Students at Bacchus Marsh Grammar are engaging in a unique educational experience by swapping screens for garden tools. Approximately 50 students travel to the school’s **2000-acre** property at Staughton Vale, located about **20 kilometres** south of the main campus in Maddingley, **50 kilometres** north-west of **Melbourne**. Here, they participate in hands-on activities such as managing orchards and aquaculture, blending academic learning with practical skills.
The farm, featuring apricot and lemon orchards alongside a market garden, distinguishes Bacchus Marsh Grammar from other institutions. Many families are willing to commute for up to an hour to access this innovative learning environment. School captains **Kiesha Tau** and **Samuel Lillie**, both **17**, fondly recall their earlier days gardening on the property and recently had the opportunity to run a cross-country event on its scenic grounds.
Students visit the farm at least once each term during their junior and middle school years, while senior students make the trip once a semester. Tau reflects on these experiences, saying, “We’d go there to garden… just the way it’s transitioned from when I was younger, I’d love to be a kid again.”
Bacchus Marsh Grammar has also garnered recognition for its academic performance. It has been named **The Age’s 2025 Schools that Excel** winner for rural and regional schools, celebrating significant improvements in VCE results over the past decade.
The school’s median study score has increased from **31 to 32** in the last two years, with the percentage of students achieving scores above **40** rising from **9.3 percent in 2015** to a peak of **13.9 percent in 2024**. This progress coincides with a surge in VCE enrolments, with double the number of students taking Year 12 subjects compared to a decade ago.
Andrew Neal, the former principal and current chief executive, attributes this success to a long-term commitment to enhancing student outcomes. “This is not a one-year wonder; we’ve been working on this for nearly **20 years**,” he stated. Neal emphasized the importance of fostering self-belief in students and helping them recognize their potential.
Despite facing challenges, including a recent controversy involving a former student who misused AI technology, the school community has shown resilience. Neal described the incident as “a difficult time” but noted that students came together to support each other. “There’s a degree of anger in the community about the whole thing, and it slowly dissipated when there was a clear understanding that it wasn’t one of our fellow students that was the perpetrator,” he explained.
Current principal **Debra Ogden** highlighted the growing interest in STEM subjects among students, which aligns with parental expectations for future career opportunities. Many students aspire to pursue degrees in medicine, law, or business. To support this trend, the school is investing in a new **$20 million** science and technology building, set to be completed next year.
Ogden noted, “We’re working with those students to really continue to push them along and support them… we do that socially and emotionally as well.” Both school captains agree on the value of strong connections with teachers, who are dedicated to helping students achieve their aspirations.
Kiesha Tau intends to study law, possibly in the United States or at the **Australian National University**. Samuel Lillie aims to become an aerospace engineer. Both students credit the school for providing numerous opportunities, including internships, extracurricular activities, and tailored learning support.
“Every single one of my teachers runs lunchtime classes for extra help, and if you email on weekends or holidays, they respond instantly,” Lillie remarked, appreciating the comprehensive support available.
Tau, a keen singer, expressed her enthusiasm for the annual concert, emphasizing the diverse opportunities for student involvement. “You’re not limited here; you can find what you want to do,” she said.
The blend of academic rigor and practical experience at Bacchus Marsh Grammar not only cultivates knowledge but also prepares students for future challenges, making it a standout choice for families seeking a well-rounded education.
