BACKGROUND 

Geelong English Language School (interim name) provides intensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) instruction to students who have newly arrived in Australia. Primary and secondary students up to Year 10 can be enrolled for 2 to 4 school terms, depending on their educational background and/or refugee or humanitarian status. Students are referred for enrolment at Geelong English Language School (interim name) by a Victorian government school or the Department of Education. Parents and carers may also seek enrolment for their child directly with the school.  

Students may be dual enrolled at Geelong English Language School (interim name) and a base school for the duration of their EAL program. A base school can be the referring school or a student’s designated neighbourhood school. Students may return to their base school after completing their EAL program or transfer to another school. 

Purpose 

This policy specifies the enrolment criteria and procedures for Geelong English Language School (interim name).  

Scope 

This policy applies to all students seeking enrolment at Geelong English Language School (interim name). 

ENROLMENT CRITERIA 

The following enrolment criteria have been specified and approved by the Regional Director, South Western Victoria Region (as the Minister’s delegate) under section 2.2.16(b) of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic). 

To be eligible for enrolment at Geelong English Language School (interim name), a student must meet all the following criteria:  

• be of compulsory school age (between 6 and 17 years old) unless an exception applies, or an exemption has been granted 

• be an Australian citizen or hold a visa* that entitles them to enrol in a Victorian government school 

• speak a language other than English as their main language at home 

• have a level of proficiency in English, determined by Geelong English Language School (interim name) in consultation with the referring school, that requires intensive assistance to enable them to participate fully in mainstream classroom programs 

• begin at Geelong English Language School (interim name): 

• within 18 months of arrival in Australia, if entering Foundation year, or 

• within 6 months of arrival in Australia, if entering any other year of schooling 

• be undertaking or intending to undertake primary or secondary education at a Victorian government school as soon as practicable after completing the course. 

*Parents and carers can see if their child holds a visa with a study entitlement by referring to their visa conditions online on the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO) or the department’s International Student Visa Fee Table. 

Priority order of placement 

Where Geelong English Language School (interim name) does not have sufficient accommodation to enrol all students, the school must manage enrolments in accordance with the following priority order of placement: 

1. Students with a residency status or visa type that attracts School Resource Package (SRP) funding 

1. • Students who have refugee or humanitarian status. 

1. • Other students that attract SRP funding. 

2. Fee-paying international students.

Date of enrolment enquiry will be used to prioritise applications when students are otherwise equal within their priority category. 

The department’s International Student Visa Fee Table identifies which visa categories do not attract SRP funding. The table also indicates which visa types relate to refugee or humanitarian status and what schools can request as evidence if a student does not have an applicable visa (e.g. asylum seekers).   

International students 

International students requiring an intensive English language course can seek enrolment at Geelong English Language School (interim name).  

Fee-paying international students on dependant, temporary or bridging visas are also entitled to enrol at their designated neighbourhood school. Fee-paying international students who hold a subclass 500 Schools Sector visa (a student visa in their own name) must first enrol through the department’s International Student Program.  

ENROLMENT PROCESS  

Students are referred for enrolment at Geelong English Language School (interim name) by a Victorian government school or the Department of Education. Parents and carers may also seek enrolment for their child directly with the school. Enrolment may be sought at any point in the school year.  

The principal of Geelong English Language School (interim name) will determine the student’s eligibility to enrol in accordance with the criteria specified in this policy. This may include verification of the student’s residency status or visa type and an assessment of the student’s English language proficiency. The principal will decide the most appropriate campus for the student based on: 

• the student’s age or year-level 

• proximity to the student’s residential address 

• sufficient accommodation at the campus. 

When there are more enrolment applications than places available, the principal will operate a waitlist. The waitlist is ordered by the priority order of placement specified in this policy. Students on the waitlist must enrol at and attend their base school until a place is available.  

Parents and carers may be required to complete an enrolment form and provide evidence of the student’s name and date of birth, visa documentation and immunisation history to complete enrolment at Geelong English Language School (interim name). Student enrolment information must be transferred between Victorian government schools for dual enrolment or student transfer. 

Students transition to their base school or another Victorian government school once their EAL program at Geelong English Language School (interim name) is complete. 

Re-enrolment 

A student who has previously been enrolled in an intensive English language program in an English language school or centre or the Virtual New Arrivals Program is eligible to re-enrol only when the student: 

• was enrolled in and attended a new arrivals program in the first instance for a minimum of one term and 

• has been absent for a period of 2 years or more and 

• during the period of absence was not resident in Australia, in education in another state or territory of Australia, or enrolled in education where English was the medium of instruction. 

APPEAL PROCESS 

Parents and carers can appeal an enrolment decision by lodging a written appeal to the principal of Geelong English Language School (interim name). 

If this appeal is unsuccessful and parents and carers are not satisfied that their appeal has been adequately considered, they may write to the South Western Victoria Regional Director at [email protected]. 

COMMUNICATION 

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways: 

• made available publicly on our school website 

• included in enrolment packs 

• made available in hard copy from the main office at Belmont campus upon request.  

FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES  

The department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):   

• EAL – Provision for Newly Arrived Students  

• International Student Program (ISP)   

• Enrolment: School age requirements and age exemptions 

• Enrolment: Student transfers between schools