College in Brief

School Council

Como Secondary College is a government school. The peak decision making body of the school is an the School Council whose composition complies with government regulations. Some parent, staff and student positions on the Council become vacant each year. This governing body meets according to the requirements of the school planning cycle at least six times per year.Day-to-day school policy and administration is overseen by the College Executive consisting of the Principal, Deputy Principals, Heads of Learning Areas and the College Business Manager. This body meets weekly and operates on the principle of participative decision making. There is an active Parents and Citizens group. New members are welcome. This body meets monthly.

The College Council is also an active part of the college support structure and meets to discuss College improvement schemes, fundraising, budget approval and general policy directions. There is a student council with representation from all Year Groups. The preponderance of membership is however, from the senior students. School Area Community The school's catchment area includes suburbs ranging across the socio-economic spectrum. The school's Ross Index of Social Disadvantage is 107 (100=average; 80=deprived; 120=wealthy). The school has a significant Asian population (11%), with Middle Eastern students being the most populous sub-groups. While the school remains a local area comprehensive high school a significant number of students (45%) come from areas beyond school boundaries to avail themselves of specialist facilities and programs.

School Structure and Organisation

Current facilities allow the school to comfortably accommodate approximately 850 students. There are currently 888 students enrolled. Senior students in Years 11/12 are all full-time post-compulsory students. Students repeating Year 12 or older than 18 years are ineligible for enrolment. Year 11/12 students study in a range of courses leading to University (TEE Courses), Technical Education (WSA courses) or employment and new apprenticeships (VET courses). Most TEE subjects are offered and a good range of WSA orientated subjects are available. The latter are often in combined Year 11/12 groups. Structured Work-based Learning is available to all Year 11/12 students through VET and INSTEP programs. Year 10 students do both Core Studies (Maths/Science/English/Social Science) and Electives. Approximately 60% of classes are in core areas.

All core studies classes are streamed. Students choose the electives they wish to study. Year 9 students do a similar mix of Core Studies and Electives. Approximately 60% of classes are in core areas. Only in mathematics are Core Study classes streamed. Students choose their electives within prescibed guidelines. Year 8 students undertake a fixed course that includes English, Maths, Social Science, Science, Computing, Manual Arts, Food Studies, Art, Drama, Music, Physical Education, Health Education and Foreign Languages. Students in Years 8, 9 and 10 are organised into learning teams within a middle school. Students in Year 11 and 12 are in the senior school.

Students in Years 8-10 in specialist programs do permutations of the above. All students in Year 8, 9 and 10 study a foreign language as part of the WA Government's LOTE 2000 project. In Year 8 students study both French and Indonesian and in Year 9 they make their choice between the two. Physical Education classes are single sex in Year 8-10 (marginal exceptions). The school uses a state of the art, fully reticulated computer network. Technology use is widespread throughout the curriculum and the Library is fully computerised.

All students are members of a House (Pine, Jacaranda, Flame) and, within that House, members of a Form/Tutorial group that is organised within year groups. The College houses an Education Support Unit and provides facilities for learning English as a Second Language.

A Long Tradition of Academic Success

For over 30 years Como Secondary College has had a strong record of success in placing students into university as well as technical college (TAFE). Our academic program is extensive catering to a variety of student needs, aspirations and intentions. The school offers over twenty university entry courses and has recently engaged in a partnership with one of Western Australia's premier universities, Curtin University. The College is an acknowledged leader in the delivery of excellence in government education.