Scotch College

Encouraging study environment on the Hill

Is this a parent's dream? A nightly study period for their sons, supervised by teachers in a quiet environment, with access to modern computer equipment, and restricted access to television, CD players and video games.

In the Scotch boarding houses this isn't a dream - it's the reality of the study routine for Years 7 to 10 - and the results are on the board in terms of academic success.

'The aim is to teach our younger boys independent learning techniques and self-sufficiency, to prepare them fully for Years 11 and 12,' says the Dean of Boarding,

Doug Galbraith. 'By Year 11, when they have desks in their rooms, and full access to the Internet and the Local Area Network, they know how to make the very best use of their study time.'

For Years 7 to 10 boarders, study time - or 'prep' - is from 7pm to 8.45pm from Monday to Thursday, with a reduced study time on Fridays. Also on Friday nights there are boarders' workshops, when boys can participate in crafts such as welding or carpentry. At weekends boarders are able to continue their study in an unsupervised environment.

The weekday prep sessions are supervised by teachers from a wide range of disciplines, and boarders say this is one of the most valuable aspects of study life on the Hill. Geoff Wemyss and David Greenwood (senior mathematics masters), Head of English Bradley Wells and Media Services Co-ordinator Lachie Fairbairn all attend at various times for group or individual assistance.

Doug Galbraith says it's a very supportive community. 'Boys from the same year level can easily get together to discuss aspects of their work, and the Year 11s and 12s help the younger boys,' he says. 'Tutors from each year level check record books and monitor the boys' progress, liaising with their teachers about any problems that emerge.'

This strong focus on study pays dividends. Last year four boarders achieved scores over 99 in the VCE, and there were many other strong scores. Dux of the Hill in 2001 was Peter Marriott of Tarwin Lower in South Gippsland, who scored 99.5, and is now studying Engineering/Commerce at Melbourne University.

According to his mother Sue, Peter was 'in his element in the boarding house and thrived on it'. Peter's father Lindsay says the encouragement to excel at Scotch is 'incredible'. He says Peter's life was 'changed irrevocably' by his experience at Scotch. 'Boarding at Scotch gives boys the ethos to strive for excellence, and to be admired for achieving it,' Lindsay says.

Boys on the Hill will continue to reap the benefits of an excellent study environment and the encouragement to achieve to their maximum.

Chris Commons