School description

The Hamilton & Alexandra College is an ELC-12 Coeducational Day and Boarding School situated in Victoria's Western District. Established in 1871, the school has a proud tradition of academic, sporting and performing arts excellence. With over 500 students, 85 of whom board amidst beautiful and serene surroundings, the College provides an innovative, forward looking and challenging education within an environment of Christian values, encouraging optimum individual achievement and fostering character and personal development.

The Boarding Houses are adjacent to Lake Hamilton, a local Golf course and the College's Equestrian Centre, where students may agist their horses and partake in the Horsemanship program. The Junior Campus offers a superb 3 and 4 year old program at its Early Learning Centre. The vibrant Years: Prep - Six staff seek to ensure a comprehensive and relevant curriculum is delivered in the formative early years. A diverse specialist programme appeals to a broad range of student learning styles and the extra-curricular activities offered fulfil a variety of student interests. Academic results identify the school as the region's top performer at VCE and other levels. 98% of VCE students gain university offers (2000-2010), with the majority of students being placed at the country's top Universities.

The College offers a broad and exciting well rounded syllabus with a strong emphasis on individual attention and pastoral care. There is an abundance of opportunity in sport, music, drama, leadership, community service and public speaking, and every student has access to state of the art amenities throughout the school. In recent years, the school has dramatically improved its facilities, with innovative Information, Communication and Technology systems, a new Science Centre, Visual Arts Centre, Sports Stadium with dual basketball courts, gym and rock climbing wall and a new Music and Performing Arts Centre amidst a broad range of capital improvements. Unique to the College are the excellent Equestrian Centre and Horsemanship program, Aircraft Pilot Training, and its MYe Middle Years and Year 9 Experiences.

The Year 9 Experience consists of three particular features, namely the City Experience, the China Experience and the Outdoor Experience. Students spend one week in Melbourne in the City Experience gaining an insight into life in a busy inner urban environment. The China Experience incorporates a month-long program in China where students spend 13 days at the school's twin campus in Gaoyou and the remaining time visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Nanjing as part of an integrated curriculum focus.

The College promotes a global approach to education, hosting a vibrant international student program for 25 boys and girls from around the world. The school is situated in a safe, well serviced and accessible location, with direct transport to Melbourne, including direct flights. Visits to meet and tour with the Principal are welcomed.