OVERVIEW

THE SCHOOL AND ITS COMMUNITY

 Beaconsfield Primary is 116 years old and our student population reflects a cosmopolitan and diverse community characterised by a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.  The original school is located on the corner of Hampton and Lefroy Roads.  This site currently accommodates the Fremantle-Peel Education District Office.  The current buildings on Hale Road are 28 years old.  The school is attractively situated with views to Fremantle Sailing Club and the Indian Ocean.  The grounds are appealing with a significant number of improvements made in recent years with assistance from the parent community.

 The school caters for students in a regular educational environment and in an Intensive English Centre.  The Intensive English Centre caters for newly arrived non-English speaking students from within the Fremantle-Peel Education District.  English as a Second Language students spend 12–24 months in an intensive language environment resourced by specialist teachers before returning to their local schools.  The Intensive English Centre is an essential characteristic of the school’s culture and is strongly valued by students, staff and parents.

 Approximately 400 students are enrolled at the school, including 75 in the Intensive English Centre.  The students are grouped into thirteen Kindergarten to Year 7 mainstream classes and six Intensive English Centre classes.  Students are accommodated in three cluster style buildings and three transportable classrooms.  Additional facilities at the school include: a well resourced Library; an Art Room; three withdrawal areas suitable for small group teaching; an Undercover Area; a Canteen operated by the Parents and Citizens Association on three days each week; and a Uniform Shop.  A Dental Therapy Centre is also situated within the school grounds.  One of three houses owned by the school on Jenkins Street is used for the teaching of Music.  Another is leased by the Fremantle City Council as an Out of School Care facility.

Beaconsfield Primary School has a highly experienced teaching staff that readily adapts to change and is committed to improving the outcomes of students.  Average length of service at the school varies from teachers new to the school to teachers that have been at the school for many years.  Teaching staff include: a Visual Arts Specialist; a Performing Arts (Music) Specialist; a Physical Education Specialist; a Languages Other Than English (Indonesian) teacher; a staff member to provide support with the implementation of information and communication technologies and a staff member to coordinate the Students at Educational Risk Program.  A shared model of leadership operates very successfully with key members of the teaching staff acting as Curriculum Leaders.  These leaders support the Principal, and Intensive English Centre and mainstream Deputy Principals, in the effective operation of the school.  Leaders in designated areas of need are provided with additional time to assist the implementation of strategies within the School Improvement Plan. 

 In addition to programs delivered by classroom teachers, students participate in a range of specialist programs.  Pre-Primary/Year 1 to Year 7 mainstream and Intensive English Centre students access a specialist Visual Arts Program, Pre-Primary to Year 7 mainstream and Intensive English Centre students participate in a specialist Physical Education Program, Year 3 to 7 mainstream students, and the Year 2 students in the Year 2/3 class, participate in Indonesian lessons and Pre-Primary/Year 1 to Year 7 mainstream and Intensive English Centre students participate in a specialist Music Program.  Selected Year 6 and 7 students participate in the South Fremantle Senior High School Instrumental Music Program and selected Year 5 to 7 students participate in the Fremantle-Peel Education District Primary Extension and Challenge Program (PEAC).

 An efficient and supportive non-teaching staff assist the effective operation of the school.  The mainstream school employs a Registrar, a part-time School Officer, a part-time Library Officer, one full-time and four part-time Education Assistants, eight Special Needs Assistants and a part-time gardener.  Staff appointed to the Intensive English Centre include a full-time School Officer, a part-time Youth Support Worker, a Special Needs Assistant and three Ethnic Education Assistants.

 Community involvement is a key feature of the school with parent participation in the life of the school strongly encouraged.  The School Council meets twice each term and the P and C Association on the third Wednesday of each month.  A number of parents are active participants on school-based committees including the Building Committee and Canteen Committee.