doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
A

Aitken College

Australia, Melbourne

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees A$8,165 - 11,039
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 1442
Type Co-educational
Opened 1999
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French, Indonesian
Strengths Performing Arts, STEM, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

Aitken College is a co-educational independent school in Greenvale, Victoria, affiliated with the Uniting Church. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and a Bespoke Curriculum designed to strengthen literacy, numeracy and adaptable thinking from Prep to Year 12. The campus features a Chapel and Performing Arts Centre with a professional theatre, a library, science laboratories, visual arts rooms, computer laboratories and a design technology facility. The Primary School's Cumberland Building (2023) and Fairview Building (2025) provide modern learning spaces for early years. The Kitchen Garden Centre supports hands-on sustainability, while STEM and art spaces support enquiry across the curriculum. Extracurriculars include Performing Arts, instrumental music and annual productions; a Hospitality Club; and STEAM projects linked to NASA's Growing Beyond Earth. The college upholds Australian democracy and Christian values such as honesty, integrity and kindness, and emphasises leadership, service and community through its programs and house system throughout school.

1010 Mickleham Road, Greenvale, VIC 3059, Australia

The Essentials

Aitken College has 1,442 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
The school is located in Greenvale, Victoria, at 1010 Mickleham Road, Greenvale 3059. It serves Melbourne's northwest corridor, with students attending from nearby suburbs.

Stages
Prep to Year 12. The school is co-educational and independent.

Type
Co-educational, independent school in association with the Uniting Church.

Additional learning support
Individualised support; Small group intervention; Specialist services (speech pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and learning support teachers); Classroom adjustments; Behaviour and wellbeing support across Primary and Secondary.

Country affiliation
Australia

Religious affiliation
Uniting Church

Bus service
Chartered bus services operate via Sunbury Bus Lines to Craigieburn East/West, Roxburgh Park/Greenvale, Beveridge/Mickleham, Sunbury/Craigieburn, and Glenroy/Attwood; service is user-paid. The College provides details on routes and timetable, with a limited PTV bus system.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are the Aitken College Wardrobe and must be worn completely, correctly, clean and in good repair. The blazer is worn to and from school each day; the College tie is being phased out by the end of 2024. Uniforms are available from Schooltrenz.

Food Options
The canteen operates daily with online ordering through Flexischools. The Hospitality Club runs a weekly staff café (Tuesdays 7:30 am–8:30 am) where Year 8+ students learn hospitality skills and support school events.

House System
Primary House Activities foster school spirit and leadership; termly House Battles involve Prep to Year 6; House Hangouts provide regular opportunities to connect with the House, and House Captains lead activities and support younger students.

Governance and Ownership
Aitken College is a company limited by guarantee and not-for-profit. The Aitken College Board (Directors) appoints the Principal and determines college policies; accounts are independently audited; the Constitution is available on request.
Fees

Annual tuition at Aitken College ranges from AUD 8,165 to AUD 11,039 for 2026/27.

Application & enrolment charges

- Application fee: AUD 100 (non-refundable).
- Acceptance / Establishment Fee: AUD 2,000 payable in writing when accepting an offer of enrolment.

Tuition fees by year group (amounts shown per year and per term)

- Prep to Year 6
- Tuition fee: AUD 7,232
- Infrastructure levy: AUD 1,100
- Total fee (before annual-discount): AUD 8,332
- Term fee (4 terms): AUD 2,083
- Annual payment (2% discount applied): AUD 8,165.36.

- Year 7 to Year 9
- Tuition fee: AUD 9,152
- Infrastructure levy: AUD 1,100
- Total fee (before annual-discount): AUD 10,252
- Term fee (4 terms): AUD 2,563
- Annual payment (2% discount applied): AUD 10,046.96.

- Year 10 to Year 11
- Tuition fee: AUD 10,164
- Infrastructure levy: AUD 1,100
- Total fee (before annual-discount): AUD 11,264
- Term fee (4 terms): AUD 2,816
- Annual payment (2% discount applied): AUD 11,038.72.

- Year 12 (fees charged over 3 terms)
- Tuition fee: AUD 10,164
- Infrastructure levy: AUD 1,100
- Total fee (before annual-discount): AUD 11,264
- Term fee (3 terms): AUD 3,754.67
- Annual payment (2% discount applied): AUD 11,038.72.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Term fees are due and payable before the start of each term. For the published year, term due dates were: Term 1 — Friday 23 January; Term 2 — Friday 17 April; Term 3 — Friday 10 July; Term 4 — Friday 2 October. Year 12 fees are charged over Terms 1–3. Families who pay the full annual amount by 31 January receive a 2.0% discount on the Total Fee. Statements are issued four times per year (each term).

Payment methods and options

- Annual payment: Pay the full fee by 31 January to receive a 2.0% discount on the Total Fee. The annual payment covers school fees and compulsory activities/levies included in tuition.
- Term payment: Fees invoiced and due before the start of each term.
- Instalment plan: Weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments are available at no cost through the school's nominated provider Edstart (flexible terms, payment holidays and plan changes available).
- School bank / electronic payment details (available payment channels):
- EFT: Account name Aitken College; BSB: 063-179; Account number: 1012 3101; include your name/account code as reference.
- PAYID: 22 616 193 616.
- BPay: biller code 136457 (use the reference shown on your statement).
- Payments by PAYID, EFT or BPay are accepted for Annual and Term Fee payments.

Boarding

- Boarding is not applicable. Aitken College operates as a day school; there is no boarding-house fee.

Other compulsory or common additional costs

- Infrastructure levy: included in the Total Fee amounts above (AUD 1,100 per student).
- Resource items not included in tuition: iPads, apps, booklist items, and school uniform costs are not included in tuition and are additional. Camps, charter-bus charges, optional excursions, private music tuition and other non-compulsory activities are charged separately (usually on a term basis).
- Building Fund: a voluntary tax-deductible contribution of AUD 200 per student is requested (tax-deductible).
- Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): eligible families holding a means-tested concession card may apply for CSEF payments which are allocated to a student's fees account.
- Fee reduction for large families: families with four or more children at the College receive a 75% fee reduction for the fourth child and subsequent children.
- Late payment charge: an administration charge of AUD 55 per term applies for late payment.
- Transport (user-pays): chartered bus services operate on a user-pays basis; route/timetable availability and charges vary and are additional to tuition.
- Uniform: uniform items are purchased separately from the College's supplier (Schooltrenz). A uniform price list is published; example prices include: dresses AUD 53–73, blazer AUD 205–225, jumper AUD 80–120, polo shirt AUD 44, sports shorts AUD 35, backpacks AUD 69–85. Uniform items and prices vary by size and item.

Refund information

- The application fee (AUD 100) is explicitly non-refundable. No general tuition refund provision is stated for the published fee information; individual refund or credit circumstances are managed under the College's fee and enrolment policies.

Summary of key administrative points (payments & records)

- Statements are issued four times per year and are payable before the start of each term. Term 1 statements are issued in mid-January; statements for Terms 2–4 are issued during the last week of the preceding term.
- The annual payment option covers all compulsory activities included in tuition (excursions, diaries, yearbook, levies) but does not cover optional or privately arranged extras such as private music tuition, certain camps, charter buses, or uniform/resource items.
Academics

Aitken College teaches IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
The College Curriculum is designed to nurture and enhance essential skills, like literacy and numeracy, empowering students to adapt to new challenges and thrive in an ever-evolving world. The College offers a range of specialized programs that allow students to explore their passions and deepen their expertise in various fields.

Higher Education Progression
University outreach programs are provided to connect students with higher education opportunities.

Gifted and Talented
The College identifies highly able students using multiple measures, including teacher recommendation and testing. Extension programs include Primary Extension (weekly extension classes in Mathematics and English); VCE Early Entry (Year 10 Unit 1 & 2 with six Unit 3 & 4 credits by Year 12). Enrichment programs include Tournament of Minds, da Vinci Decathlon, Accelium Olympics, History Enrichment Program, Debating, Creative writing competitions, G.A.T.E.WAYS Eureka programs, Maths and Science Olympiads, University outreach programs, Illuminate Challenge, Inquiry-based learning projects, and Ethics Olympiad.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has a Pastoral Care Program that supports personal, spiritual and social growth and recognises achievements; it provides a safe, confidential listening environment. Student Wellbeing and Support, Chaplaincy, Religion and Values Education, Life Skills Program, Camp Programs, and the House System contribute to wellbeing and belonging.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Learning Support is offered to students with specific learning needs. Primary and Secondary Learning Support teams provide inclusive learning experiences with reasonable adjustments to enable participation, including small withdrawal groups and in-class support; eligible students are referred to the Head of Learning Support; a Learning Centre supports academic progress and individual needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The language of instruction is English. Languages Other Than English (LOTE) include French from Foundation to Year Six and Indonesian from Year Seven to Year Nine, taught as specialist subjects aligned with the Victorian Curriculum; home languages are supported with resources, multilingual staff, and translation assistance where needed.

Mental Wellbeing
The school employs a Psychologist/Social Worker and three Counsellors forming the Student Wellbeing Team, offering short‑term individual counselling, peer mediation, and small group interventions. The Life Skills Program addresses mental health topics and emotional regulation to support holistic wellbeing.

Safeguarding
The College has zero tolerance for child abuse and maintains safeguarding resources including the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, and related reporting and responding procedures.
Parent Experience

History
Aitken College opened in Term 1, 1999, on land that had been a working farm for generations. The College name honours John Aitken, a Scottish pioneer who settled in the Port Phillip district in 1836 and grazed sheep on the northern outskirts of Melbourne. The campus and school names reflect the rich history of the region, with properties such as Fairview, Cumberland, Dunhelen, Brookhill and Glenarthur, and the House names Brodie, Cameron, Clarke and Millar honouring pioneering families who shaped the area from the 1840s onward. The College upholds Australian democracy—freedom, equality and respect—and is guided by Christian values such as honesty, integrity and kindness.

Community
The community of Aitken College acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples, on whose land the College is located, and offers our respect to Elders past and present. Community life is supported by Giving at Aitken College, funded by government grants and the generosity of our parents, grandparents and dedicated alumni, enabling facilities and scholarships that enhance the learning experience. Flourish Giving Day 2026 demonstrated the strength of the College community, raising funds toward the Building Fund for an Outdoor Barrel Shade Structure. The College maintains an active Alumni network to keep past students connected and engaged with College life.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parents and Friends Association is an active group of families that encourages active involvement by parents and friends in the College. The PTA supports school programs, fundraising, and planning and organizing functions associated with the social, sporting, cultural and educational life of the College community. Joining the PTA is done by submitting a Volunteer form, and members support the Arts Scholarship for students. Regular events and fundraising activities are coordinated by the PTA, including social gatherings and community events such as Cumberland Dance Party, Mother's Day and Father's Day activities, and other campus initiatives.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus is approached via a winding road through a rural landscape. Specialist facilities include the Chapel and Performing Arts Centre, library, science laboratories, visual art rooms, computer laboratories, design technology facility, environmental barn, kitchen garden centre, food studies centre, and a gymnasium. The Primary School features the Cumberland Building (completed 2023) and the Fairview Building (completed 2025). The facilities support learning across Prep to Year 12 with ongoing development.

Sports Facilities
Gymnasium on site. House athletics carnivals and other inter-house sport events are part of student life. Health and Physical Education is a formal program offered across year levels.

Academic Facilities
Chapel & Performing Arts Centre includes rehearsal spaces, specialised classrooms and a professional-level theatre. Kitchen Garden Centre supports hands-on sustainability learning with indoor and outdoor spaces, preparation benches, an outdoor pizza oven and a yarning circle. Cumberland Building (completed 2023) provides STEM, Art and Performing Arts spaces for Years 3–6, with flexible indoor and outdoor areas. Fairview Building (completed 2025) provides Prep–Year 3 learning spaces with shared areas and an age-appropriate playground. The library, science laboratories, visual art rooms, computer laboratories and design technology facilities are integral parts of the learning environment.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Performing Arts is a key extracurricular focus with weekly lessons from Prep to Year 6, annual concerts, and Year 8–12 electives in Music, Drama and Media, plus private instrumental tuition and ensembles and the annual College Musical. The Hospitality Club offers hands-on hospitality training, a weekly staff café and involvement in school events such as Mother's Day and Father's Day breakfasts. Instrumental music tuition is delivered by specialised tutors across woodwind, brass, strings and voice, with private lessons available. STEAM is woven across the curriculum with ambassadors and hands-on projects, including real-world challenges and NASA-related programs such as Growing Beyond Earth.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers Extension Programs (ACE) with weekly Primary Extension in Mathematics and English and a VCE Early Entry option for selected Year 10 students. Prep to Year 12 students participate in diverse enrichment activities, including Tournament of Minds, da Vinci Decathlon, Accelium Olympics, History Enrichment Program, Debating, Creative writing competitions, and Maths and Science Olympiads. Other enrichment opportunities include University outreach programs, G.A.T.E.WAYS Eureka programs, Illuminate Challenge, inquiry-based learning projects, and Ethics Olympiad.

Arts & Creative
The school hosts Primary Concerts as part of its Performing Arts program to build confidence, teamwork and self-expression. Performing Arts education is highlighted as helping students find their voice and develop 21st-century employability skills.

Cultural & Language
CHAT Program builds intercultural understanding and connection, engaging students in games, guided discussions, journaling, and reflective activities. First Nations cultural understanding is fostered through Building a Brave Space: Engaging with First Peoples' Truths, and ongoing First Nations perspectives in the college program.

Social & Hobbies
Year 4 Camp creates special moments and fosters social skills and teamwork. Hospitality Club provides a social, practical activity where students learn teamwork and life skills. House Activities engage students across year levels to build community and leadership.

Community & Service
There are numerous Community Service opportunities for students, families and staff. The First Nations Action Group and a Community Service Committee are part of the program. Service-learning projects are integrated into the Year 9 program to foster real-world connections.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership Learning develops leadership skills across all levels of College Leaders. In Years 3–6 there are structured student leadership opportunities, including Class Captain and Sustainability Leaders. The College has an Executive Leadership team that guides school-wide practice.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Pastoral Care supports student learning and wellbeing with confidential listening and opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Elements include Student Wellbeing and Support, Chaplaincy, Religion and Values Education, Life Skills Program, Camp Programs, House System, and Colours Awards. Camp Programs provide social and personal development opportunities for students.
Languages

Language Provision
The language of instruction is English. Languages Other Than English (LOTE) are taught as a specialist subject. The school teaches French to students in Years 1 to 6, and Indonesian from Year 7 onward. The Indonesian program includes a Language Room and an Indonesian Language Assistant to support language learning.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Apply online. Parents submit an online enrolment application as soon as possible. As part of the online application, upload the applicant's birth certificate or passport, and if applying as a temporary or permanent resident, a copy of the applicant's visa. A non-refundable $100 application fee is payable. An application is a prerequisite to admission for a place on the College waitlist, but it does not guarantee enrolment.
2. Progressing your application. For Prep and Year 7 applications, the enrolment process begins 1 year prior to the preferred year of entry; for Year 7, it begins two years prior. Waitlisted families are emailed an Application Progression Questionnaire to confirm their intent to proceed with enrolment when students are in kindergarten (Prep) or in Grade 5 (Year 7); for all other year levels, waitlisted families are emailed the questionnaire to confirm intent to proceed. Once the enrolment process has commenced, the Admissions team contacts waitlisted families to confirm their intent to proceed with enrolment.
3. Attend an interview. Families that proceed beyond the waitlist stage are invited to attend an interview with the Assistant Principal or delegate. Prior to interviews, families are invited to complete a Pre-interview student information form.
4. Accept your offer. The offer of enrolment is at the discretion of the Principal who considers enrolment priorities and the availability of places. Successful applicants receive a formal offer of enrolment by email after their interview. Upon accepting, families complete the Acceptance of Offer form and pay the Establishment fee of $2,000; $1,000 of this is a refundable deposit that is returned on completion of Year 12 or after one full term's notice of withdrawal. The remaining balance is non-refundable and supports school operations. If withdrawal occurs before the child starts, the full $2,000 Establishment Fee is non-refundable.

Scholarships
Foundation Scholarship covers full tuition for one outstanding Year 12 student each year. Year 11 students are invited to apply for the scholarship, which will be awarded for their final year of schooling. The scholarship is fully funded by Aitken College and supported by the College Board. Parents & Friends Arts Scholarship is awarded to exceptional Year 12 students demonstrating outstanding talent in visual or performing arts. This scholarship supports a specialised study program aligned with the student's chosen subjects, developed in consultation with relevant subject teachers. Applications are invited from Year 11 students for the following academic year. Parents & Friends Sports Scholarship is awarded to a Year 6 student who demonstrates exceptional talent and potential in sport. This scholarship supports participation in a specialised coaching program or holiday camp, selected in consultation with Aitken College sports coaches to complement the student's development. Applications are invited from Year 5 students for the following academic year. The scholarship is generously funded by the Parents & Friends Association and may cover all or part of the program costs. Rachael Woodhams Music Scholarship is offered to outstanding Year 7 or Year 8 students who demonstrate exceptional talent in singing and/or music composition. The scholarship funds a course, masterclass, workshop, or similar musical development opportunity, with course selection made in consultation with Aitken College music teachers to align with the student's interests and continued growth. Applicants are invited from Years 7 or 8, and recipients are selected based on musical aptitude, commitment, and potential for further development.

Waitlist
A place on the waitlist requires submitting an online enrolment application. Waitlisted families are emailed an Application Progression Questionnaire to confirm their intent to proceed with enrolment. Once the enrolment process has begun, the Admissions team contacts waitlisted families to confirm their intent to proceed with enrolment.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Australia View all schools in Melbourne View all schools in Australia IB curriculum schools in Australia Open days & tours in Melbourne What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools