ECO – Enhanced Curriculum Option​

ECO

The Enhanced Curriculum Option (ECO) is designed to cater for the educational needs of students with higher ability, who are motivated and enthusiastic learners and capable of working at a significantly faster pace and in greater depth than their age peers. The ECO program can provide for enrichment and greater challenge. ECO students are actively involved in investigating and problem solving as well as higher order thinking activities that are complex, meaningful and challenging.

Each ECO entry group will stay together for the first two years of their schooling and for both English and Maths in Year 9 and 10. The elective programme at Year 9 and 10 enables all students to select an appropriate individual pathway, which could lead to their future tertiary study options. There is also the opportunity at Newcomb Secondary College for students to select VCE units in Year 10.

Selection Process

Any Grade 6 student who has indicated Newcomb Secondary College as their first or second preference for secondary school can be considered as a potential applicant for the ECO program.

ECO students are selected on the basis of an Expression of Interest supported by written recommendations from both the student’s parent and primary school teacher. The ECO program is advertised in Primary School Newsletters. Expression of Interest and the Parent Assessment forms are distributed via the Primary Schools in April/May and returned to the College by mid-June.

Selection of students for the ECO program will be undertaken by a panel including the Assistant Principal. The selection process may require further discussion with the student’s Primary School and an interview with potential students and their parent/s. This information will be used to select the students we believe will be best equipped to benefit from the ECO Program.