Colmont School year 12 students to transition to new schools, including Ivanhoe Grammar

Year 12 students from a Kilmore school that went into administration have been given assistance to allow them to complete their studies elsewhere.

All year 12 students from Colmont School have found new places, with most starting on Monday at their new schools.

The Herald Sun can reveal new administrators Cor Cordis have managed to help the 90 senior students transition to new schools, with Ivanhoe Grammar agreeing to take any students not accommodated elsewhere. This will ensure they can complete their studies this year.

The school went into administration in July, leaving devastated parents just days’ notice to find places for their children.

“We are pleased that all year 12 students and their teachers will have the opportunity to enrol at Ivanhoe Grammar School. The school has been incredibly supportive and will ensure all new students have a buddy to make the transition easier during this time,” administrator Rachel Burdett said.

Colmont students and parents protested outside Parliament House last week. Picture: Ian Currie

“We have been able to work with various schools and transition the current year 11 and 12 international students which at this stage should be complete by the end of the week,” she said.

Ms Burdett said she had met with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, the Department of Education and Training, Independent Schools Victoria, the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria and the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

She also announced the landlord of the school’s White St campus in Kilmore has agreed to provide a rent free period until the end of September 2022 that will enable continued accommodation of school boarding students until they transition to their new schools on Monday and accommodate the continuation of the administration process.

“We are continuing to work with interested parties in relation to whether there is a longer term position for the company.

Our priority is and always has been to ensure the students and the community is looked after. The next few weeks will involve detailed

investigations and reviewing any forthcoming proposals,” Ms Burdett said.

Paul Walsh, the director of advancement at Ivanhoe Grammar, told the Herald Sun this week some students were continuing their year 11 IB studies and other moving to VCE.

“Classroom space at our Plenty Campus has been offered to the Year 12 IB students and teachers from Colmont for three days per week, giving them a home base at which they can continue their studies, with as little disruption as possible,” he said.

“A very small number have also joined some specialist classes at our Ivanhoe Campus. In addition, the school is working with the appropriate authorities to allow those IB students to sit practice exams and final exams with us.”