary school team. All placement forms must be returned to your primary school by Friday 10 May 2024.

Students who are home schooled or currenlty attend a non-government primary school should submit this form directly to us by Friday 10 May 2024.

Step 3

Await written notification of your child’s Year 7 placement

All schools should complete this by Wednesday 17 July 2024.

Those who wish to appeal a decision must do so by Friday 26 July 2024 and will receive a letter notifying them of the outcome of their appeal by Tuesday 6 August 2024.

Step 4

Accept your child’s offer

The Year 7 Placement Acceptance Slip needs to be completed and returned to their primary school administration by Wednesday 7 August 2024. Families who are managing the application independently should return it directly to our office.

Year 7 Scholarships

The Upwey High School community recognises the many outstanding year 7 students who enrol with us each year. We understand that many excel in areas related to academic learning, sport, performing arts, leadership and citizenship and have goals and dreams related to these. To acknowledge the achievements to date and encourage further pursuit of their aspirations the school council provides four Year 7 scholarships. These are in the areas of:

Academics: excellence across a range of subjects
Citizenship: demonstrates care, kindness, and respect towards the school community
Leadership: sets a good example for others
Sporting: sets a good example for others and excels in one or more sports.

Each scholarship is worth $500 applied to the school account. This can be used to provide access to camps, excursions, academic competitions, additional programs and school resources.

The Scholarship Process

In term 1 Year 7 students will be invited to submit an expression of interest for a scholarship. Interested students will meet with an interview panel consisting of the Assistant Principal, School Council representative, and at least one previous student scholarship winner. Students will be given the opportunity to talk about their achievements and aspirations in relation to their application and will be asked to provide two referees to support them. The panel will judge them against the following criteria:

Firm and undeniable demonstrated evidence of achievement in the relevant area
Firm and undeniable demonstrated evidence of high-level personal skills
Firm and undeniable demonstrated evidence of school values
Willingness to commit to the relevant school program

Transition to Upwey High School

We appreciate that for most students moving to a new school is often a nervous prospect. Not only are students learning new procedures, protocols and adjusing to expectations, they are also make new friends and developing working relationships with staff. In order to support students and their families in making this move as smooth and as comfortable as possible, we have an established transition process for all new year 7 students.

Year 6

Primary School Visits – During Term 4 our staff will visit the primary schools of all accepted students to discuss with classroom teachers how we might best support and facilitate for our new incoming students.

Statewide Transition Day – On Tuesday 10 December 2024 our 2025 year 7 students are invited to meet their new classmates and teachers on campus. This allows them to familiarise themselves with the school grounds and make initial connections.

New Year 7 Parents and Guardians Information Evening – Tuesday 10 December 2024. More information will be shared with successful applicants in due course.

Year 7

‘Tea and Tissues’ – Families and new students are invited to join a school tour with the Principal on the first day of year 7.

Transition Camp – Introductory camp in Term 1 specifically designed to assist new students in getting to know each other in an adventure camp setting.

Peer Support Program – Our Year 10 students have the opportunity to become involved as Peer Support Leaders. They undertake training which is an extension of work they have done in Year 9 and, in small teams, run 4-6 sessions for our new Year 7s in Term 1. The sessions are designed to assist our new students in getting to know some of their peers (groups are mixed across different home groups) and to have a senior student they will see in the yard and can connect with.