Quality education is a top priority for the French family, and when they visited ACG Strathallan during a 2020 Open Day, they knew they were in the right place.
Since joining the school’s College at the beginning of 2021, Year 9 student Leon French has been in his element. So too has mum Rachel.
“Enrolling Leon at ACG Strathallan was the best outcome for us as a family, and we are 100% happy with our decision,” says Rachel.
“Our son has always been responsible and actively engaged in his learning, but we were concerned that with this next important stage of his education, he could start to lose motivation. His education is not something we intended to leave to chance.”
So after casting a wide net and visiting several different schools, the French family were delighted to discover Leon’s next best step was quite literally on their doorstep.
“We were attracted by the welcoming feel and excellent facilities at ACG Strathallan. Staff and senior management were professional, open and friendly, and the location is a big plus – we didn’t want Leon spending hours travelling to get a first-rate education when we had such a fantastic school nearby.”
Starting in January, the enthusiastic 13-year-old has immersed himself in all that’s on offer, and he’s thriving.
“I’m really enjoying ACG Strathallan because it has a wide array of subjects that are fun, and I’ve made some great friends,” says Leon.
“Science is really interesting, and I’ve joined the school badminton team and competed in the EPro8, which was an amazing experience. However, one of the biggest highlights has been participating in the Model United Nations. I didn’t know what it was going to be about, but I got lots of great advice from the older members of my tutor group. It was really cool, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
And while Leon admits the weekly rotation of subject tests can be challenging at times, he appreciates they help him stay focused and give him a clear understanding of which areas need more attention.
As Rachel points out, the transition into high school life has been “smooth sailing”.
“We’ve been surprised by how quickly Leon has settled in. The Year 9 camp was wonderful for breaking the ice. Leon was immediately engaged in his studies and enjoys the specialised subjects such as the separate sciences.”
The school’s vertical tutor system has been another drawcard.
“Leon has genuinely been encouraged and supported by older students who are such amazing role models. This has given him confidence, and he is already discussing his future subject pathways with students from Years 12 and 13.”
And the fact that Leon’s learning hasn’t skipped a beat during this year’s lockdowns has been the icing on the cake for the French family.
“The online learning is fantastic. The professionalism of the teachers goes far above and beyond what was expected. Teachers are online the whole time, doing quizzes and answering questions to keep students motivated, and the students are also connected to members of their class through Microsoft Teams. In addition, ACG’s teaching staff ensure that the education continued at the highest level during a global pandemic. We deeply appreciate this commitment, especially as teachers are balancing this with looking after their own families!”
