Student Excellence Program Funding (Reference 120)
Student Excellence Program (SEP) funding is provided to enable government schools to expand their support for high-ability students.
Schools can use the funding to develop, deliver and coordinate their programs for high-ability students, or undertake professional learning to support this.
Schools can decide how to use the funding allocation to best meet the needs of their high-ability students. Schools may also pool funds, for example to collaborate with other schools to deliver masterclasses.
Eligibility
Schools are not required to apply for SEP funding.
SEP funding is provided to all Victorian government schools except for selective entry schools, John Monash Science School, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, The Centre for Higher Education Studies, camp/outdoor schools, hospital-based schools (Monash Children’s Hospital School and Yalingbu Yirramboi), Parkville College, the Victorian School of Languages and language schools.
Specialist schools can submit a request to the Student Excellence Unit for consideration for funding.
Funding
SEP funding will be provided directly to schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP), as a 100% cash allocation.
Enrolment data collected during the February 2025 census will be used to update the SEP allocation to schools in the 2025 Confirmed SRP.
Schools will receive a per school allocation related to their cohort size categorisation. Targeted SEP funding operates within a capped budget. This means that cohort allocations may be adjusted up or down depending on both changes in total enrolments from all schools and the spread of these enrolments across cohorts.
| School cohort (as per student enrolments) | Per school cash allocation |
|---|---|
| 1 to 39 | $1,580.00 |
| 40 to 79 | $1,610.00 |
| 80 to 99 | $2,065.00 |
| 100 to 149 | $2,875.00 |
| 150 to 199 | $3,945.00 |
| 200 to 249 | $5,130.00 |
| 250 to 299 | $6,300.00 |
| 300 to 399 | $8,005.00 |
| 400 to 499 | $10,295.00 |
| 500 to 699 | $13,600.00 |
| 700 to 899 | $18,220.00 |
| 900 to 1,199 | $23,795.00 |
| 1,200 to 1,499 | $30,975.00 |
| 1,500+ | $35,850.00 |
Use of funding
Schools will make local decisions on how the SEP funding allocation will be used to best meet the needs of their high-ability students. For example, the funding may be used for:
- time release, time allowance, and/or a special payment for teachers to perform the role of high-ability practice leader
- participating in relevant professional learning activities including the use of Casual Relief Teachers
- delivering masterclasses for students in the Victorian High-Ability Program
- participating in Victorian Challenge and Enrichment activities/events
- other programs for high-ability students
- student transport costs to access extension program events
- co-ordination time for high-ability programs
- parent information evenings
- guest speakers for high-ability students
- classroom resources for extension activities.
Accountability
Schools are required to code any expenditure of SEP funding to the sub-program code 8502 in CASES21.
Where a school uses SEP funding to either support the appointment of a high-ability practice leader, make a special payment or support the release of a teacher, this expense will be managed through eduPay and will not appear in the CASES21 ledger.
More information
For further information, refer to the Student Excellence or contact student.excellence@education.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 31 December 2024