Ashdale Secondary College is an Independent Public

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

in the

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

suburb of

Darch, Western Australia Darch is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Wanneroo approximately north of the central business district. Previously part of Landsdale, much of the suburb was rural in character until the late 1990s. It was name ...

. Established in 2009, the school has specialist programs for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and for Autism Extension (AEP).

History

Because of the subdivision of the suburbs of Landsdale, Darch and Madeley, there was a need for a new school in the area. The school was originally known as Landsdale Secondary College, but the name was changed because of the changing nature of the Darch subdivision. Ashdale Secondary College opened in 2009 with an intake of 140 year 8 students. Stage one of the building program was completed in October 2009, stage 2 in late 2011 and stage 3 at the end of 2014 to accommodate the new year 7s. In 2009, the school was one of the first in Western Australia to become an independent public school. In November 2021, Ashdale Secondary College was awarded the Meritorious Leadership Award, for finishing second in the Governor’s School STEM Awards. The school was awarded WA Secondary School of the Year in later that month by the

Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

Programs

ICT Specialist Program

Ashdale Secondary College has an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) program. Students in year 7 and 8 can also go through the STEM institute, the ICT program and the digital technology courses. In year 9 to 12 can follow 2 different pathways. A digital design and communication pathway, which focuses on photography and graphic design, such as logos, branding and artwork, and a software design and computer science pathway, which focuses on software and video game design.

Specialised Autism Learning Program

The Specialised Autism Learning Program (SALP) is one of 4 programs in Western Australia that is set up by the Department of Education's Centre for Inclusive Schooling. The program is for students with

autism spectrum disorder The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental disorder, neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) ...

. There are autism specialist teachers and education assistants available, and a homeroom where students can organise themselves for the school day, unwind to reduce anxiety, study during study periods and use as a safe space during recess and lunch. There are two programs offered within the Autism Extension Program. The Very Important Life Skills program (VILS), which includes talk sessions where they talk about things such as social thinking, making friends and expected and unexpected behaviours. The second program is the Community Access program, where students go on a weekly outing to local shops, and go on 2 excursions per term.

Academic results

Student numbers

References

{{Public high schools in Western Australia Public high schools in Perth, Western Australia Educational institutions established in 2009 2009 establishments in Australia