Footscray Primary School is an Italian bilingual school and a member of the Department of Education and Training's Designated Bilingual School Program. We are active members of the Bilingual Schools Principal and Teacher Networks and benefit greatly from the collaborative approach to resource sharing and knowledge building across this unique group of schools.
In 2021, we launched our Italian bilingual program commencing with Foundation and Year 1 students and continuing with each new Foundation cohort to progress towards a whole school program in 2026. In 2024, Foundation to Year 4 students learn 50% of the full Victorian Curriculum in Italian language and 50% in English language. We invite prospective families to visit us for a tour to see the program in action and learn more about our approach to bilingual education.
Useful Readings and Resources
For families new to bilingual education, you might have questions about the researched benefits and approaches to learning in a bilingual school. Below are some links to readings and research that may be of interest. We encourage you to come along and visit the bilingual classrooms during one of our school tours.
Research on Bilingual Education
COASIT Language Assistants
We are grateful to COASIT who continue to support our school in many ways, including the provision of two fully subsidised language assistants to work in our classrooms supporting language learning. In 2024, we welcome Italian Language Assistants, Claudia and Jessica, to the FPS family.
Recruitment commences via Recruitment online in Term 3 & 4 each year and we anticipate that we will be requiring additional Italian classroom teachers each year as our program expands. Please feel free to email your questions to jenny.briggs@education.vic.gov.au if you are suitably qualified (VIT registration and Italian speaking) and have any specific questions about working at Footscray Primary School. You are also most welcome to contact us about a tour or to express an interest in volunteering in our bilingual classrooms.
Footscray Primary School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which we live, work and learn, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, recognising their continuing cultural connections to their land, waters and communities.