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Murrumbeena Primary School

Australia, Melbourne

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 600
Type Co-educational
Opened 1917
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Australian Curriculum
Taught languages Japanese
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Primary School
Introduction

Located on Hobart Road in Murrumbeena, Murrumbeena Primary School delivers the Australian Curriculum through the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The school is an IB World School authorised to teach the PYP, with a focus on developing inquirers and lifelong learners who value international mindedness, care, intercultural understanding and respect. The curriculum uses six inquiry units each year and aligns with the Victorian Curriculum. Classrooms are organized into teaching teams with specialist support in ICT/Library, Physical Education, Art, Music and Japanese, and ICT is integrated across programs. Japanese is taught weekly as a language other than English, and students participate in language, culture and exchanges through a sister school relationship with Shinjo Elementary School. The campus features an on-site heated swimming pool, a modern Library/Information Resource Centre, dedicated Visual and Performing Arts spaces, and a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden. A weekly STEM program, introduced in 2024, includes robotics and coding.

Hobart Road, Murrumbeena 3163, Victoria, Australia

The Essentials

Murrumbeena Primary School has 600 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Hobart Road, Murrumbeena 3163, Victoria, Australia. The school serves the neighbourhoods of Murrumbeena, Carnegie, Hughesdale and East Malvern. Facilities include a modern Library/Information Resource Centre, Visual and Performing Arts spaces, and a learning centre hosting a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program. The school has an on-site indoor heated swimming pool.

Stages
Prep – Year 6. The school offers Foundation (Prep) through Year 6; Prep students commence full time in the second week of the school year and others attend full days from 8:55am to 3:30pm.

Additional learning support
Supports the integration of children with disabilities.

School day structure
School commences at 8:55am. Grades 1–6 commence 8:55am–3:30pm. Prep students commence full time in the second week of the year, with a full day 8:55am–3:30pm. Morning recess 10:40am–11:10am; lunch 12:50pm–1:00pm (in classroom) with lunch recess 1:00pm–1:50pm. The canteen operates Tuesday to Friday.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has an approved uniform in maroon and gold. Official items include maroon and gold polo shirts, maroon shorts or skirts, a dress, windcheaters and a sun-smart hat; footwear should be closed-toe. Uniforms can be purchased from Primary Schoolwear in Ormond or online via PSW.

Food Options
Healthy options are offered in the canteen, which operates during recess and lunchtime four days a week (Tuesday to Friday). Canteen orders are placed through the Qkr! digital ordering system.

House System
The school has a house system with four houses: Marram (red), Gurborra (green), Yanggai (gold) and Dulaiwurrung (blue). Students are placed in a house on enrolment and remain in that house; houses participate in activities such as swimming and athletics.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a School Council that partners with the community to guide policy, finance, facilities and engagement. The Council is supported by four sub-committees: Education, Finance, Facilities, and Social & Fundraising.
Fees
Application / Enrolment Fees
- There are no application or enrolment fees; instruction is provided free of charge and the school requests voluntary parent contributions for items beyond core instruction.

Tuition / Parent Contributions by year group (full detail, per year and per term)
- Year groups covered: Prep (Foundation), Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. The school requests voluntary parent contributions that cover curriculum consumables, other non-curriculum contributions, tax-deductible building/library contributions, and extra‑curricular user‑pays items.

- Years Prep, 1, 2, 5 and 6 — Annual breakdown (per student):
- Curriculum contributions: AUD 360.00.
- Other (non‑curriculum) contributions: AUD 70.00.
- Tax‑deductible contributions (Building fund + Library fund): AUD 200.00.
- Extra‑curricular items and activities (user‑pays: excursions/incursions and swimming): AUD 250.00 (Excursions/Incursions AUD 180; Swimming AUD 70).
- Total annual contribution: AUD 880.00.
- Per term estimate (annual total divided by four): AUD 220.00 per term. (Per‑term amounts are calculated by dividing the published annual total by four.)

- Years 3 and 4 — Annual breakdown (per student):
- Curriculum contributions: AUD 360.00.
- Other (non‑curriculum) contributions: AUD 70.00.
- Tax‑deductible contributions (Building fund + Library fund): AUD 200.00.
- Extra‑curricular items and activities (user‑pays): AUD 570.00, comprising Excursions/Incursions AUD 180; Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) program AUD 320 (includes 32 meals); Swimming AUD 70.
- Total annual contribution: AUD 1,200.00.
- Per term estimate (annual total divided by four): AUD 300.00 per term. (Per‑term amounts are calculated by dividing the published annual total by four.)

Tuition fees note
- There is no mandatory tuition fee for enrolment; the listed figures are voluntary parent contributions and user‑pays charges for extra‑curricular items.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Standard payment options published: pay the total amount in full by the school's stated due date, or pay by instalments. Example instalment schedule published for the contribution year shown was:
- Option 1: Full payment by the school's stated due date (example: full payment by 29/01/2025 in the published contribution notice).
- Option 2: Two instalments — 50% by the first due date and 50% by the second instalment date (example: first instalment by 29/01/2025 and second instalment on 22/04/2025 in the published contribution notice).
- The school also offers further flexible contribution options through the office. Per‑term amounts above are a simple division of the annual total by four and are provided for budgeting reference only.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable; Murrumbeena Primary School is a day primary school (Prep–Year 6) and does not charge boarding fees.

Other costs or fees
- Uniform: a school uniform is required; the school operates a second‑hand uniform stall (held regularly) and has an approved Student Dress Code. New uniform items are available through regular uniform suppliers. No fixed uniform price list is published in the contribution notices; uniform purchases are a separate cost.
- Extra‑curricular user‑pays items commonly charged (examples and amounts already included in the extra‑curricular line items above): excursions and incursions, swimming program, and (for Years 3–4) the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) program which includes meals. Camps, specialist incursions and some excursions may incur additional user‑pays costs beyond the listed contribution totals.
- School photos, optional excursions/camps, specialist program charges and optional extracurricular activities may generate additional separate charges at the time of the activity; these are typically billed as user‑pays items.

Refund information
- Refund requests are considered on a case‑by‑case basis and will be provided where the school deems it reasonable and fair, taking into account whether a cost has already been incurred and in accordance with the Department's Parent Payment Policy and Guidance.

Fee payment options
- Published payment methods include BPAY (school's preferred method), cash, EFTPOS at the office, and credit card. Families receive a BPAY reference from the office for BPAY payments. The school provides flexible payment arrangements on request.

Financial support and concessions
- The school advertises support options for families experiencing financial hardship, including application assistance for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF), a second‑hand uniform stall, and State Schools Relief for essential uniform items. Contact the school's principal or business manager for confidential discussions about alternative payment arrangements or financial support.

If you require these figures displayed in a different currency or need a single‑line summary per year group, use the per‑year totals above (AUD 880.00 for Prep/1/2/5/6; AUD 1,200.00 for Years 3–4) as the baseline for conversion.
Academics

Murrumbeena Primary School teaches IB (PYP), Australian Curriculum.

Curriculum
IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is the framework used to teach at Murrumbeena Primary School, and it is an IB World School authorised to teach the PYP. The PYP focuses on developing the whole child as an inquirer and lifelong learner, with emphasis on international mindedness, knowledge, care, intercultural understanding and respect. The curriculum involves six inquiry units per year that meet the requirements of both the Victorian Curriculum and the PYP. Classrooms are organized into teaching teams with collaborative planning and specialist teachers support ICT/Library, Physical Education, Art, Music and Japanese; ICT plays an integral role across all class programs. Japanese is taught weekly as LOTE, there is a sister school relationship with Shinjo Elementary School, and students engage in language, culture and exchange activities. The specialist program includes Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education, and a weekly STEM program introduced in 2024, with activities such as robotics and coding; there is also an on-site indoor heated swimming program for Prep to Year 6.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Circle Time brings teachers and students together in a circle to foster self-awareness, empathy, cooperation, trust and listening skills. The school has student wellbeing coordinators in each area to provide additional support to students and parents. The core attributes of the PYP Learner Profile are reinforced at assemblies, in classrooms and on the playground. The school's values and the PYP attitudes guide behaviour through Essential Agreements reflected in classrooms and the playground. The Resilience Project is a whole‑school wellbeing program that supports positive mental health across the school community. Wellbeing resources include the Wellbeing Handbook, the Student Code Of Conduct, the Wellbeing Overview and guidance on School Refusal.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Intervention and Tutoring are provided to address learning needs and support extension. Disability Inclusion Tier 2 Funding supports inclusive practices and targeted supports. The school uses data to plan differentiated teaching and learning. Onsite psychological support is available through Nepean Psychology with a psychologist on site. Child Safety Policy and the Student Code of Conduct underpin safeguarding and create safe learning environments.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The English as an Additional Language continuum is used to guide assessment and language support for EAL students. Literacy leaders lead peer observations of reading to support language development for EAL students. The 2025 Annual Implementation Plan allocates funding to EAL language support and monitoring progress. English language support is informed by EAL resources and the continuum. The 2020 Murrumbeena Wellbeing Handbook includes an EAL section describing language support pathways.

Mental Wellbeing
Onsite counselling is available at Murrumbeena Primary School through Nepean Psychology, with a psychologist on site. The Resilience Project is a whole-school wellbeing program that teaches and supports positive mental health across the classroom, staff room and wider community. Circle Time and student wellbeing coordinators support mental wellbeing by fostering self-awareness and positive relationships. The wellbeing dog at Murrumbeena provides supportive interactions that can reduce stress and improve engagement. Wellbeing resources such as the Wellbeing Handbook and Wellbeing Overview guide staff and families on wellbeing practices.

Safeguarding
The school has a child safety policy to safeguard students and promote wellbeing. The school has a child safe code of conduct to set expectations for safe behaviour by students, staff and visitors. These safeguarding policies are described in the Policies, Forms and Documents section and include duties, reporting obligations and procedures to protect students. The policies address child safety, safeguarding reporting obligations and related safeguards.
Parent Experience

History
Murrumbeena Primary School began as an annexe of Rosstown School (now Carnegie) in 1903, operating from the Presbyterian Church Hall for younger children. The current site was purchased in 1910, and the first wing was completed and occupied in April 1917, serving about 250 pupils with five staff. Lands were added in 1920, 1923 and 1924, and a second wing was completed in 1926, with a swimming pool established in 1929 after fundraising. The school has since undergone significant upgrades, including a 1992 amphitheatre, a 1995–1999 refurbishment program, and a 1996 multi-purpose facility; the pool was redeveloped in 1998 and the main building was air-conditioned in 1999, with further works in the early 2000s.

Community
Founded in 1917, Murrumbeena Primary School serves the Murrumbeena, Carnegie, Hughesdale and East Malvern communities. The school enrolls around 550–600 students and is within a neighbourhood boundary that informs enrolment. The community is actively involved in all aspects of the program, with parents described as positive, valued and vital partners in their children's education. The school is authorised as an IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), reflecting a focus on international-mindedness and a broad, inquiry-based curriculum.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Murrumbeena Primary School is governed by a School Council that includes parent representatives and school staff; the Council guides policy, finance, facilities and community engagement. The Council is supported by four core subcommittees: Education, Finance, Facilities and Social & Fundraising. Council meetings are generally held on the third Monday of each month, and summaries are provided to families after meetings. Parent participation occurs through membership of the School Council and its subcommittees; the Parent Handbook highlights School Council as the key avenue for parent involvement.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school campus includes an on-site indoor heated swimming pool, a modern Library/Information Resource Centre, and dedicated Visual Arts and Performing Arts spaces. A learning centre hosts a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, connecting classroom learning with garden and kitchen activities. Refurbished portable classrooms form a junior learning hub, and shade structures have been installed over the senior playground. The canteen operates four days a week, and ongoing maintenance aims to keep the buildings and grounds safe and well maintained.

Sports Facilities
On-site indoor heated swimming pool supports an annual swimming program for Prep–Year 6, with Years 4–6 able to compete in local, district and state events. The grounds include two junior netball posts for on-site play. The school supports inter-house and inter-school sport activities, including Cross Country, Swimming and Athletic Carnivals.

Academic Facilities
Learning resources include a modern Library/Information Resource Centre, a Visual Arts room and dedicated Performing Arts spaces. A learning centre hosts a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, linking food education with classroom learning. The STEM program, introduced in 2024, provides weekly lessons with robotics from Foundation to Year 6, coding and programming across ICT devices, and engineering/design activities. LOTE Japanese is taught weekly, with a sister school relationship to Shinjo Elementary School and opportunities for student exchanges.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Lunch Time Clubs include Run Club, Lego Club, Chess and Checkers, Mindful Colouring, Performing Arts Club, Dance Club, Board Games Club, Probots/Robotics Club and Art Club. The library is used during lunch for quiet reading. Extra Curricular Events include RoboGals (Year 6), Rugby League Day (Year 5–6), Debating, Tournament of the Minds and John Monash Maths and Science Programs. Afterschool activities are offered through external providers such as Chess Club, Digimaker, Future Tennis, Kelly Sports, Kids on Key, Let's Write and Soccer Wise.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is an IB World School authorised to teach the Primary Years Programme (PYP). The PYP provides a rigorous, innovative and comprehensive curriculum through inquiry learning, with a focus on international mindedness and responsible citizenship. The programme develops the IB Learner Profile attributes and emphasizes the development of the whole child as an inquirer and life-long learner in both the classroom and the wider world. The curriculum involves six inquiry units per year, meeting the requirements of both the Victorian Curriculum and the PYP.

Arts & Creative
The school has weekly Performing Arts lessons in a well-equipped Arts Hub, covering music, dance and drama. Students showcase learning at assemblies, unit shares, and the annual school production; Year 4–6 participate in a Senior Production such as Shrek Jr or Aladdin Jr. Visual Arts has weekly lessons in a dedicated Visual Arts room, with extension art programs and lunchtime art clubs; a Year Six Arts Leadership team leads art projects and exhibitions.

Cultural & Language
Japanese is taught weekly as a language other than English. Reading and writing are introduced from Year One, and learners also study Japanese culture through cultural celebrations and events, including a annual Japanese Day. Older students have a connection with Shinjo Elementary School, our sister school, enabling letter exchanges and live video exchanges.

Social & Hobbies
Lunchtime art clubs offer opportunities for creative activity, and lunchtime performing arts groups include drama, singing and dancing. Students perform at assemblies, Harmony Day, Carnival, Christmas carols and art exhibitions, and Year 6 participates in the Year Six Arts Leadership team. The school also stages productions and other performances that provide social and collaborative avenues for students.

Community & Service
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program provides hands-on learning about growing and cooking food, supported by a dedicated kitchen garden learning centre. The canteen operates four days a week, and a School Council–run Out of School Hours Care program supports families after school. Parents are actively involved as positive, valued partners in the school community.

Leadership & Professional
The school places a strong emphasis on student leadership opportunities. The Student Representative Council (SRC) elects leaders from Year 1 to Year 6, and Year 6 Leadership Roles include School Captains and Vice Captains, House Captains, Environmental Captains, Art Captains, Music Captains, Media Captains, LOTE/Japanese Captains, Buddies, Peer Support, Peer Mediation and related duties. The SRC leaders, school captains and teacher representatives meet fortnightly to discuss school needs and empowerment.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Weekly Physical Education lessons are taught by a specialist and focus on Teamwork, Respect, Communication and Leadership. The school has an on-site indoor heated swimming pool with an annual swimming program, and Years 4–6 students may compete in local and state events. The school is a SunSmart member, supporting safety and wellbeing in outdoor activities.
Languages

Language Provision
Japanese is taught as the Languages Other Than English (LOTE) program. All students participate in weekly Japanese language classes, with initial emphasis on oral language and progression to reading and writing from Year One. The program includes cultural awareness activities, such as Japanese Day, to foster appreciation of diverse cultures. There are connections with Shinjo Elementary School, the sister school, including letter exchanges and live video exchanges between students. Language learning is integrated with inquiry-based units across the curriculum.
Admissions

Admissions
1. To enrol in Murrumbeena Primary School, the child must turn 5 years old by 30 April in the year they begin school. All Victorian government primary schools follow the statewide Foundation (Prep) enrolment timeline. This timeline indicates when and how to enrol a child into Foundation (Prep) at a Victorian government primary school, including Murrumbeena Primary School. The Foundation timetable governs entry dates and processes.

2. Enrolment is subject to restrictions under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. The school accepts students who live within the school zone, students with a sibling attending the school at the same time, and students enrolling on compassionate grounds in exceptional circumstances. Depending on available places, a limited number of out-of-zone enrolments may be accepted according to the next closest to the school. The Department will review this enrolment restriction yearly and provide updated advice as necessary for the subsequent school year.

3. Enrolment applications for 2027 will be processed by the school as they are received, in accordance with the department's Enrolment Policy. Applications submitted after 31 July 2026 will be processed as they are received, in accordance with the department's Enrolment Policy. This arrangement aligns with the Department's guidance on enrolment processing.
School Events
The school has not added events
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