Woodleigh is a school where students experience life richly. Central to all teaching and learning at Woodleigh is challenge, and it comes both in structured classroom learning environments and in experiential ones beyond. A focus on broad life experience, together with academic rigor, is essential in developing maturity, independence and the resilience that students need to be able to push on and try again when things don’t happen exactly as planned. The variety and breadth of learning styles and situations offered builds a curriculum that is involving, real and relevant to the world in which children are living. Woodleigh School is naturally co-educational — committed to the belief that this is the only suitable setting to educate both boys and girls for adult life.
Facilities: Both Junior and Senior Campuses are situated in peaceful native surroundings. Facilities at the Junior Campus include a newly built Years 5 and 6 classroom and library facility, gymnasium and a learning support and extension centre. Senior Campus facilities include a hall, music technology centre, art gallery/exhibition space, dance/drama studio, film studio and a post-production area. There is a state-of-the-art science centre (including marine biology), as well as a library, careers centre, sustainability and agriculture/horticulture centre, multi-purpose courts, sporting oval and gymnasium. A new VCE centre incorporating classrooms, a dedicated VCE exam space and student common room is currently under construction and is expected to open in July. Information Technology facilities include networked classrooms and IWB’s throughout the school and dedicated computer labs. Notebooks are used across the curriculum to enhance learning, but are not compulsory. Netbooks are issued to all Year 7, 8 and 9 students from 2011.
Curriculum: Woodleigh School’s unique “V” curriculum provides a secure, structured environment for young children, where they develop a love for learning and life and discover their talents. As they move up through the school, the “V” broadens and students progressively take responsibility for their lives and grow in independence. The focus is increasingly on self-initiative, motivation, self-esteem and self-control. Curriculum structure and time allocations reflect state requirements. Year 9 includes extended city and wilderness experiences, Year 10 is elective-based and in Years 11 and 12 a wide range of VCE subjects are offered, with very low class size averages (the average Year 12 class has only 12 students). Support and extension provisions are extensive.
Sport: All traditional sports are offered, plus canoeing, skindiving, aerobics, rowing, surfing and skiing.
Co-curricular activities: An extensive activities program aims to develop the skills of co-operation, social responsibility and leadership. An aviation program is offered for students wishing to acquire their pilot’s licence.