Applications Are Now OPEN
For the Gifted and Talented
Secondary Selective Program 2021 intake HERE
Key Dates and Guidelines
Key dates and guidelines for the 2020 intake are here. https://www.education.wa.edu.au/key-dates.
Please NOTE: Gifted and Talented Program students can also study up to two Specialist programs. If you are applying for the Gifted and Talented Program it is advised you also sit the Specialist Testing. They are two separate tests and students often wish to be enrolled in multiple programs.
Applications for Year 7 in 2021
Applications for the 2021 Department of Education’s Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance Program are now open.
Programs are in the areas of Academic, Arts and Languages and are offered at 20 select public secondary schools. Demand for these programs is strong and entry is competitive. All placements will be made on the basis of individual performance in program-specific testing and assessments, including the Academic Selective Entrance Test. Testing will take place when your child is in Year 6.
All applications are now online and further information on schools and programs, application guidelines and key dates and timelines are available at the Gifted and Talented website: https://www.education.wa.edu.au/key-dates.
It is important to note that successful applicants are able to attend their school of choice, even though they may not live in that school’s local intake area.
Parent Information
In choosing Melville Senior High School’s Gifted and Talented Selective Academic Program for your child, you will be joining a school community that is committed to ensuring your son or daughter is on a pathway to success at secondary school and beyond.
The Gifted and Talented Selective Academic Program offered at Melville SHS is an academic program where the selected students study Mathematics, Science, Humanities and English together as a unified group from Years 7-10. This model has proven to be successful in cultivating a culture of genuine teamwork, peer support, high-level motivation and encouragement among Melville SHS’s Gifted and Talented students.
In Years 11 and 12 Melville SHS’s Gifted and Talented students join mainstream classes due to the range and diversity of subject selection offered to students. However, students continue to be supported through such programs through after-school tutoring and engagement with an array of university experiences.
At Melville SHS, our Gifted and Talented Education Team understand the need to challenge students and look for ways to engage the gifted learner. A team approach is adopted in order to support your child’s learning requirements. Through dialogues with parents and professional colleagues, alternate pathways are sought and developed for the individual’s needs, and can consist of a combination of academic and practical pathways. This collaborative approach is used to offer challenging and engaging learning opportunities, including differential extension programs for individuals within the class, as deemed necessary.
Top Up Testing
Students applying for Top Up Testing for other years (entering Years 9, 10 and 11) are required to be in the year level prior to the year level for which they are applying when they sit the Academic Selective Entrance Test. For example, a child in Year 8 can only sit the testing for entry to Year 9. Information is in the link above under Places for Year 9, 10 and 11 on the left.
For further information, contact the Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator on 6274 1300.
Information on Past Graduates
Melville Senior High school achieved outstanding academic success with our Year 12 graduating class, both at the individual student level and as a cohort. The following is a snapshot of achievements:
2018
STEM Inspires Scientific Pursuits
Melville SHS has been inspiring students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects since the 2018 Leavers started in Year 7. This inspiration has led many top achievers going into associated degrees.
2018 Dux, Jessie Wang received an ATAR of 99.90 and has been accepted into the coveted B. Phil (Computer Science and Engineering) at UWA. The Bachelor of Philosophy only accepts students with marks over 98 and is a holistic four-year degree comprising a three-year bachelor’s degrees and a fourth year of honours.
Head Girl in 2018, Jamie Lau (ATAR of 97.65) is going to study Medicine at the University of NSW. She becomes the seventh student to gain acceptance into Medicine in the last four years.
Technology is the buzzword for this generation and Randy De Guzman (96.85) is studying a Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering and Computer Science at Curtin University. Head Boy, Charles Morley-Wong (ATAR 98.35) is also off to Curtin to study a Bachelor of Engineering. Rico Lee (95.65) and Anushree Arunkumar (95.70) have been accepted into a Direct Pathway – Masters of Professional Engineering at UWA.
Science at UWA was also the choice for other high achievers: Tom Featherstone (95.15) will study a Bachelor of Science (Physics) and Mathematics. Sophie Tremain-Hill (95.60) will study a Bachelor of Science (Pre-clinical Optometry) for a year at Curtin University then an Optometry degree at Flinders University. Molly Clegg (95.80) and Eliza Lock (95.65) are both going to study a Bachelor of Science – Occupational Therapy (Honours) at Curtin.
Health Winner
Congratulations to Rebecca Whitehurst who is the top student in the State in Health Studies and has become the Exhibition Winner in that subject. This is the third year in a row that Melville SHS has won this Subject Exhibition for Health Studies. She and Kate Burns received a Subject Certificate of Excellence as one of three students who were in the top 0.5% of students in Health Studies. Kate (with an ATAR of 94.35) has decided to study a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) at UWA.
Humanities High Achiever
Sarah Birch with an ATAR of 97.1 is going to follow her passions and do a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Modern History, Classics and Ancient History at UWA.
Graphic Design Media Star
Stella Gray Broun has won selection in the prestigious Year 12 Media Perspectives for her short film Well Number 7. The film is to be showcased in March at a short film festival and was selected by ATOMWA (Australian Teachers of Media WA).
Stella, who received an ATAR of 93.45 has been a part of the Graphic Design Media Specialist Program since Year 7 and then excelling in Visual Art & Design and Media Production course in senior school. In the league tables for Year 12 ATAR results, Melville SHS had leading courses in Design, Media Production and Visual Arts (based on the number of students who were in the top 15% of all students in the class).
Music Passion Leads to WAPPA Offers
Congratulations to Gifted and Talented student Kobi Simpson as well as Shaniqa Ratnasingam who have been accepted into WAAPA (WA Academy of Performing Arts). Kobi is going to study Jazz piano and is keen to have a career in performing and writing music. Shaniqa (ATAR 93.56) is going to study classical saxophone and hopes to use her degree to travel the world to study under other performers and teach music. She would love to one day join an orchestra. Both students said they were strongly encouraged and inspired by teachers Ms Ana Milas and Mr Lachlan Brooks-Crew.
2017
Jordan Lukan and Mikael Setiaputra (ATAR of 99.75 placing him in the top 0.2% of the state) are part of a growing group from the school who are accepted into Medicine. Getting into Medicine is not just about doing well academically, but also involves doing well in the UMAT (Undergraduate Medical and Health Sciences Admission Test). Jordan’s UMAT of 172 (84th percentile) was outstanding. He volunteered as a St John’s first aid officer when at school and is now also volunteering with disabled children at Red Cross.
The UMAT challenges students in logical reasoning and problem solving; understanding people and non-verbal reasoning. The final ranking to get into Medicine is based on UMAT, ATAR and an Interview and is weighted 1:2:2 respectively. Approximately 65 ATAR students gain direct Bonded Medical Places (BMP) or 28.5. The rest are selected as post-graduate placements.
The school is aware of six students who have gained entry into Medicine in the last three years. Melville SHS is a Broadway Direct Pathway school that gives bonus marks for entry into Medicine and Dentistry.
Chiara Jil Fluri received a Health Studies Subject Exhibition for achieving the highest examination mark in an ATAR course.
Four students (Mikael Setiaputra in Physics & Mathematical Methods and Alyssa Davies, Adrian Gonzalez and Amberley Evans in Health Studies) were awarded Subject Certificates of Excellence for achieving in the top 0.5% of students in an ATAR course exam.
2016
Jane Song is studying a Bachelor of Biomedicine with an assured pathway to Medicine at the University of Melbourne. Jane received the fifth highest result in the state with an ATAR of 95.95 and became the second highest state school student behind the Beazley Medal winner. Jane and put her success down to her amazing teachers. She said she was very proud to have received the results with no external paid tutoring or private tuition. Jane received a subject Exhibition in Mathematical Methods, a Certificate of Excellence in Chemistry and Maths and got 100% in three of her subjects.
Head Boy Owen Stanley is also at the University of Melbourne doing a Bachelor of Bio-Technology after his great result of 99.30 and achieving a Certificate of Excellence in Mathematical Methods.
Canningvale resident Paul Omodunbi received an early offer to study Computer Science and Systems Engineering at Curtin University. He received a fantastic ATAR result of 98.45.
Cosmo Batley has been accepted into the WAAPA Classical Piano Program.
2015
Anatalisha Finn from Palmyra who has been part of the Melville SHS Gifted and Talented Program for the last five years was one of three students to join the elite 99 club with an ATAR of 99.15. Anatalisha has received a direct pathway into Medicine.
Another Gifted and Talented student, Max Wickham from Kardinya received an ATAR of 97.15 and has been a part of the Music in Focus program since he started high school. He is currently at WAAPA studying Jazz Guitar. He was part of the school’s Swing band that has been visited local primary schools to promote instrumental music courses.
