About us

Established in 1925, Gilmore (formerly Footscray Girls' High School) has a proud tradition of promoting and providing the best in the West in girls’ education. The school’s motto: Harmony and Success recognises the school’s motivated and ethnically diverse community and the excellent learning atmosphere of the school. The school has a high proportion of students entering tertiary study. Located in the bustling shopping strip of Barkly Street Footscray, Gilmore is readily accessible by public transport and very close to the rich cultural life of Melbourne.

The school has a well-established welfare team including a Student Welfare Coordinator, Chaplain, School Nurse, Psychologist and Integration aides. This team is very responsive to our students’ needs; running programs like Homework Club three nights a week and Tuesday Breakfast club as well as providing counselling and daily support.

Our Curriculum

Gilmore College is committed to meeting the learning needs of all students through a well developed core curriculum that challenges and supports each student to achieve their very best. The emphasis is on enquiry based learning and the school will become a Middle Years International Baccalaureate School from 2013 onwards. We run a four period day which allows our students to engage in extended learning tasks. We have a distinctive curriculum structure that has two distinct stages, with Years 7 – 9 built around an innovative Middle Years model (to become IB) and Years 10 – 12 focused on VCE and individualized pathways.

Students at Years 7 – 9 have the opportunity to engage in integrated projects as part of their learning. These large, collaborative projects draw on knowledge and skills from a number of subjects and result in complex, rich tasks. These projects encourage students to be independent learners and to develop ICT skills. These projects support a wider curriculum that provides students’ with extensive learning in areas such as Art, Technology, Language and Physical Education across the three years.

Students in Year 10 and VCE are able to study in a wide range of areas and subject acceleration is available for students of high ability. At Year 10, students are able to extend their learning beyond the school through the World of Work program and Work Experience programs. VCE students also benefit from a range of learning seminars, camps and tutorials which assist them in further developing their learning skills and reaching their goals. Students frequently acheive high ATAR scores.eg Last year one third of VCE students had ATARS over 80%

Co-Curricular Activities

Students at Gilmore are expected to become involved in the wide range of extra curricular activities on offer, in order to develop and grow as positive contributors to the community. Activities are offered in the following areas:
 Student Leadership – Leadership positions are offered in both Junior and Senior sub schools and girls are involved in leadership conferences. They are encouraged to demonstrate leadership in a range of areas – personal, sport, in classes and in the community. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is offered in Year 10 and the college has a partnership with Price Waterhouse which mentors many of our senior students.
 Performance – The school runs an active performance and music program, with the highlight being the annual college drama production.
 Extension Program – Girls participate in interschool debating, Tournament of the Minds and chess tournaments as well as having the opportunity to enter the Australian Mathematics, Science and Chemistry competitons.
 Camps and Sport – Each year level has a camp with a specific focus and the college participates in a wide range of sporting events such as Athletics and Swimming Carnivals,Volleyball, Tennis, Soccer, Table Tennis and Badminton.

Location and Facilities

The college is located in the CBD area of Footscray in the west of Melbourne. It is well served by public transport in all directions. One journey by train, tram or bus can bring students from as far away as Werribee and Williamstown in the South, Melton and Sunbury in the West, Ascot Vale and Keilor to the North, and Fitzroy and North Melbourne in the East.

The college comprises a two storey historical main wing surrounding a central courtyard. In addition, there are modern classroom wings built more recently including a new opened, dedicated science building, an extensive library, a Performing Arts Centre and full sized gymnasium. The grounds are attractive with a sports oval, tennis and netball courts, and the college is currently undergoing renovations to the front entrance to the school. The brand new open plan, ICT rich Learning Communities Centre houses our students when they are combined for special projects.

Announcements:

Location: