Recruitment Agent Training

About St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar

St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar (SMBG) is a non-denominational independent school located in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne offering education of girls and boys from early learning (3-year-olds) to year 12 (VCE).

The school follows the Victorian curriculum and students take the Victorian Certificate of Education in years 11 and 12.

The School has 2 campuses:

1. Berwick where you’ll find our Early Learning Centre, Junior School (Prep to year 6) and Senior Girls (years 7 to 12).
2. Officer where you’ll find our Senior Boys (years 7 to 12).

The School is well serviced by roads and rail with an approximate journey time to central Melbourne of 45 – 60 mins.

Growing Good People – A Holistic Education

To grow great people we seek to educate the heart as much as the mind.

We aim to engage and reach every student to ensure that they have a strong sense of belonging to our community. That they are regularly challenged to ensure their personal growth and that they strive for excellence in everything that they do.

Excellence

We challenge our students to achieve their best potential and pursue excellence in all endeavours within a high-quality and balanced educational experience.

Growth

We inspire our learners to find their strengths and grow in their voice and agency through a scope and sequence of opportunity, choice and challenge, appropriate to their age and stage.

Belonging

The essence of an education at SMBG is the strength that comes from belonging and connection with something larger than oneself. Our aim is to ensure all community members feel safe, valued, nurtured and connected, with a strong sense of belonging to place and people, so you always feel welcome.

 

Our 4As

We deliver Excellence, Growth and Belonging through the lens of our 4 As to provide a holistic education that ensures every student finds and explores their passion which we strive to develop and nurture.

The nature of education and curiosity means that no A stands on its own but is intrinsically linked with the other As. Leadership is not only found walking on the trails of the high country, but can equally be found in the performing arts, the debating team, the sports field or the nuances of global citizenship.

As long as a student pursues excellence and exercises their best effort then every outcome should be celebrated. Learning achieved by participating in something, is just as impressive as a student who is elite at that particular activity.

 

Demographics and Class Sizes

Our school is highly international in nature. More than 60% of our students speak another language at home with their family.

The cultural backgrounds of our families are diverse but are primarily Australian, Chinese, Indian and Sri Lankan and many of the worlds religions are represented amongst our students.

We target class sizes of around 23 students and have an average of around 10 students in a VCE class (years 11 and 12).

 

Diamond Model

We offer an education model that provides the best of all worlds.

• Co-education in our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program through ELC and Junior School (3 years old to year 6).
• Single-gender education on dedicated campuses in senior years (years 7 to 10) with cross-campus socio-emotional learning opportunities e.g. House events, debating, performing arts and camps.
• A Senior College experience for VCE (years 11 and 12) that brings genders together for learning experiences and activities, allows the school to offer the widest range of VCE subjects, while also preparing students for the next step in their life.

CRICOS

The School’s CRICOS license is for secondary school only (years 7 – 12) and allows the School to have a total international cohort (visa 500) of 60 international students. As a School we make a conscious decision to maintain a cohort of around 20 international students.

Our international student cohort is primarily made up of students from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. We also have students from India and Bangladesh.

• CRICOS Provider No. 00344J
• CRICOS Provider: St Margaret’s School
• Course Name: Secondary Years 7 – 12
• CRICOS Course Code: 019219C

 

Students

We are seeking students that are outwardly focused and want to be involved in school life. We want students who want to participate in activities and sport as we feel that this is the best way to make connections, have a sense of belonging and to get the most out of a St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar Education.

We also want parents, regardless of where they live, to be involved with the School and to know that we believe in education partnership, which means if you have feedback or concerns they need to be voiced with us.

We also recognise that a strong grasp of the English language is a pre-requisite to being successful at school, so meeting the Schools English entry standards and/or successfully completing intensive English is an entry requirement.

 

English Language Requirements for Entry (Indicative)

Year	AEAS	IDAT	IELTS	TOEFL
7	45+ + Interview	60% – 70% + Interview	4+ + Interview	29 – 31+ + Interview
8	50+ + Interview	60% – 70% + Interview	4.5+ + Interview	32 – 33+ + Interview
9	55+ + Interview	60% – 70% + Interview	5+ + Interview	34 – 59+ + Interview
10	65+ + Interview	60% – 70% + Interview	5.5+ + Interview	60 – 93+ + Interview

 

Interview Process

Interviews may be conducted face-to-face or online and will be in English.

Interviews must be conducted with the student and a responsible adult, ideally a parent.

Multiple people may be involved in the interview, including the Head of School, Head of Students, International Student Coordinator, an English as an Additional Language Teacher, Electives Coordinator, and Admissions.

If not all the people required for the interview are available, additional interviews may be required.

 

Accommodation

The School has the following preferences when considering international students

1. Students who will live with their family visa 590.
2. Students who will live with a family or a close family friend close to the School. In this case, the family will be treated as a Homestay.
3. Students who need a local homestay family to live with.

Students who need homestay must be 13+.

 

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is primarily managed through our House System, which is a collection of students in Years 7 – 12. This system breaks down year-level barriers, reduces incidences of bullying issues, increases peer relationships and forms mentor/mentee relationships.

International students are additionally supported by an International Student Coordinator who will also connect directly with parents.

For students where a CAAW has been issued, then the School is 100% responsible for the student’s welfare and this cannot be delegated.

Key Agent Requirements

• All agents must abide by the terms of the School’s Agency Agreement.
• All applications are received via the School’s online application via the School’s website stmargarets.vic.edu.au.
• Communications with the School should be via email to enrol@smbg.vic.edu.au.
• International students, from non-English speaking nations, must provide the School with a current English assessment ideally AEAS or iDAT.
• If a student needs a homestay, this should be flagged as part of the application process.
• Students needing homestay must be 13+ years of age.
• Where a homestay is required, the School will arrange it, following the provision of a homestay preference sheet. Agents should NOT find accommodation for the student as the School is 100% responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the student, where a CAAW has been issued.