Central Sydney Intensive English High School

Central Street Intensive English High School provides intensive English language, settlement, orientation and welfare programs to secondary-aged, newly-arrived, permanent and temporary residents and international students. The school's motto 'Harmony and Progress' reflects our proactively inclusive education and welfare programs designed to enhance student lifelong achievement and success in their new country. In 2009, the total enrolment of students was 618 with 435 students completing their intensive English and high school preparation tuition in that year. Students with no English or limited English study English in this intensive high school for ten to fifty weeks as preparation for their transfer to a government high school or Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institute. The English as a second language (ESL) program is taught through the New South Wales (NSW) Board of Studies syllabus and referenced to the NSW Department of Education and Training Intensive English Program Curriculum Framework. Students also participate in transition programs with their link high schools and TAFE to ensure success in their further studies. The school also provides student leadership and extra-curricular programs that support students' successful participation in the community beyond the school. Settlement support and partnership programs are provided for the school's culturally and linguistically diverse parent community. The school's student and parent community come from more than thirty language backgrounds other than English. Students participate in NAPLAN when they are in the final ten weeks of their intensive English program and achieving ESL Scales Level 3. Participation in NAPLAN provides students with the opportunity to participate in their first formal assessment in an Australian school. Student achievement as reflected in these NAPLAN results indicates the current level of English language acquisition attained by our new arrivals students. With further exposure over time to English and Australian culture student achievement in NAPLAN improves.