Ashwood High School is a co-educational public school located in Ashwood, Victoria, Australia.
The school offers a wide range of academic subjects and in 2016 introduced an accelerated curriculum and enrichment program (ACE). Preceding the 2022 Victorian State Election, in which the electoral district of Burwood was abolished, the school was the only secondary school in the district with an accelerated learning program. In November 2019, the curriculum has expanded to include an extensive arts program. In early 2013 the school was allowed a grant to rebuild numerous classroom facilities, which includes the Middle School Centre, which opened in late 2014, as well as the Senior School Centre, which opened in 2016. As of 2024, the school has 913 enrollments.
History
Post-war development
Secondary education in Ashwood and Jordanville expanded during the post-war development of Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Jordanville Technical School opened in 1954, followed by the original Ashwood High School in 1958.
Jordanville Technical School, 1954–1987
Jordanville Technical School, school number 7200, opened on 1 January 1954. The school was located on Vannam Drive between Damper Creek and Gardiners Creek. Its location initially presented difficulties in developing the school grounds; subsequent drainage and creek-diversion works associated with residential development enabled improvements to the site.
A photographic record of the school survives in the J. T. Collins Collection at the State Library Victoria, including photographs of the campus and students participating in classes and other activities during the 1960s.
Jordanville Technical School operated until 1987, when it was amalgamated with the original Ashwood High School to form Ashwood Secondary College, school number 8743. Records from Jordanville Technical School and the original Ashwood High School were transferred to the successor institution.
Ashwood High School, 1958–1987
The original Ashwood High School, school number 7525, opened on 1 January 1958 and operated as a separate institution until 31 December 1987.
The school initially operated from railway huts at Ashburton railway station before moving to its permanent campus in Ashwood.
Amalgamation
At the end of 1987, the original Ashwood High School and Jordanville Technical School were amalgamated to form Ashwood Secondary College, school number 8743.
The successor institution commenced operation on 1 January 1988.
The merged school operated on the former Ashwood High School campus, while the former Jordanville Technical School site across Vannam Drive was subsequently redeveloped for housing.
2010 arson attack
In June 2010, Ashwood Secondary College was extensively damaged by deliberately lit fires. Fires affected three wings of the school, destroying four classrooms and damaging another four.
Approximately 45 firefighters attended the fire and took about 90 minutes to bring the blazes under control. Initial estimates placed the damage at between $5 million and $10 million, and classes were cancelled following the incident.
A 19-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were subsequently charged with offences including arson, theft and burglary in connection with the fires. Then-principal Kerry Croft stated that the school intended to rebuild following the damage.
Renewal and growth
Dr Brett Moore became principal in 2015.
In 2016, Ashwood Secondary College was renamed Ashwood High School, while retaining school number 8743.
During the following years, the school experienced substantial growth and institutional development. In its citation naming Moore a finalist for the 2024 Colin Simpson Outstanding Secondary Principal Award, the Victorian Department of Education reported significant improvements in enrolment, student engagement, achievement and wellbeing since his arrival at the school.
The campus also underwent substantial redevelopment. A Victorian Government upgrade and modernisation project commenced in 2020 and was completed in 2023. The project provided a new learning centre, contemporary library and laboratory facilities and included refurbishment of another building on the campus.
In 2024, Moore was named a finalist for the Colin Simpson Outstanding Secondary Principal Award in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
House system
Ashwood High School operates a four-house system. The houses are named after prominent Australians depicted on Australian banknotes, with each house associated with a distinct colour. The house system is used across sporting, academic, cultural and performing-arts activities.
House Namesake Colour Flynn John Flynn Red Melba Dame Nellie Melba Green Paterson A. B. "Banjo" Paterson Blue Cowan Edith Cowan Yellow
In 2019, students designed individual crests and mottos for the four houses. According to the school, each crest was required to incorporate the house's animal and colour, while the mottos were intended to reflect the spirit and history of each house.
Notable alumni
Notable former students of Ashwood High School and its predecessor institutions include:
Rick Springfield – musician, singer-songwriter and actor.
Robert Allenby – professional golfer.
Peter Tonkin OAM, OLY – competitive swimmer who represented Australia at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Allan Gyngell AO – diplomat, foreign-policy scholar and public servant; founding executive director of the Lowy Institute and former Director-General of the Office of National Assessments.
Kim Gyngell – actor, comedian and writer.
Bill Mitchell – economist and academic associated with the development of Modern Monetary Theory.
References
External links Ashwood High School Website