Brightest and best pick Perth Modern School

7/3/06
Perth Modern School in Subiaco has been inundated with applications for places in Year Eight in 2007.
More than 760 of WA's brightest Year Seven students have picked the new academically selective Perth Modern School as their high school of choice.
From today, hundreds of prospective students will sit nationally recognised aptitude tests to try to secure one of the 160 Year Eight places being offered next year.
Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said she was delighted so many gifted and talented students had picked Perth Modern School as their first preference.
"Entry will be very competitive, but those gifted students who secure a place at Perth Modern will be able to develop their full potential in the public education system," Ms Ravlich said.
"Parents are obviously very keen for their children to be part of Western Australia's first and only academically selective public secondary school for 48 years.
"By 2011, all students at the new Perth Modern school will have gained entry through selective tests, meaning that the school will cater specifically for the State's brightest and best.
"It will return to its roots as the State's premier school of academic excellence."
Former Perth Modern graduates include entertainer Rolf Harris, businesswoman Janet Holmes a Court and WA Governor Ken Michael.
Perth Modern will also undergo $28million upgrade to deliver world-class facilities and resources, including an $8million state-of-the-art accommodation facility catering for up to 100 students from the country.
Fifteen other public schools offer Gifted and Talented Education programs in mathematics and science, humanities, languages other than English, dance, drama, music and visual arts.
The Minister said applications for a place in these programs in public secondary schools had increased by 17.4 per cent since last year.
Minister's office: 9213 6800