Revealed: Booming schools in Melbourne’s inner south

The fastest-growing inner-southern Melbourne schools have been revealed. But what makes these schools so popular? One of the school’s principal tells us seven habits changed the culture and vision of her school.

Parktone Primary students Abigail and Blake. Picture: Jason Sammon

Incorporating Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits for Highly Effective People into the school ethos has helped Parktone Primary School thrive and grow, its principal believes.

Genevieve Casonato said adopting the Leader In Me program with the seven habits changed the culture and vision of the school.

“We truly believe in children being leaders and we explicitly teach and adopt the seven habits into our every day,” she said.

The program, she said, was focused on how educators can create leaders, one child at a time.

Parktone PS, at Parkdale, has 580 pupils with room to grow, and Ms Casonato is proud to be principal.

“We have 92 preps wanting to enrol — its good to know our school is growing and families want to send their children here.

“I think word of mouth is the biggest part of how a school gains a reputation.”

Ms Casonato was speaking as inner-southern Melbourne’s booming schools were revealed.

An analysis of Federal Government data has revealed the schools in the region where student numbers have risen the most in the past five years.

Between 2013 and 2018, enrolment at Parktone rose by 76 per cent.

Mordialloc Beach Primary School grew 59.7 per cent in the five years and assistant principal Jane Minogue said being a small, family orientated school, helped make it popular.

“We have an excellent program and we achieve excellent results,” she said.

“We also have an even ratio of male to female teachers, which means we have a male teacher in every stage of the school.”

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority figures are the most up to date enrolment numbers that include all state and private schools nationally.

Divrei Emineh increased by 318.8 per cent from 32 to 134, faster than any other school in the region.

According to the latest public data that includes public and private schools, student numbers have grown from 32 to 134, the fastest growth in the region.

The second fastest was Albert Park College, which increased by 159.8 per cent from 487 to 1265 since 2013.

Caulfield Primary School was third with 130 more students — an 86.1 per cent increase.