About Us

RESERVOIR WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL 

Reservoir West Primary School was established in 1954 in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. An extensive rebuilding program was completed in 2011 to provide the community with a modern architecturally-designed school, comprising four buildings with facilities and equipment that allows teaching and learning to be flexible, engaging and stimulating. Seven relocatable buildings and a relocatable toilet block have been provided to cater for increased enrolments. Covered basketball courts and assembly areas, extensive playground equipment, grassed and synthetic turf areas provide students with a safe, secure and practical playground environment.

Reservoir West Primary School provides a friendly and caring environment in which a love of learning is developed and personal growth and wellbeing for all students is enhanced. The following values underpin all that we do: Respect - for ourselves, others, the environment and diversity; Wisdom: to make appropriate decisions and dare to be innovative; Persistence - in continuing to strive for excellence in all that we do; Success - in life-long learning with a global perspective.

The school serves a socially, economically and culturally diverse community. The school’s Student Family Occupation (SFO) index has changed significantly from 0.57 in 2011 to 0.3926 in 2022, which indicates that the socio-economic status of the student cohort is in the mid-to-high range. The school's SFOE index is 0.2986 and the proportion of students born in Australia is 94% per cent.

Student enrolments have increased from 254 in 2010 to 595 in 2022. This increase in enrolments has resulted in the school receiving an enrolment ceiling since 2013.

In 2023, the school employs 49.7 Equivalent Full Time (EFT) staff, consisting of 39.3 EFT teaching and 10.4 EFT non-teaching personnel. The leadership profile includes a Principal, a substantive Assistant Principals, and Acting Assistant Principal 0.6, two Leading Teachers and 2.4 EFT Learning Specialists. The teaching staff is experienced with a balanced blend of graduate and more experienced teachers. Student Wellbeing and Engagement Leaders (1.2 EFT) and our Psychologist (0.5EFT) work with students and families that need support and Education Support staff provide significant welfare, literacy, numeration and extension support. In 2023 the Tutor Learning Initiative continued to provide significant support for students affected by remote learning and the school has six graduate teachers involved in the Career Start program. TheirCare manages a before and after school program which caters for 90 students and also conducts vacation care.

Reservoir West Primary school provides a comprehensive curriculum based on the Victorian Curriculum. Our current goals are: to maximise learning growth and achievement for all students, to empower students to be more actively engaged in learning and to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of all students. RWPS strives to create a welcoming environment for families and invites them to participate as partners in the education of their children.

The school has developed literacy and numeracy continuums, which are supported by an extensive assessment schedule. Whole school agreements are outlined for curriculum areas and include expectations, assessment tools, common language and evidence-based explicit instructional strategies based upon the Fleming Effective Teaching Model. The coherent, school wide methodology applied to planning, assessment and the sharing of effective practices has built a unified teaching approach focused on making a positive impact on student learning. The diverse learning needs of students are catered for through purposefully designed teaching and learning programs.

The school uses digital technologies routinely across the curriculum with all students in the Senior School having access to their own devices. School iPads are used in the Junior School. 

Students are currently organised for learning in a mixture of straight and composite classes. The Junior School has all straight classes and the Senior School is all composite Year 3/4 and 5/6 classes. The new facilities have provided the opportunity for flexible groupings of students and collaborative teaching. In 2022, there were twenty-five home-groups, supported by specialist teachers and support teachers who work as a team to deliver a comprehensive curriculum. The school curriculum includes the specialist areas of Spanish and Music, Physical Education, Health and PE, Library, Visual Arts, DigiTech and English as an Additional Language (EAL) is also provided. The school is also accredited to enrol international students and, in 2022, had two enrolled. A whole-school Wellbeing and Engagement Policy has enabled students, teachers and parents to work together in a safe, secure and simulating environment where we can all strive for excellence.

FACILITIES

Commencing in 2007, Reservoir West Primary School underwent a complete rebuilding program that has provided a bright and modern architecturally-designed school equipped with facilities and equipment that allow teaching and learning to be flexible, engaging and stimulating. The completed Masterplan consists of four buildings: Library/ICT/Administration/Art Studio, Music/Gymnasium and two classroom wings with flexible learning areas. A large oval, covered basketball courts and assembly areas, extensive playground equipment, considerable areas of synthetic turf and covered areas and 2.4m security fence provide our students with a safe and secure environment. With our recent dramatic increase in enrolments, the school has been provided with seven relocatable buildings housing fourteen classrooms.

THE CURRICULUM

The teachers and staff at Reservoir West are dedicated and committed to delivering well-prepared and challenging programs in all domains of the Victorian Curriculum. Programs marked * are conducted by a specialist teacher or professional instructor. Excursions and visiting performers enhance the units of work being studied.

TEACHERS

A balance of experienced and younger teachers place an emphasis on providing individualised learning for our students in a team-oriented environment. All staff are committed to continued Professional Learning.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

At Reservoir West parents are encouraged to participate in and support their child through:

School Council

Parents and Friends’ Association

Classroom Helpers’ Programs

Assisting in classroom and specialist programs

Fundraising and social opportunities

Canteen

Sporting teams and excursions

Visiting the school during open sessions

Attending assemblies, special days or activities

UNIFORM

Gender-inclusive compulsory school uniform is available from our supplier AGS Prints.

Sunsmart School – School hats are compulsory Terms 1 & 4

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

School Captains

House Captains and Vice-Captains

Student Representative Council

Office and Admin duties

Prep & 5/6 Buddy System

Buddy Grade System

STUDENT WELFARE

High level of student supervision in the schoolyard

Student Wellbeing Officer

High expectations for student behaviour

Many staff Level 2 First-Aid trained (Teaching and Non-Teaching)

Whole-school Student Code of Conduct

Guidance Officer/Psychologist/Counsellor

Speech Pathologist

Program for Students with Disabilities   

COMMUNICATION AND REPORTING

Parent information sessions

Weekly newsletter

Informative and up-to-date website

Five formal Parent/Teacher Interviews

June and December written Achievement Reports

March and September Progress Reports

Open-door policy with approachable staff and teachers

Regular ‘open school’ opportunities

Please attend one of our Open Sessions or contact the Principal for a personal tour of the school to discuss your child's educational needs.