Varsity College paves the way for college education

(by Nick McTague and Ben Strick - Bond University Journalism Students)

Students from the Varsity College are being groomed for university studies through a unique timetable and course structure.

The college uses a similar class system to universities, where students are only required to attend scheduled classes as opposed to the 9am – 3pm structure in place most high schools in Australia.

Varsity College senior school student Alexandria Matthews said she liked the timetabling system because it was flexible and allowed her to do extra curricula activities like internships.  “These class times are so good because lots of my friends find it really easy to do vocational training,” Ms Matthews said.

“Some of the other schools don’t have this sort of system and I consider myself lucky that if I wanted to go onto university, I am already used to it.
“It also gives me and my friends a chance to go to the beach on hotter days.”

Varsity College business services manager Lisa Thomas said the reason the schedules were designed in this way because there were so many students attending the school and a limited number of classrooms.  “So we have to accommodate for the students in the best manner possible,” Ms Thomas said.

“To provide all of the classes, we can’t have all the students on campus at the same time and we have to make sure that we are using the space to its maximum potential.

“We are not different from every other school in Queensland, because there are others that use this same system, that we’ve found is the best one for us.”  

For more information about Queensland schools visit the Department of Education and Training website at http://education.qld.gov.au.