Rise in Year 7 enrolments for 2016 intake at Sandringham College’s Bluff Rd campus

A RISE in student enrolments at a college in Melbourne’s south is due to new buildings and confidence in their curriculum, principals say.

Sandringham College year 7 enrolments are massively up after new programs introduced and building recently done. Principal Russell Watson (right) with year seven students Isobel Bennett, Max Pinczes, Lachlan Costello, Keeely Raymond & Marine Mascot Fontaine. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A RISE in student enrolments at a Sandringham College campus is due to new buildings and confidence in their curriculum, principals say.

The 2016 intake of Year 7s at the Sandringham campus is the highest ever — 156 pupils — and nearly 40 above the average enrolment.

The Bluff Rd Year 7-10 school will also next year break the 500 total enrolment barrier for the first time.

The Bluff Rd campus principal Russell Watson said the higher figures were due to new buildings opening, their new uniform policy, a varied curriculum, good teaching and their approach in listening to and engaging with the local schools and the local community.

The school has a new learning centre, a new auditorium, new science rooms and new fencing, with more building work set to be completed next year.

“We have had visible changes, new buildings, but also we are very clear about our teaching model,” Mr Watson said.

“We have had increased interest from primary schools, running near weekly tours over the past 18 months.

“We are moving forward as a strong, influential and popular public secondary school in 2016 and beyond.”

A new building at the Bluff Rd campus of Sandringham College. Picture: Valeriu Campan.

Sandringham College principal Allen McAuliffe said increased enrolments were not directly related to the closing of the Beaumaris campus.

Work on a new Year 7-12 Beaumaris High School at Reserve Rd will start next year, with the school closed to enrolments while building work is underway, and no opening date revealed.

“Parents are prepared to travel to send their children to the school of their choice and we are a good option,” Mr McAuliffe said.

“The new demographic is from a host of schools, not just from who would have gone to Beaumaris.

“Some who may have gone there have come here, but that is only a small number and doesn’t equate to the large increase in Year 7s enrolled at Bluff Rd next year.”