Vision Statement
McKinnon Secondary College lives by its motto ‘Wisdom and Service’.
We foster a love of learning and respect for diversity. We strive to nurture empathetic, creative and confident young people who are connected to our community and Indigenous heritage. We want our students to embrace opportunities for continuous improvement and accept the challenges of a complex and globalised world.
Vision and Values
McKinnon Secondary College fosters a life-long love of learning. We celebrate Australia's diversity and indigenous heritage. We nurture excellence and empathy in our students as global citizens, ready to participate and be leaders in a complex world. Our students are confident and creative individuals with a strong sense of community and social responsibility. For more information on Vision and Values click here. OUR VALUES
House Music Festival
This year's annual House Music Festival was held on Wednesday night, and what an amazing show of talent it was. The collaboration, energy and high standards enthralled the audience - well done to everyone involved, you should be very proud. Congratulations to Monash whose name will join the long tradition of winners on the House Music shields displayed in the Music Centre at the main campus. Thank you to Mr Ed Fairlie, our adjudicator, for his time and fair evaluation - I’m sure it was not easy to declare only one winner. I also thank and acknowledge Ms Leah Humphrey who coordinated this wonderful event as well as our dedicated team of music teachers and staff who made this possible. I also thank and acknowledge Ms Leah Humphrey who coordinated this wonderful event as well as our dedicated team of music teachers and staff who made this possible. Michael KanPrincipal
Dr Justin Coulson Parent & Carer Evening
We are excited to announce that bookings are now open for our upcoming parent evening with Dr Justin Coulson. Following our recent Save the Date, we are delighted to welcome Dr Coulson to McKinnon Secondary College on Wednesday the 25th of March from 7.00pm to 8.30pm at our McKinnon Road Campus. As one of Australia’s leading parenting experts and co-host of Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance, Dr Coulson will present a practical and engaging session on building resilience in young people. This evening for parents and carers aligns closely with our core value of resilience and our character-based Wellbeing Framework. Parents will gain research-informed insights into how we can support young people to grow through challenges, develop confidence and identity, and build emotional strength. Bookings are essential and numbers are limited, so we encourage families to secure their place early. Register via Try Booking here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1548013 We look forward to welcoming you. Patty EtcellHead of Wellbeing
School Tours 2026
There are currently no school tours running. McKinnon Secondary College school tours are held annually, early in Term 2. Please check our website for tour dates and how to register in the first week of Term 2, 2026. Please enjoy our virtual tours here
Swimming Carnival
Our annual School Swimming Carnival was held on Wednesday 25 February and was a fantastic success, with students and staff enjoying a wonderful day of competition and fun. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, which held out beautifully and provided perfect conditions for a full day of swimming and diving events and cheering from the sidelines. The positive atmosphere around the pool was a highlight, with students proudly dressed in this year’s theme, "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!" and showing outstanding encouragement and sportsmanship throughout the day. The level of competition was impressive, with students giving their best in every race. A remarkable eleven new records were set across the day! An outstanding achievement and a true reflection of the talent and determination of our swimmers. Congratulations to all students who competed and especially to those who have progressed through to the Kingston Division Swimming Competition. After a closely contested carnival, Monash emerged victorious and were proudly awarded the 2026 Swimming Carnival Trophy. Well done to the Monash House Captains and students! A big thank you to all staff, especially the PE staff for assisting with the organisation and running of the day. Ms Hungerford Swimming Carnival Coordinator
Years 11 & 12 Formal
The Rupert Clarke Grandstand at Caulfield Racecourse was transformed into a sea of glamour and high fashion last night as nearly 900 McKinnon students gathered for the much-anticipated Years 11/12 Formal. Held in the elegant Promenade Room on Level 2, the evening was a spectacular celebration of our senior school community. From 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the room was buzzing with energy. This year’s cocktail-style event allowed students to mingle freely, catching up with friends across both year levels, making new friends across the cohorts, all the while enjoying a delicious variety of finger food served throughout the night. The atmosphere was electric from the moment the first track dropped. Between strikes of a pose at the photo booths and the non-stop action on the dance floor, the sense of camaraderie was palpable. It was a wonderful opportunity for our seniors to take a well-deserved break from their studies, dress to the nines, and create memories to last. A huge thank you to the staff who attended and the Year 11 and 12 student management teams who made such a large-scale event run so seamlessly. It was truly a night where our senior students shone! Kate JobsonHead of Years 11 & 12 A NIGHT TO REMEMBERFormal was a night to remember! We had a great experience at the Caulfield Racecourse venue, being the first year of McKinnon students having the formal there. Even though everyone was a bit hesitant about the joint Years 11 and 12 formal, it ended up being an amazing time and a great inter year level bonding experience. It was so exciting to see everyone dressed to the nines in their fancy dresses and suits. The DJ was pumping great tunes and everyone had fun on the dance floor. We are so grateful to all the teachers and Caulfield staff who helped organise the amazing night for us. Allegra & CharlieYear 12 students
Presentation Night 2025
The final formal occasion of 2025 was our Presentation Night, celebrating outstanding student achievement across music, sport, the arts and academic pursuits. A special congratulations to our College Dux, Siena Nott, who achieved an exceptional ATAR of 99.70. Siena also earned a perfect study score of 50 in Chemistry. Thank you to our special guests who presented awards, and to the staff who helped organise and ensure the smooth running of the event, as well as the many families and staff who attended. It was a wonderful celebration of our community. Well done to all McKinnon students recognised on the night. Your hard work and dedication are truly inspiring. You can view the photo gallery here
VCE Results 2025
I am proud to share with you the outstanding VCE results for the Class of 2025. These exceptional outcomes are a true reflection of the dedication and hard work of our talented students. 123 students received an ATAR above 90227 students (55%) received an ATAR above 809 perfect study scoresMedian Study score: 33Study scores over 40: 12.5% Well done to all of our VCE students on your achievements! I would also like to acknowledge the wonderful teachers, support staff, and parents who have worked closely with and supported the Class of 2025. Michael KanPrincipal
Council of International Schools Re-accreditation
I am very proud to announce that McKinnon Secondary College has officially received re-accreditation from the Council of International Schools. This milestone is a testament to our school's commitment to high-quality international education and the journey of continuous improvement. This was a significant undertaking, and I would like to thank everyone involved, particularly Mr Phillip O’Brien, who led the process. Well done on this incredible achievement. Michael KanPrincipal
Victorian Education Excellence Award Finalists
We are incredibly proud to share that our Student Wellbeing Team were named finalists in the 2025 Victorian Education Excellence Awards for the second consecutive year. The Outstanding Education Support Team Award recognises education support teams across Victoria that demonstrate exceptional collaboration, innovation, and a strong impact on student learning and wellbeing. This recognition not only celebrates the vital work our team does each day to support students, staff, and families, but also acknowledges significant initiatives such as the McK Respect Project, our Wellbeing Vision, Framework & Strategic Design, and the delivery of Teen Mental Health First Aid to over 120 staff and 550 students. Although we did not take home the award this year, being recognised among the state’s most dedicated educators was a moment of great pride. We congratulate our Student Wellbeing Team on this achievement and thank them for the profound and lasting impact they continue to make within our school community.
Wisdom & Service
This semester the focus in Year 9 Wisdom & Service has been preparing our Year 9 students to engage with the wider community. This has included developing resumes, writing cover letters and participating in mock job interviews, all aimed at supporting our students as many of them begin their journey to the world of employment. Our Year 9 students demonstrated that as members of the McKinnon Secondary College community, they are the ideal employees of choice for local organisations, and many of our students have successfully landed their first casual jobs. The other key area of focus this semester has been empowering our Year 9 students in identifying value they can bring to the community through the Wisdom & Service Project. The Wisdom & Service Project tasks students to identify an important community need, undertake research, propose a plan to address the community need, and where appropriate, put their plans into action. Students were not only given the opportunity to present their action plans to their classes, but also to take their ideas to the community at our Wisdom & Service Open Night on Thursday 23 October 2025 at East Campus. Students set up stalls throughout the campus, and parents, staff and other invited guests were given the opportunity to not only listen to our students’ "pitch" their ideas, but also to question their reasoning and justify their proposed undertakings. Taking inspiration from TV shows such as Dragons' Den and Shark Tank, we introduced the "WASP Nest" (which stands for Wisdom And Service Project Night Exhibiting Student Talent) whereby eight groups were given an opportunity to present their pitch in an official capacity to an open forum, inclusive of five judges (or "wasps"). Considering the energetic "buzz" that was evident throughout the East Campus, we felt that the event was indeed suitably named and a successful way to celebrate our Year 9 students' achievements! Well done to our Year 9 cohort for embodying our school values by approaching this event with Respect for their audience, completing their research with Integrity, producing a Community focused solution with Creativity, facing public scrutiny with Resilience, and ultimately celebrating Success with their overall learning throughout this experience. Chris PanteliosYear 9 Wisdom & Service Program Coordinator
