INFORMATION AND APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR YEAR 7 2025
What is the Aspire Program?
The Department of Education's High Potential and Gifted Education Policy promotes engagement and challenge for every student, regardless of background, in every school across intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains. It supports every student to achieve their educational potential, through talent development opportunities and differentiated teaching and learning practices to ensure that their specific learning and wellbeing needs are met.
Students undertaking the Aspire Program are encouraged to participate in a range integrated units of work that are compacted and accelerated, such as public speaking, external exams, and challenge days. It is envisaged that students who undergo this program will develop positive attitudes to learning and advanced academic skills.
After Year 7, students may also choose to take part in our Enrichment Program, which is open to students from Years 8 – 10, where individual passion projects are completed to extend students in their area of gift or talent.
Selection criteria used to determine class placement
- strong academic performance across a range of subjects
- well-developed literacy and numeracy skills
- high level of self-motivation
- positive attitude and behaviour to school and learning, including homework
- ability to work collaboratively
- primary school endorsement
Applications will be considered by a panel of staff from CCWC. This consideration includes recommendations from Year 6 teachers and may include further consultation with them if necessary.
Placement in the Aspire class is competitive and merit based. Positions in the class are regularly reviewed and students are not guaranteed to continue in their class should their academic performance or behaviour become a cause for concern. CCWC reserves the right to change a student’s placement where evidence exists that the needs of all students may better be served by doing so.
How do I apply?
APPLY ONLINE (opens Monday 25 March 2024): Parents/Carers and the student applicant are to complete the online application form (link below). Please make sure to include a valid email address (that you check regularly) in your application, as the majority of our communication to you will be via email. Applications close on Monday 27 May 2024. · Online applications close on Monday 27 May 2024.
CONFIRMATION: You will be emailed confirmation of your application, along with full details regarding the Aspire Entrance Exam after this date. Please contact the Administration Office if you have not received your email by Friday 31 May 2024.
LEARNING PORTFOLIO: Student applicants are to complete the provided Learning Portfolio, which is to be brought to the Aspire Program Interview (details below). Please follow this link to download the Learning Portfolio (AVAILABLE MONDAY 25 MARCH 2024).
ASPIRE ENTRANCE EXAM: Thursday 13 June 2024. Students are required to sit an Aspire Entrance Exam. The duration of the test is two hours, providing an objective measurement of students’ critical reasoning skills. Wallsend Campus Aspire Program team members will be supervising the exam. An external body will mark and collate student results.
INTERVIEW: Monday 5 - Wednesday 7 August 2024. Attend an interview at Wallsend Campus with the Aspire Program Coordinator. Details regarding the interview will be distributed to each student at the exam. Each interview is around 15 minutes in length and students are to bring along their completed Learning Portfolio that reflects their skills/abilities. They will be given the opportunity to discuss the skills/abilities utilised in completing the portfolio.
OUTCOME: Students will be notified of the outcome of their application by mail by Wednesday 11 September. Please accept or decline the position by Wednesday 25 September 2024.
Where the number of short-listed students exceeds the number of places available, a reserve list will be established. No further information about the reserve list will be available following initial notification by post. Should a place become available those placed on the reserve list will be notified immediately in rank order.
ASPIRE PROGRAM CHALLENGE DAY: Wednesday 4 December 2024. Incoming students join current Year 7 and 8 Aspire students for a day of activities and challenges.
APPLY NOW: Follow the link below to apply - applications close Monday 27 May 2024.
Download: LEARNING PORTFOLIO (if you are unable to print, you may collect a paper copy from the Administration Office)