At a glance
Caulfield Junior College is a Victorian government primary school in Caulfield North, distinguished by being home to the French Australian School of Melbourne, a French binational programme that is unique in the city. The programme runs from Prep to Grade 6 and is taught in pairs, with French teachers who trained and hold a teaching licence in France working alongside Australian teachers, so children learn across both languages and both curricula day to day. The school reports the binational stream has grown to several hundred students, most of them born in Australia to families with at least one French speaking parent. Alongside the French programme the school also runs a Hebrew immersion programme and remains a local government school for its neighbourhood. As a state school it is registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, and the French stream is recognised by the French Ministry of National Education. Our Melbourne city hub sets it alongside the city's other bilingual and international options for relocating families.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and programmes | Victorian curriculum; French binational bilingual programme; Hebrew immersion |
| Stages | Primary, Prep to Grade 6 |
| Founded | Not published |
| Accreditation | Victorian government school (VRQA); French stream recognised by the French Ministry of National Education |
| Fee band | Government school, below the private fee bands (see the Melbourne fees guide) |
| Campus | Caulfield North, south eastern Melbourne |
Curriculum and academics
The school teaches the Victorian curriculum, and its standout feature is a bilingual binational programme that blends the Victorian and French national curricula. Children in the French stream spend their week across two languages, taught by French and Australian teachers working in pairs from Prep to Grade 6, so the bilingual experience is built into the timetable rather than added as a language lesson. The model is designed to meet both the standards of the Victorian Department of Education and those of the French Ministry of National Education, which is what makes it binational rather than simply a French language class. A separate Hebrew immersion programme serves families looking for that pathway. For relocating French speaking families, or families who want their child to leave primary school genuinely bilingual, the programme is rare in Melbourne and a strong reason to consider the school over a standard primary.
Caulfield Junior College fees
Caulfield Junior College is a government school, so it does not charge the tuition that private and international schools do. Families pay the voluntary financial contributions that Victorian state schools request, and for the French binational programme there is a contribution towards the cost of the French teaching staff, organised through the parent association. Taken together these sit well below the private school fee bands set out in our guide to international school fees in Melbourne, which is the main reason the school appeals to budget conscious families who still want a bilingual education. We do not publish the contribution figures here because the school sets them and they change; confirm the current amounts and what they cover directly with the office. Plan also for the usual primary school extras such as uniforms, excursions and camps.
Weighing a bilingual school against the rest?
Put Caulfield Junior College next to Melbourne's other options with our compare tool, side by side on curriculum, stages and location. Free and independent.
Admissions
As a Victorian government school, the main intake is Prep at the start of the school year in late January, with enrolment timelines and any local enrolment area set by the Department of Education. Government schools generally give priority to children who live within the designated area, so families should check whether their address falls inside it, particularly for the popular French binational stream. The French programme attracts strong demand and the school manages places carefully, so making contact early is important. Assessment is not academic at this stage; the school is more interested in a child's readiness for a bilingual classroom and, for the French stream, the family's language background. The office can explain the documents required, including proof of address and immunisation records as required in Victoria.
Location and who goes there
The school is in Caulfield North, an inner south eastern suburb with a long established international and French speaking community, well served by tram and train into the city. Because the French binational programme draws families from across Melbourne rather than just the immediate streets, the community is more international than a typical neighbourhood primary, with many homes where French is spoken alongside English. The setting suits relocating French families, mixed nationality families who want to keep a second language alive, and local families drawn to a bilingual education. For families weighing Caulfield North against other parts of the city, and for the full picture of where relocating families settle and what each area offers, return to the Melbourne city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended Caulfield Junior College, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Caulfield Junior College fees?
Caulfield Junior College is a Victorian government school, so it does not charge private school tuition. Families pay voluntary contributions and, for the French binational programme, a contribution towards the French teaching staff, which sits well below the private school fee bands in Melbourne. Confirm the current contributions with the school directly.
Is Caulfield Junior College a good school?
Caulfield Junior College is a well regarded government primary school and home to the French Australian School of Melbourne, a binational programme unique in the city. Whether it suits your child depends on your interest in a French bilingual education and whether you live within or can access the enrolment area.
What curriculum does Caulfield Junior College follow?
The school follows the Victorian curriculum, and its French binational programme blends the Victorian and French national curricula, taught in pairs of French and Australian teachers from Prep to Grade 6. It also runs a Hebrew immersion programme.
When do Caulfield Junior College applications open?
As a government school, the main intake is Prep at the start of the year in late January, with enrolment timelines set by the Victorian Department of Education. The French binational programme is popular, so families should contact the school as early as possible.
Where is Caulfield Junior College located?
The school is in Caulfield North, in the inner south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, an area with a strong French speaking and international community.
