The meaning of the School Crest
- The three stars represent the top 3 stars of the Southern Cross and individually stand for; Integrity, Learning and Excellence.
- The black swan represents Western Australia. The black swan was also the trademark of the Katanning Flour Mill, the first secondary industry in Katanning.
- The school motto is We Strive to Excel. This is the same motto as Katanning Primary School, from which the High School developed in the late 1940’s.
Katanning Senior High School is a unique and distinctive secondary school in the heart of the Great Southern region of WA. At our school, students can engage in a challenging and comprehensive educational program within a caring and nurturing school. Students’ academic and social needs will be met within a school that values Respect, Achievement, Perseverance, and Tolerance.
Katanning Senior High School’s community is culturally diverse. We celebrate and respect individual differences and work in harmony to ensure success for all students. For example, if for children from a non-English speaking background, additional support is provided to ensure they can develop their English language skills and successfully engage in our learning programs.
We offer the Follow the Dream tertiary aspirant program to improve Aboriginal learning outcomes. Aboriginal boys may join the Clontarf Football Academy to improve their educational outcomes, life skills, and employment prospects. The Wirrpanda Foundation Deadly Sista Girlz program supports Aboriginal girls in forming positive connections, identities, and relationships.
Student health and well-being is a priority. Our experienced Student Services Team provides additional support to meet each child’s social and emotional needs. The team includes the school Psychologist, Chaplain, Nurse, Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers (AIEO), and Student Support Officers who work with one Program Coordinator for Lower School and one for Senior School. Students can participate in extracurricular activities such as Bush Rangers, cultural activities, and various sporting opportunities, including Country Week and regional competitions. We value student leadership and provide many opportunities for students to develop these skills.
All students from Year 7 to Year 10 complete a comprehensive curriculum. After-school Homework Classes and individual tutoring are also available to support academic excellence for all students.
Senior School students may select from a range of face-to-face and online ATAR courses through the School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE) or UniReady program delivered in partnership with Curtin University.
Engineering and Automotive courses are offered within our Trade Skills Centre. Senior School students can also access Vocational Education and Training (VET) Certificate II courses and Workplace Learning. Additional Certificate II courses, including Hospitality, are delivered by the Great Southern Institute of Technology. Selected students may also complete school-based traineeships and Certificate III courses.
We cater to special needs students and offer an accredited Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) program, which provides programs more flexible than qualifications; they offer imaginative ways of developing, recording and certificating people’s personal achievements.
As well as the ASDAN competency, we also offer a skills-based learning program. All students are integrated at a level that meets their learning and social needs. Students are supported by a designated teacher and Education Support Assistants.