Fairhills High School
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Tour Details
Vibe at Fairhills High School
Fairhills High School has a small school vibe, where individual students seem to be known, and class sizes appear to be small. It has big grounds and plenty of space.
From the tour, it felt like a school that would be inclusive, supportive and nurturing for students of all different needs and abilities. During the tour, the classrooms were calm, and students looked engaged in learning.
Standout programs at the school include its Basketball and STEM Academies (more on these below).
The uniform is active and designed for comfort, with a range of uniform options available to students.
It appeared that the school values student voice. A number of times the Assistant Principal commented that a program or activity was introduced because the students asked for it.
Students participate in THRIVE, the school’s pastoral care program.
Year 7 students have a homeroom and generally remain with their cohort for core subjects such as English, Humanities, Maths and THRIVE, while moving to specialist classrooms for other subjects.
Location
Fairhills High School is located on a major road (Scoresby Road), and is a short walk from Burwood Highway.
There is a school crossing supervisor on Scoresby Road before and after school to assist with ensuring the students cross the road safely.
It is accessible via bus routes 745 and 967 on Scoresby Road and 755, 732 on Burwood Highway, as well as the 753 (which comes through the back streets from Boronia, or in the other direction from Scoresby).
Upgrades to the school
In 2024 major work was undertaken at the school with an $8 million upgrade. The funding was put towards building a new STEM and Senior Learning Centre (for years 10-12), and a new Music Learning Centre.
An additional $300,000 has been committed to transform the courtyard area into a space with active games, outdoor learning spaces, strategic games areas and spaces for students to sit and eat and socialise. These works are commencing in November 2026.
Enrolment at Fairhills High School
Fairhills is a public school with many students coming from the local area, though they also take out of zone enrolments, as they have space and capacity for more students.
Grade 6 students enrolled at Fairhills High School take part in the State Wide Transition Program in term 4. Students from primary schools that do not have a cohort of students transitioning to Fairhills High School, or students with additional needs, are given the opportunity to attend an additional orientation.
Sport at Fairhills High School
The school has a large gymnasium with two basketball courts and a large oval with a cricket pitch and cricket nets.
They offer a range of house sports, such as athletics carnivals and take part in interschool competitions.
During the tour, it was mentioned that students participate in a broad range of sports as part of the PE curriculum including basketball, table tennis, volleyball, soccer, tennis, softball, netball and fitness. They also have a weights room for the senior students and a volley ball club on a Wednesdays after school.
Their stand out sports program is their Basketball Academy, which is a specialised basketball program. Students in this program receive dedicated basketball classes, take part in basketball tournaments, and can even compete in the Australian High School Championship in Queensland. In year 9 and 10, students in the Basketball Academy learn how to referee and coach and they organise a basketball tournament for the rest of the school.
The Basketball Academy is a select entrance program, with try outs happening in year 7.
Music / performing arts at Fairhills High School
The school has a newly refurbished music area, where classroom music lessons are held and private music lessons take place. Private music lessons (weekly half hour) are available for $87 a term in small groups. Instruments available include guitar, singing, piano (from next year), flute, clarinet and trombone.
The school has a concert band and a rock band. Each year they put on a production, with this year’s production being Legally Blonde. Participation is optional, with opportunities available both on stage and behind the scenes in areas such as hair, makeup and set design. The musicals are performed at the school in the theatre.
The school also takes part in the State School Spectacular each year.
STEM at Fairhills High School
The science facilities were a highlight of the tour, with one science lab having a VCE chemistry class in action, where we could see students completing an experiment to create different smells.
The class was taking place in the ‘state of the art’ science labs which were built in 2024.
Fairhills High School also has a STEM Academy, for students with a particular interest in STEM. This is a select entry program, which students can apply for in grade 6. Students undertake an entrance test to get selected.
Students in the STEM Academy do an extra two periods of STEM a week from year 7. This occurs while other students are taking part in the THRIVE program.
The Assistant Principal mentioned that the specialist STEM Academy was one of the big draw cards of the school.
Academics at Fairhills High School
Fairhills follows the LEARN instructional model and focuses on catering to the diverse range of student abilities. The school uses flexible approaches in areas such as mathematics, where students are streamed to work on a topic with other students who are working at a similar level to them.
The school’s approach is based around creating a “supportive, orderly, learning environment” (SOLE), with staff emphasising routines that help students feel comfortable and ready to learn.
There are a range of learning pathways available in senior years, including VCE and Vocational Major options. The Vocational Major program includes workplace learning opportunities, including TAFE placements and work experience.
Other learning areas – arts, food tech at Fairhills High School
The school offers a range of different subjects including food technology, visual arts and media. Arts subjects are varied and include things like ‘Make and Build’ (which involves basic woodwork), clay and visual communication and design.
There is also a lunchtime art club that students can join once a week.
Food Technology is compulsory for all students in year 7 and then offered as an elective from year 9 onwards. The food technology classes focus largely on cooking foods that align to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, though there are occasional sweet treats cooked. A variety of food technology subjects are offered.
Language at Fairhills High School
Japanese is taught at the school and is compulsory for year 7 and 8 and an elective from year 9.
The school hosts Japanese exchange students and offers and Japan study tour.
Students who wish to study another language can choose any language offered by the Victorian Curriculum of Languages, and can study it online during language time.
School timetable
School hours are from 8:40am – 2:40pm each day. This includes 5 x 60 minute periods and two breaks (recess from 10:40 – 11am and lunch from 1 – 1:40pm).
Breakfast club and canteen
He school hosts a breakfast club every day, and has ‘food banks’ dotted around the school where students can pick up fruit or some other food items such as noodle soup. All year levels have access to microwaves to warm up food.
The Tasty Truck visits the school daily and acts as the school’s canteen.
Support for neuro divergent students
The Assistant Principal took quite a lot of time to answer questions from families about the support available for neuro divergent students. It is obvious that the school is intentional about supporting all students, and tailoring that support to their specific needs.
The school has Learning Assistants who are able to work 1:1 with students to support them. What this support looks like would depend on the individual student, but staff described using strategies such as colour-coded timetables, folders, entry routines and reminders on laptops to help students organise themselves.
They also have a Student Wellbeing Centre with a calm room that students can go to if they need a break. The Student Wellbeing Centre is a quiet space with Lego, a beanbag, a weighted blanket, mindful colouring etc. This space has a Learning Assistant available.
The school offers social and emotional learning opportunities through activities such as gardening , cooking and art.
Homework club
Homework club runs weekly, after school in the library. A teacher is always present during the session.
Final words
STEM and basketball seem to be key features that attract students. The tour highlighted lots of opportunities for students from performing arts to music, vocational learning and lunchtime clubs. The overall impression was of a school that values student wellbeing and with lots of improvements and upgrades happening to their facilities.
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