Students with age equivalent schooling are entitled to a two term program, though the length of stay may vary relative to student language needs. The maximum stay is one year. Reasons for keeping students up to one year include: disruption to previous schooling, a low level of English, or learning difficulties. We will discuss the length of stay needed for your child at the parent-teacher reporting meeting which is held each term.
Students are prepared for transition to mainstream schools by a special introductory program and an orientation visit where possible. After students exit to mainstream schools their transition is monitored by transition coordinators, student and teacher surveys and follow up visits. Secondary students return to CELS during their seventh or eighth week at the new school to meet with their ex-teachers and classmates, and to complete a follow-up survey.
The Transition Coordinators or Mentor teachers can provide information about government schools close to your home. Parents/guardians are encouraged to make an appointment and visit schools to help make a more informed decision. Please contact us early in the term if you are not certain which school is best for your child. The mainstream school which you choose for your child should have a good EAL (English as an Additional Language) program to provide further assistance beyond Collingwood English Language School.
To find your closest government mainstream school, use the Find My School website.
Joining the Dots’ Preparing for Secondary School : A Guide for Parents 2018 is a useful guide for parents. Inner Northern Local Learning and Employment Network (INLLEN) has translations of this document available in Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese and Somali.
CELS provides intensive English programs to eligible students newly arrived in Australia from backgrounds other than English. To be eligible to enrol, students must have been in Australia for less than 6 months, be permanent residents of Australia or have an eligible temporary resident visa in Australia and aged 5 before April 30th and under 18 years of age on the first of January of their enrolment year.
Parents and guardians should complete the Initial Enrolment Enquiry form and return the filled form to CELS, with evidence of Visa granted and a copy of student's passport. If there are vacancies in the program, a member of the CELS team will contact you to arrange an appointment day and time for an enrolment interview and English langauge assessment (where applicable). Please note, places can only be made avaiable once a student has arrived in Australia.
If the school does not have vacancies the student will be placed on the waiting list and contacted for enrolment once a place becomes available. The student should be enrolled in a mainstream school if there are no vacancies in the program.
For information about the application process for the enrolment of International Students at Collingwood English Language School, please visit the Department of Education and Training website at International Student Program, which provides detailed information for parents, students and education agents or contact the DET International Unit directly on +61 3 7022 1000.