$27.5m centre for Vic high-flyers will be sited at Melbourne High

High-achieving students in Victoria will have access to a $27.5 million co-educational Centre for Higher Education Studies to be built next to Melbourne High School in South Yarra.

The partner schools are Melbourne High School. MacRobertson Girls' High School, Richmond High School, Prahran High School, Melbourne Girls College and Regional Secondary Schools. 

The Centre will have state-of-the-art classrooms, specialist facilities for science, technology, engineering and maths studies as well as lecture spaces and a theatre. Students will remain enrolled at their existing schools and attend the Centre for additional courses.

The facility will work in conjunction with universities, offering a range of VCE extension programs specifically designed for high achievers and provide hands-on professional development for the workforce.

Consultation with schools, students and universities and the Department of Education and Training will occur over the course of the year to inform the final curriculum and access arrangements to ensure as many students as possible benefit from the facility. 

This year’s State Budget includes ongoing funding for the new centre, $7.1 million has been allocated over the next five years and $4.6 million in ongoing operating funding.

The Government is also reviewing long-term select entry provision for girls across Victoria, as well as looking at options for creating more capacity at Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School. Last year almost 56 per cent of the 4000 select entry places in Victoria went to boys.

A digital learning component for high-achieving students in regional Victoria will also be created.