Telopea Park School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Telopea Park School |
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| Location | |
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Barton
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Australia
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| Coordinates | 35°18′50″S 149°8′3″E / 35.31389°S 149.13417°E |
| Information | |
| Other name | French: Lycée Franco-Australien de Canberra |
| Type | Government international primary and secondary school |
| Motto | Latin: Spectans orientia solis lumina (Looking towards the rising sun) |
| Established | 1923 |
| Grades | Year K–10 |
| Enrolment | ~1,550 (2021) |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Colour(s) | Red, white and blue |
Telopea Park School, also known as the French: Lycée Franco-Australien de Canberra, is a special government school in Canberra, Australia. It's an international school that teaches students from kindergarten all the way to Year 10. The school is named after the nearby Telopea Park.
Founded in 1923, it holds the title of the oldest school in Canberra. Telopea Park School is unique because it's the only bi-national school in Canberra. This means it follows rules from both Australia and France. It's officially approved by the French Ministry of Education. This allows it to offer a special program where students learn in both French and English from Kindergarten to Year 10. The school buildings are so important that they are listed on the ACT Heritage Register.
Contents
Learning at Telopea Park School
Telopea Park School has two main parts: a primary school and a secondary school. Both parts offer unique learning experiences.
Primary School: A Bilingual Adventure
The primary school section of Telopea Park School focuses on a bilingual education. This means students learn in two languages. From Kindergarten to Year 2, about 80% of lessons are taught in French. These lessons are given by teachers approved by both French and Australian education departments.
As students move into Years 3 to 6, the teaching time is split evenly. Students spend about half their time learning in French and half in English. French teachers often come for 2 to 3 years. They help students become fluent in both languages.
Secondary School: Two Learning Paths
The secondary school at Telopea Park School also offers different ways to learn. It's not just for English speakers.
The English/French Stream (EFS)
One path is called the English/French Stream (EFS). Students in this stream continue their education mostly in French. They follow the French education system. However, they also take three required courses from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) system.
The ACT Secondary System
Most students, about two-thirds, follow the standard ACT secondary school system. These students can also join the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Telopea Park School became part of this program in 2006. After finishing at Telopea, many EFS students go to Narrabundah College. This college is one of only two schools in Australia where students can take the French Baccalauréat exam.
Languages You Can Learn
Learning another language is a big part of Telopea Park School. Unlike many other ACT secondary schools, it's required for students in Years 7 to 10. Students usually stick with one language for all four years. However, new beginner classes sometimes start for students joining in Years 9 and 10.
Students can choose from several exciting languages:
- Spanish
- Italian
- German
- Japanese
- Indonesian
- French
In 2017, Mandarin was also added, bringing the total to seven languages. Students have about two hours and forty-five minutes of language classes each week.
The English/French Stream (EFS) Explained
The English/French Stream (EFS) is a special group of students at Telopea Park School. They follow a different school system and curriculum compared to students in the standard English Stream. Many EFS students come from Telopea Park Primary School.
The EFS learning style is unique:
- EFS students have fewer elective classes.
- They have compulsory History and Geography classes every term.
- They learn three languages: English, French, and a third language.
The EFS also has its own timetable and its own principal, called la proviseure. After Telopea, EFS students continue their French Baccalauréat studies at Narrabundah College for Years 11 and 12. To show the equal importance of both the French and Australian programs, both national anthems are played at the start of school assemblies.
Famous People Who Went Here
Many talented people have attended Telopea Park School. Here are a few:
- Kofi Danning – A professional soccer player.
- Leon Ford – An Australian actor.
- Cariba Heine – An Australian actress.
- Alex Jesaulenko – A famous Australian Rules football player.
- Caroline Le Couteur – An Australian politician.
- Matthew Le Nevez – An Australian actor.
- Malcolm McIntosh – A respected Australian public servant.
- Steve Mauger – An Australian politician.
- Patricia Piccinini – A well-known Australian visual artist.
- Nikolai Topor-Stanley – A soccer player and former captain of the Western Sydney Wanderers.
- Gough Whitlam – A former Prime Minister of Australia.
See also
- French Australian
- Narrabundah College
