13627 HES A5 24pp Info Booklet F : simplebooklet.com

Table of Contents Testimonials23…how pleased we are that our son has participated in the workshop and trial exams at Hendersons in preparation for the ﬁnal entrance examinations for the prospective schools. We feel that this program was very helpful, especially given that some of the subject matter had not actually been covered at his school. Our son felt he did particularly well in the exams as a direct result of his experiences at Hendersons. We are pleased to relate he was very successful in the actual examinations.- Parent of Year 6 StudentHendersons has been a great help towards achieving scholarship oers at multiple, prestigious private schools in Melbourne. The combination of good content, great teachers and practice exams provides a strong foundation for the examinations. For me the practice exams especially helped provide a good understanding of the exam structure before the actual exam. The sta at Hendersons are really approachable helpful and always ready to help resolve. Any queries they go above and beyond to ensure that a student is as ready as can be for the exams. I think Hendersons for the support provided.- Year 7 Hendersons StudentAbout Us 3Victorian School System 4School Entrance & Scholarship Exams 5Choosing your school 9Hendersons’ Services 11How to book19Why choose Hendersons? 22Testimonials 23WARNINGThe information in this booklet has been reproduced and communicated to you by or on behalf of Hendersons Educational Services pursuant to Part IVA Division 4 of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act). The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act.

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Over 30 years experienceHendersons have been a registered business for over 30 years. Through our decades of experience in education, tuition and exam preparation, we have reﬁned our services and support strategies to help Hendersons’ students excel.Experienced teachersAll teachers at Hendersons are experienced educators. They have in-class teaching experience and are experts in their disciplines.Small class sizesHendersons’ workshop classes are capped at a maximum of 8 students. This helps ensure personalised feedback and attention for each individual student.Authentic examsHendersons’ practice exams are shaped by feedback from the real exams. So the content and experience of practice exams mimic the real exam students will sit.Strong resultsHendersons prides itself on strong success rates. We consistently have a high percentage of Hendersons’ students receive an offer at their preferred school.Customised programsHendersons’ services are tailored to match the requirements of dierent exams, entry year levels and schools. This means your child receives relevant information, maximising their potential for success.Hendersons Educational Services specialise in exam preparation and supporting students in gaining entry to prestigious schools. Founded and run by teachers over thirty years ago, our qualiﬁed and experienced educators deliver focused teaching sessions to help students prepare for entrance examinations. We oer workshops tailored for private school scholarships, Selective Entry High Schools, Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL)/High Achiever Programs (HAP), and school entrance exams.Our teaching methodology maximises retention by delivering focused sessions. Our programs not only prepare students for entrance exams, but we also equip them for long-term academic success.Students receive expert guidance, targeted homework, and practice exams reﬂecting current assessment tools. Bonus materials are also provided for further revision and practice. Our experienced teachers guide students through the coursework, creating valuable classroom experiences.We oer both face-to-face and online options to accommodate individual needs.Our mission is to provide specialised services, in an ethical and professional environment, to support each child to reach their academic potential.22 3Why choose Hendersons? About Us

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Victorian School SystemThe Victorian school system is comprised of government schools (also known as public schools) and non-government schools (also referred to as private schools, independent schools or Catholic schools). For the purposes of this booklet, we will be referring to the two sectors as private schools and public schools.Private Schools Public Schools• Privately owned and operated.• Funded by parents, state and federal government.• Fees vary, but may cost up to$40,000/year.• Fees do not always include extra activities such as excursions, camps and IT costs.• Have their own entry criteria which may include interviews and/or exams.• Allowed to choose students based on religion, academic performance.• IT costs.• Supervised by the Department ofEducation and Training (DET).• Mostly State Government funding,some Federal Government funding• Unable to refuse a student based onreligion.Open Entry Selective EntryMay be zoned or have a ‘catchment area’ – so students must live within certain residential boundaries to enrol.Admit students based on certain selection criteria, usually academic. Entrance exam based on academic performance.Scholarshipsü✗ ✗SEAL programs✗ü✗High Achiever Programs✗ü✗Selective entryü✗üBooking Guidelines• Ensure you select relevant workshops and practice exams for your child’syear level. If you are unsure, please contact our Education Consultants.• Students should only complete one workshop at a time where possible. We donot allow students to attend more than one workshop per day.• Practice Exams should be sat after completing workshops.• Students cannot repeat a workshop, but Hendersons do have resources forfurther study and revision.• Registration requires a copy of your child’s medical action plan/s, whereapplicable. For their own safety, your child must bring along any necessarymedication for every session or they will not be allowed to attend.• You must be able to attend all dates within a multi-day workshop. No refundwill be provided should you fail to attend a session of a multi-day workshop.Changes and/or cancellationsPlease view our Terms and Conditions for details via our website - www.hendersons.com.au. At least 14 days’ notice must be given in writing prior to the cancellation or rescheduling of a service.4 21

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Tips for BookingBefore booking, we encourage you to check directly with the school you are applying for to conﬁrm the exam format as this can change year on year.When booking via our website, please select the appropriate year level and exam type for your child.Once your booking is complete, you will receive a schedule and invoice via email.Payment MethodsThe preferred method of payment is via Credit Card or bank transfer. Payment plans can be arranged.When should I book?We recommend starting workshops between 6 to 12 months before the exam date. This gives your child time to solidify new skills and participate in practice exams and revision sessions. Practice exams should be taken after completing workshops and if multiple practice exams are available, allow 2 weeks in between each exam to allow time to review answers.For Year 9 entry Selective Entry High School exams, we provide four practice exams. It is recommended that students take all four, spaced out fortnightly, to fully prepare. This allows for reflection on feedback and further practice with bonus materials in-between exams.For the John Monash Science School exam, workshops should start towards the end of the prior year. Two practice exams are offered in May and June, with the actual exam occurring mid-year.Who writes the exams for each school?Several companies are hired to write the entrance and scholarship exams for schools (a handful of schools write their own). For details regarding who conducts each school’s exam, dates and enrolment details, we encourage you to contact your chosen school/s, as they can change year-on-year. The three main companies who write exams are:• The Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER)• Academic Assessment Services (AAS)• Edutest™Entry levels and examinationsThe main entry intakes are Years 5, 7 and 9. There are some exceptions to this, so please check your chosen school. Success for an academic scholarship or school entrance exam is firstly determined by a formal examination. The next stage may involve an interview, and/or a portfolio. Scholarship and Entrance exams are designed to be more difficult than any test a student completes at school. Exams can occur anytime of the year.Note: Hendersons are independent and not aliated with any school or The Victorian Department of Education.20 5School Entrance & Scholarship ExamsScholarshipsUsually Feb-Mar, recently some held in Oct-NovIMPORTANT: It is the independent responsibility of each family to contact the school of their choice to conﬁrm exam dates and lodge the relevant application forms.Select-entry (Melb High, Mac Rob, Nossal, Suzanne Cory)Usually mid-yearSEALUsually held Apr – May for Y7 entryJohn MonashUsually, mid-year for Y10 entry

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Additional entrance requirementsSome schools may also have additional entrance requirements in addition to the exam. This might include one or more of the following: an interview, portfolio, letter, or application. Hendersons also provides an individualised service to assist you and your child in preparing for interviews and portfolios. The dierent examsSELECTIVE ENTRY HIGH SCHOOLS (SEHS) (Year 9, 10 and 11 entrance)The Department of Education and Training (DET) employs a centralised process to admit students to Melbourne High School, Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School, Nossal High School, and Suzanne Cory High School for Year 9 entry, collectively known as the Selective Entry High Schools. Students’ rankings are determined by their aggregate score on the Selective Entrance examination, with 85% of enrolments based solely on exam results. An additional 10% of places consider exam results, ranking, and equity, while up to 5% are selected through the Principal’s discretionary category, involving an interview and portfolio presentation. Select Entry High Schools accept a maximum of 4% of Year 8 students from any single secondary school. Year 10 and 11 entry is managed independently by each school, subject to availability.HIGH ACHIEVER PROGRAMSMany public secondary schools oer High Achiever Programs (there may be dierent titles for these programs from school-to-school). These programs give advanced students the opportunity to engage with like-minded peers and to extend their learning beyond the standard curriculum. Entrance to these programs is by competitive examination, interview, and a teacher reference. Unlike TAASS Schools, students are not fast-tracked into VCE.Tuition ServicesHendersons oers one-on-one tuition to provide your child with additional classroom support. The 55-minute after-school online sessions are available Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 4.15pm and 8.15pm. Our experienced teachers oer personalised tuition for Year 3 to Year 10s in:• Numeracy/Mathematics• Literacy/English• ScienceTuition sessions do not use workshop materials, instead, sessions are tailored to your child’s needs. Places are limited.How to bookYou can book via our website or by calling us on (03) 9813 0277. Scan the QR codes below for quick access:Online bookings page:For booking workshops and practice examsSpeak to a Hendersons’ Education Consultant to ask questions, discuss payment options or book servicesBook a consultation:6 19

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Application/Portfolio AssistanceHendersons provides a specialised service to enhance your child’s entrance application and ensure that all their brilliant achievements have been communicated to the school in a clear and comprehensive format. These appointments are coordinated by some of our most experienced senior teachers, who will meet with you and your child to discuss and review an existing application letter.Essay Correction ServiceFor students who have completed one or more of our writing workshops, additional essay topics are available to purchase and complete at home. These essays are then corrected by our experienced teachers and feedback is provided to help your child improve their writing skills. Hendersons advise parents to supervise the completion of these essays and to impose strict time constraints that replicate those in a real exam situation.Revision SessionsHendersons oers revision sessions as a great way to refresh your child’s understanding of the skills and content that they learnt in the workshops. This is especially useful just prior to their real exam.Note: Only students who have completed the relevant workshop are able to enrol in the revision session.Information SessionsOur FREE information sessions, oered online and face-to-face, provide answers to questions about Hendersons’ various educational programs and workshops. We also outline the Victorian education system and special entry requirements. If your child is in Year 5 (or above), we recommend they also attend this session. Bookings are essential and can be made online via our website www.hendersons.com.au or by calling our oce on (03) 9813 0277.18 7THE ACADEMY OF ACCREDITED SEAL SCHOOLS (TAASS)Entry to Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) Programs involves a competitive examination, interview, and current teacher reference. Chosen students ﬁnish the Year 7-10 curriculum in 3 years and have the option to complete VCE in either 2 or 3 years. These programs foster academic, social, and emotional development among like-minded peers.SCHOLARSHIPSScholarship examinations aim to predict the future achievement of a child. The Scholarship process is school-speciﬁc and can include an application, examination, portfolio, and interview. Most scholarships oered will cover a portion of the annual school fee. Most private schools oer a 50% reduction in fees, whilst some oer 25% and possibly less. There are usually additional fees that parents will need to cover for other incidentals, such as sports, music, camps, IT and excursions. If you withdraw your child from the scholarship, you may need to repay the fees.OTHER ACADEMIC SPECIALIST SCHOOLSJohn Monash Science School (JMSS):JMSS has a mid-year entrance exam for Year 9 students applying for 200 Year 10 places. The maximum number of enrolments from any one school into JMSS in Year 10 is based on a quota set by the Department of Education. Spots are limited for Year 11 entry. Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences (EBSS):A specialist branch of The University High School catering to Year 11 and 12 students. Exams are held mid-year for Year 10 students seeking one of the 100 Year 11 places.

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ACER ScotchEdu TestAASScotch & MGSSEHS JMSS EB4,5,6 8/9 6 & 8/9All YearsAll Years5 8&9 9Creative writingü ü ü ü ü ü üPersuasive/informative writingü ü ü ü üReadingü ü ü ü ü ü üMathsü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü üVerbal Reasoningü ü ü ü ü üNumerical Reasoningü ü ü ü ü üAbstract Reasoningü üScience Reasoningü ü üWriting for Scienceü üWhat’s in the exams?8 17Practice ExamsFundamental to our programs are the practice exams. These provide students with the most authentic testing experience outside of the actual examination and the opportunity to use what they have learnt in our tailored workshops.Strict exam conditions are adhered to so that your child feels prepared for the atmosphere, practicalities, and time constraints of the real exams. As with the real exam, preparing your child for the stress and anxiety they may feel before sitting the practice exam is important. For all practice exams at Hendersons, students receive feedback on multiple-choice questions on the day of the exam. Feedback on essays is provided by the Wednesday following the exam. We strongly recommend booking at least one practice exam to familiarise your child with the required expectations and time management. Practice exams are oered both face-to-face and online. Interview PreparationHendersons can assist your child by conducting a mock interview, prior to the real interview. The purpose of this mock interview is to familiarise your child with the likely content, expectations, and pressure of an interview situation. It will assist your child in knowing how to respond to common questions with conﬁdence and eloquence. If required, we can also assist your child to compile their academic and personal achievements into a portfolio that may be presented to the school or Principal on the day of the interview.Once you have received an interview or submission date from the school, please call our oce on (03) 9813 0277 during business hours or email us via info@hendersons.com.au to book a session. Please note, appointments are subject to availability and schools may only provide you with a few days’ notice prior to the interview.

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MATHEMATICS WORKSHOPMathematics exams are designed to assess a child’s broad mathematical capabilities rather than their understanding of the school curriculum. As such, students can be asked questions that they have not yet learnt in school and, in some instances, can be one or two years above their current level. Hendersons’ Mathematics Workshops focus on problem-solving skills, exam techniques and subject areas tested in previous years. Our workshops are not intended to teach knowledge in classroom mathematics, rather prepare students for the mathematics questions they can expect in an exam.SCIENCE REASONING WORKSHOPThis course prepares students for the Year 8 & 9 ACER exam, John Monash Science School and Elizabeth Blackburn entrance exams. Hendersons’ Science Reasoning Workshop explores the communication styles unique to the discipline of science. Hendersons ensure your child is prepared to interpret scientiﬁc graphs and tables in the manner expected in the entrance exam. The workshop is broken into digestible units, including graphs, drawing conclusions, grids, equality, time zones, cross sections, contour lines, estimation, mechanics and scale. Each unit contains techniques to help understand the type of question being asked, and opportunities for students to practice answering questions quickly and accurately. Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 8 Year 92 x 3.5hr sessions2 x 3.5hr sessions4 x 3.5hr sessions4 x 4hr sessions4 x 4hr sessionsYears 8 & 91 x 3.5hr session16 9Choosing your schoolDISCUSSWe advise parents to instigate a discussion with their child’s teacher. This will allow you to gain an insight as to your child’s suitability for both their preferred school and Hendersons Education programsATTEND OPEN DAYSCheck each school’s website for information bout open days. Open days are a great way to get to know the school and to determine if the school environment is the right one for you and your child. Remember to ask questions and keep an eye out for features that are important to you and your child such as facilities and culture.APPLY FOR THE EXAMCheck the school’s website for application details and ensure you submit your application for the exam before the deadline. Some schools may require additional documentation.SELECTChoose a list of schools you are applying for and take note of their application deadline and examination date.RESEARCHInvestigate who writes the entrance/scholarship examination for the school you would like your child to attend. This information is readily accessible on most school websites and will form the basis of your child’s enrolment at Hendersons, and determine which classes he/she needs to attend.MAKE YOUR BOOKINGChoose your Hendersons program which includes workshops, practice exams and revision sessions. You can make a booking with one of our Education Consultants through our website to ask questions and learn more.

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10 15SCHOOL TYPE & ENVIRONMENT• Do you prefer a public, private, religious, or select-entry school?• Do you prefer co-educational or single-sex schools?• What is the travel distance from home? How will this impact my child’s sociallife, family and study time?• Do you prefer a school that oers an International Baccalaureate (IB) program?• Does your child have particular talents or interests (e.g., sports, art or music)that you would like to see included as part of the school’s programs?• What are the class sizes at your preferred school?• What kinds of facilities are there? (e.g., sports, library, science laboratories)• What kinds of extra-curricular activities are oered?SCHOLARSHIP CONSIDERATIONS•How many scholarships/schools will your child apply for?• Will the school still be suitable if the scholarship is only a partial one?• What happens if my child is given multiple scholarships? Will I pay the depositand forfeit it later? How many deposits am I prepared to pay?• What happens if my child is oered a scholarship (usually at Year 7), and thenreceives an oer for SEHS (usually at Year 9)?• Am I prepared to pay back the scholarship fees should my child leave theschool, for any reason, earlier than expected?• Is my child prepared for the academic expectations that come from winning ascholarship?NUMERICAL REASONING WORKSHOPNumerical reasoning evaluates a child’s capacity to interpret and handle numerical data, such as series, matrices, arithmetic, and deduction. Proﬁciency in this area typically indicates learning speed and the level of complexity a child can handle. Hendersons’ Numerical Reasoning Workshop teaches students skills to improve their numerical solution ﬁnding and techniques that will assist them to answer questions accurately under the time pressure of an exam.ABSTRACT REASONING WORKSHOPAbstract reasoning is commonly evaluated in general abilities tests, which gauge a child’s ability to think independently, without prior knowledge. Abstract reasoning speciﬁcally emphasises the non-verbal aspect of these tests and may involve shapes, numbers, diagrams, or pictures. Hendersons’ Abstract Reasoning Workshop teaches students strategies to ﬁnd patterns quickly and accurately within questions, eliminate incorrect choices and pinpoint correct answers.Considerations when choosing a schoolThere are many things to consider and ask when choosing a school and applying for scholarships or select-entry programs, including:Example abstract reasoning question:Year 4 & 5 Year 6 Year 8 & 91 x 3.5hr sessions 1 x 3.5hr sessions 2 x 3.5hr sessionsYears 8 & 91 x 3.5hr sessionAnswer: CA B C D

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READING COMPREHENSION WORKSHOPThe reading comprehension component of an exam is used to assess a child’s inference abilities. Hendersons’ Reading Workshops focus on teaching essential inferential reading skills, including ﬁnding evidence and drawing logical conclusions. We use various forms in our instruction like prose, poetry, plays, maps, cartoons, charts and tables. The workshops also examine ﬁgurative language and include sections on spelling, grammar, and punctuation.VERBAL REASONING WORKSHOPA verbal reasoning test is designed to assess a child’s ability to understand what has been read and to analyse and interpret information to reach an accurate solution. Hendersons’ Verbal Reasoning Workshops begin by developing students’ vocabulary, then provide detailed tips and techniques that can be applied to answer questions accurately and quickly. We also cover verbal analogies, syllogisms, synonyms, antonyms, codes, translations, and logical reasoning. Year 4 & 5 Year 6 Year 8 & 91 x 3.5hr sessions 2 x 3.5hr sessions 2 x 3.5hr sessionsYear 4 & 5 Year 6 Year 8 & 91 x 3.5hr sessions 1 x 3.5hr sessions 2 x 3.5hr sessionsExample abstract reasoning question:Answer: AGALAXY is to STARS as FOREST is to:A. Trees B. Animals C. Wilderness D. Leaves14 11Hendersons’ ServicesHendersons provides a suite of services to support students on their educational journey, supporting them to get closer to achieving their objectives. This includes students sitting entrance exams for Selective Entry High Schools, Higher Achiever Programs and scholarships.WorkshopsHendersons’ workshops are designed to prepare your child for the speciﬁc exam they will be sitting. Hendersons’ workshops are oered online or face-to-face and:Have a maximum of 8 students per class.Provide workshop materials (printed for face-to-face, or digitally for online classes).Provide opportunities to practise skills under timed conditions.Invite parents in for teacher feedback in the last 15 minutes.Include bonus materials and revision resources.

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CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPCreative writing is used to evaluate a student’s creativity, imagination and ability to construct a narrative using appropriate language, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Students may have an option on the form they write in, or may be asked to write in a speciﬁc form. So, it’s important they have an understanding of dierent forms of creative writing. Hendersons’ Creative Writing Workshops oer students an array of tools and techniques to creatively respond to a range of prompts (including visual and written prompts). Participants explore various forms of creative writing, ranging from memoirs to journals and letters (depending on their year level).WRITING FOR SCIENCE WORKSHOPHendersons’ Writing for Science Workshop readies students for the John Monash Science School and Elizabeth Blackburn entrance exams. The workshop teaches students the dierent structures and features required for various forms of writing for science, including the process of organising and planning a report to inform or analyse an experiment. PERSUASIVE, ANALYTICAL AND OPINION WRITING, WORKSHOPSThis type of writing might include persuading an audience or analysing an issue. This writing is used to determine a student’s ability to understand an issue, take a stance and present a point of view in a convincing manner. Students may be asked to write in an essay form or another relevant form such as a letter to the editor. These workshops teach students the dierent structures and features required for various forms of writing, encompassing opinion, informative, and persuasive genres typically encountered in entrance exams. Students learn to artfully construct logical and well-balanced arguments while honing their ability to wield language eectively and persuasively to convey their viewpoints.Year 4 & 5 Year 6 Year 8 & 92 x 3.5hr sessions 2 x 3.5hr sessions 2 x 3.5hr sessionsYear 4 & 5 Year 6 Year 8 & 92 x 3.5hr sessions 2 x 3.5hr sessions 3 x 3.5hr sessions12 13Years 93 x 3.5hr sessionsIn all our writing workshops, students are given numerous opportunities to practise writing in a speciﬁc form and are provided with individualised teacher feedback.

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13627 HES A5 24pp Info Booklet F

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