Developing Developing ClustersClusters

Local schools combining for Local schools combining for enrichment immersionenrichment immersion

School Clusters: School Clusters: What are they?What are they?

A group of schools joining together A group of schools joining together to provide the gifted with learning to provide the gifted with learning experiences which match, as closely experiences which match, as closely as possible, interest and ability.as possible, interest and ability.

RationaleRationale

To provide varied and valuable To provide varied and valuable learning experiences for our learning experiences for our ‘‘g & tg & t’’ within and across the intelligence within and across the intelligence domains which challenge and domains which challenge and motivate a group of motivate a group of ‘‘likemindedlikeminded’’ students.students.

A Model: Boroondara A Model: Boroondara Secondary Schools Gifted Secondary Schools Gifted

Cluster (7-10)Cluster (7-10) 15 local secondary schools.15 local secondary schools. Government, Catholic, Independent.Government, Catholic, Independent. Single sex, co-educational schools.Single sex, co-educational schools. Years 7 -10.Years 7 -10. Half day and whole day immersion.Half day and whole day immersion. Teacher interest based: across all Teacher interest based: across all

curriculum areas.curriculum areas. School offering a unit controls every School offering a unit controls every

aspect of the unit.aspect of the unit.

Offering A UnitOffering A Unit

Standard proforma (see information pack).Standard proforma (see information pack). School offering mandates: the numbers, cost, School offering mandates: the numbers, cost,

other requisites, venue, activities, times.other requisites, venue, activities, times. Schools applying for places accept the host Schools applying for places accept the host

schoolschool’’s conditions, organises transport to s conditions, organises transport to and from, staffing (if needed), other and from, staffing (if needed), other requisites.requisites.

Visiting schools identify students according Visiting schools identify students according to unit presented and type of students to unit presented and type of students requested by host school. requested by host school.

Getting Started # 1Getting Started # 1

Call a meeting of interested local Call a meeting of interested local schools.schools.

Be inclusive of all schools in your area Be inclusive of all schools in your area with year levels appropriate to with year levels appropriate to cluster.cluster.

Choose a convenor.Choose a convenor. Meet once a term at the outset (could Meet once a term at the outset (could

be reduced later).be reduced later). Like each other: be friendly/positiveLike each other: be friendly/positive

Getting Started # 2Getting Started # 2

Get school Get school ‘‘movers and shakersmovers and shakers’’ on on boardboard

Aim to offer one unit at your school per Aim to offer one unit at your school per year (run by you initially?).year (run by you initially?).

Therefore, 6 schools = 6 units minimum Therefore, 6 schools = 6 units minimum per year across subject domains.per year across subject domains.

Offer constructive feedbackOffer constructive feedback Meet and discuss at next scheduled Meet and discuss at next scheduled

cluster meeting.cluster meeting.

AdvantagesAdvantages

InexpensiveInexpensive Economy of effort for delivery of an Economy of effort for delivery of an

excellent product for g & texcellent product for g & t NetworkingNetworking Meeting of minds and passionsMeeting of minds and passions Experience different educational settingsExperience different educational settings Breaking down petty barriers between Breaking down petty barriers between

schoolsschools Expertise at schools well utilized.Expertise at schools well utilized.

Possible PitfallsPossible Pitfalls

School Jealousies: School Jealousies: ““The Numbers GameThe Numbers Game”” Paperwork (adopt KISS principle)Paperwork (adopt KISS principle) Time to organise (especially convenor)Time to organise (especially convenor) Unit appropriatenessUnit appropriateness Inappropriate identification of g & tInappropriate identification of g & t Cluster gets too largeCluster gets too large Transportation on the dayTransportation on the day Medical/Health informationMedical/Health information

Boroondara Cluster 2010Boroondara Cluster 2010 Camberwell High SchoolCamberwell High School PLCPLC Camberwell BoysCamberwell Boys’’ Grammar School Grammar School Ruyton GirlsRuyton Girls’’ School School Methodist LadiesMethodist Ladies’’ College College Kew High SchoolKew High School Strathcona Baptist GirlsStrathcona Baptist Girls’’ Grammar School Grammar School Siena CollegeSiena College Fintona GirlsFintona Girls’’ School School Camberwell GirlsCamberwell Girls’’ Grammar School Grammar School Scotch CollegeScotch College BialikBialik Genezzano FCJGenezzano FCJ