Best in Education 2022

BEST IN EDUCATION

Celebrating the outstanding organisations and professionals in the education industry in Australia

Isobel

Ros Curtis

BEST IN EDUCATION

Here is a roundup of the award-winning organisations and professionals featured in our Special Reports

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, our 30-strong Intelligence Unit researches a series of Special Reports, each showcasing the top-performing education professionals and companies across a number of important categories. Over the past 12 months, 15,000 surveys have been sent to our readers across Australia. The culmination of all that reporting is our annual Best in Education digital edition. The Best in Education recognises the education award winners from all of our special reports in 2022, which have already attracted 1.7 million online pageviews between them.

This important list provides a definitive annual collection of those who have delivered outstanding results, introduced new initiatives,

refined existing working practices and also acted as a source of inspiration for colleagues.

St Andrew’s Cathedral School has been recognised on the list. Head of school Julie McGonigle says, “Post lockdown, we have burst back into full existence as a learning community that is packed full of life. Delighted to be back together again, our students have reached new heights in the academic, sporting, and performing arts and service arenas. Together, we believe that we can make a transformational difference to the life of each student.”

Also featured is Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School. Kane Bradford, head of professional practice, innovation and partnerships, commented, “Our enrollments have

grown considerably in the last few years, and I think that’s in large part because of the true innovation that we are realising on the ground across all facets of our school experience.”

As a global publisher, our Intelligence Unit dedicates itself to carrying out detailed research including harnessing our wide-ranging resources to canvass industry experts and knowledgeable sources to determine who is worthy of a place on the list. This comprehensive annual guide was curated and published by The Educator.

Below is the Best in Education. We hope you enjoy discovering all of those who we believe are shining brightest and shaping the future of the education industry.

Innovation in Education Technology

5-STAR EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

Albert Park College Haileybury

Queensland Pathways State College

Rochedale State School

Ormiston College

Phone: 07 3821 8999

Email: enquiries@ormistoncollege.com.au Website: ormistoncollege.com.au

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School

James Fallon High School

John Paul College

Kilbreda College

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School

Sacred Heart College

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar

The Knox School

Yarra Me School

St Andrew’s Cathedral School

Phone: 9286 9500 Website: sacs.nsw.edu.au

Macquarie College

Marsden State High School

5-STAR INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS

Brisbane Grammar School (QLD)

Phone: +62 7 38345200

Email: reception@brisbanegrammar.com Website: brisbanegrammar.com

Blair Athol North B-6 School (SA)

Phone: (08) 8168 0700

Email: dl.1903.info@schools.sa.edu.au Website: banb7.sa.edu.au

Loreto Kirribilli (NSW)

Phone: +61 2 9957 4722 Email: info@loreto.nsw.edu.au Website: loreto.nsw.edu.au

Minarah College (NSW)

Phone: (02) 87839188

Email: principal@minarah.nsw.edu.au Website: minarah.nsw.edu.au

Golden Grove Lutheran

Primary School (SA)

Phone: (08) 8282 6000

Email: office@goldengrove.sa.edu.au Website: goldengrove.sa.edu.au

The Hills Grammar School (NSW)

Phone: 02 9654 2111

Email: principal@hillsgrammar.nsw.edu.au Website: hillsgrammar.nsw.edu.au

5-STAR INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS

Brisbane South State Secondary College (QLD)

Phone: 07 3013 5777

Email: administration@ brisbanesouthssc.eq.edu.au Website: brisbanesouthssc.eq.edu.au

Ormiston College (QLD)

Phone: 07 3821 8999 Email: enquiries@ormistoncollege.com.au Website: ormistoncollege.com.au

Ashdale Secondary College (WA)

Brigidine College Indooroopilly (QLD)

Centennial Park School (NSW)

Emmanuel Catholic College (WA)

Emmanuel College (QLD)

Forest Hill College (VIC)

Hillcrest Christian College (QLD)

Siena College (VIC)

Immanuel College (SA)

Phone: 08 8375 1700 Email: immanuel@immanuel.sa.edu.au Website: immanuel.sa.edu.au

Phone: (03) 9835 0200 Email: reception@siena.vic.edu.au Website: siena.vic.edu.au

Hunter Sports High School (NSW)

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School (NSW)

Living Faith Lutheran Primary School (QLD)

Loreto College Marryatville (SA)

Faith Lutheran College Redlands (QLD)

Phone: 38205500 Email: admin@flcr.qld.edu.au Website: faithlutheran.qld.edu.au

St Clare’s College (NSW)

Phone: 02 8305 7100 Email: info@stclares.catholic.edu.au Website: stclares.syd.catholic.edu.au

Mount Brown Primary School (NSW)

Newman College (WA)

OneSchool Global Australia (TAS)

Peter Carnley Anglican Community School (WA)

Matthew Flinders

Anglican College (QLD)

Phone: 07 5477 3200 Email: reception@mfac.edu.au Website: mfac.edu.au

St Philip’s Christian College Newcastle (NSW)

Phone: 49606600 Email: newcastle@spcc.nsw.edu.au Website: spcc.nsw.edu.au

Ravenswood School for Girls (NSW)

Redeemer Lutheran School (SA)

5-STAR INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS

Rochedale State School (QLD)

Saint Stephen’s College (QLD)

Scotch Oakburn College (TAS)

St Andrew’s Anglican College (QLD)

St Laurence’s College (QLD)

St Luke’s (NSW)

Jenny Lee Williams

Principal

Firbank Grammar School

Phone: (03) 9591 5188

Email: communications@firbank.vic.edu.au Website: firbank.vic.edu.au

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School (QLD)

St Paul’s School (QLD)

St Ursula’s College Toowoomba (QLD)

Strathcona Girls Grammar Junior School (VIC)

Sunnybank State High School (QLD)

Tamborine Mountain State School (QLD)

Trinity Anglican School White Rock Campus Primary (QLD)

Trinity Lutheran College (VIC)

Wesley College (WA)

HOT LIST

Meagan King

Deputy Principal

Canterbury College

Phone: 0732990846

Email: m.king@canterbury.qld.edu.au Website: canterbury.qld.edu.au

Steve Francis

Chief Executive Officer

Happy School

Phone: 0421705693

Email: steve@happyschool.com.au Website: happyschool.com.au

Liz Foster

Executive Principal

Wavell State High School

Phone: 07 3350 0333 Email: efost2@eq.edu.au Website: wavellshs.eq.edu.au

Michelle Fitzpatrick

Head of Technology and Enterprise

St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School

Phone: (08) 9341 9111

Email: mfitzpatrick@stmarys.wa.edu.au Website: stmarys.wa.edu.au

Therese Turner-Jones

Head of English

Wenona School

Phone: 9409 4400

Email: TTurnerjones@wenona.nsw.edu.au Website: wenona.nsw.edu.au

Celia Mara

Head of Teaching and Learning (F-12) Balcombe Grammar School

Phone: (03) 5970 1100

Email: c.mara@balcombegrammar.vic.edu.au Website: balcombegrammar.vic.edu.au

Ceri Lloyd

Director of Teaching and Learning

St Catherine’s School

Email: clloyd@stcatherines.net.au Website: stcatherines.net.au

HOT LIST

Alison Fahlbusch

Marsden State High School (Qld)

Fathma Mauger

Principal

Larrakeyah Primary School

Phone: (08) 89813211 Email: fathma.mauger@education.nt.gov.au Website: larrakeyahprimary.com.au

Kevin Richardson Principal

Immanuel College

Phone: 08 8375 1700 Email: krichardson@immanuel.sa.edu.au Website: immanuel.sa.edu.au

Adriano Di Prato

a School for tomorrow (Vic)

Amaya Lang

Centennial Park School (NSW)

Anna Ritzema

Polly Farmer Foundation (WA)

Anne Johnstone

Ravenswood School for Girls (NSW)

Bernie Mills

Firbank Grammar School (Vic)

Beth Claydon

A.B. Paterson College (Qld)

Bianca Nuss

Chris Nastrom-Smith

Deputy Principal – Curriculum Loreto College Coorparoo

Phone: 07 3394 9999 Email: nastrom-smithc@loreto.qld.edu.au Website: loreto.qld.edu.au

Danni Mattiazzo

Head of Curriculum and Assessment (Foundation - Year 6), STEAM Coordinator Larrakeyah Primary School

Phone: 08 8981 3211 Email: danni.mattiazzo@education.nt.gov.au Website: larrakeyahprimary.com.au

Dr Zeynep Yaseen

Principal International Maarif Schools of Australia Phone: 0416684953 Email: zeynep.yaseen@maarif.nsw.edu.au Website: maarif.nsw.edu.au

Kirsten Ferdinands

Executive Principal

Brisbane South State Secondary College

Phone: 07 30135777

Email: administration@ brisbanesouthssc.eq.edu.au Website: brisbanesouthssc.eq.edu.au

Michelle Carroll School Principal St Catherine’s School

Phone: 03 9828 3002 Email: mcarroll@stcatherines.net.au Website: stcatherines.net.au

The Village School Gold Coast (Qld)

Brett Dascombe Wavell State High School (Qld)

Bridget Forster

Mentone Girls’ Grammar School (Vic)

Briony Scott

Wenona School (NSW)

Bronwen Baume-Tarrant

Sacred Heart College (Tas)

Cameron Paterson

Wesley College (Vic)

Craig Askin

Ormiston College (Qld)

Stuart Needham

Head of Secondary School

Faith Lutheran College Redlands

Phone: 0738205500 Email: hos@flcr.qld.edu.au Website: faithlutheran.qld.edu.au

Daniel

Edwards

Montello Primary School (Tas)

Darren Cox

Sydney Catholic Schools (NSW)

HOT LIST

David Cole

St Philip’s Christian College Cessnock (NSW)

Dawn

Boland

Calamvale Community College (Qld)

Deborah Netolicky

St Mark’s Anglican Community School (WA)

Elspeth Maddocks

Lauriston Girls’ School (Vic)

Giuliana D’Angelo

Lauriston Girls’ School (Vic)

Greg Miller

St Luke’s Catholic College (NSW)

Greg Wilkinson

Saint Stephen’s College (Qld)

Holly Millican

Orara High School (NSW)

Jason Smith

Tamborine Mountain State School (Qld)

Jenna Cullen

Marsden State High School (Qld)

Jo Hammer

Ave Maria College (Vic)

Joy

Geyer

Hillcrest Christian College (Qld)

Keith Graham

Queensland Department of Education/ Rochedale State School (Qld)

Kelly Whiteway

A.B. Paterson College (Qld)

Kerry Daud

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School (Qld)

Khalil Khay

NSW Department of Education (NSW)

Kim Flintoff

Peter Carnley ACS (WA)

Lauren

Sayer

Melbourne Girls Grammar (Vic)

Liam Bassett

Westbourne Grammar School (Vic)

Linda Sweet

St Mark’s Anglican Community School (WA)

Lissa Gyte

Loreto College Coorparoo (Qld)

Luda Kovalev

Loganlea State High School (Qld)

Maria Etheridge

Lakes Entrance Primary School (Vic)

Mathew Irving Wesley College (WA)

Michael Ha Element College (Qld)

Michael

West

Bellbird Park State Secondary College (Qld)

Paul

Watson

Emmanuel Catholic College (WA)

Peter Ellis

Templestowe College (Vic)

Peter Foster

Mancel College (Qld)

Peter Kent

Birrigai Outdoor School (ACT)

Rachel Howley

Grace Lutheran College (Qld)

Raju Varanasi

Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (NSW)

Sara Curtis

Marsden State High School (Qld)

Simon Crook

CrookED Science (NSW)

Simon Done

Maryborough State High School (Qld)

Tanya Tennant

Ormiston College (Qld)

Tara Barron

Rochedale State School (Qld)

Teagan Collins, BPhysEd, MEd, MBA

Westbourne Grammar School (Vic)

Tim Barrett

St Andrew’s Anglican College (Qld)

Tom Oliphant

St John’s Grammar School (SA)

Yun

Chen

Dallas Brooks Community Primary School (Vic)

MOST INFLUENTIAL EDUCATORS

James Burnett

Co-founder and Executive Chairperson

ORIGO Education

Phone: 0418 785 723 Email: j_burnett@origo.com.au Website: origoeducation.com.au

Chris Higgins

Deputy Director

Asia Education Foundation

Phone: 0402 401 012 Email: chris.higgins@unimelb.edu.au Website: asiaeducation.edu.au

Esther Hill

Director at Djoowak: The Beyond Boundaries Institute

All Saints’ College

Phone: 08 9313 9333 Email: esther.hill@allsaints.wa.edu.au Website: allsaints.wa.edu.au

Kerrie McDiarmid

Principal St Clare’s College, Waverley

Phone: 02 83057100 Email: fleur.cane@syd.catholic.edu.au Website: stclares.syd.catholic.edu.au

Ros Curtis

Principal

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

Phone: (07) 3862 0777 Email: principal@stmargarets.qld.edu.au Website: qgsssa.com.au

Jen McVeity

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Seven Steps to Writing Success

Phone: (03) 9521 8439 Email: jen@sevenstepswriting.com Website: sevenstepswriting.com

Nick Johnstone

Principal

Bishop Druitt College

Phone: (02) 6651 6544 Email: secretary@bdc.nsw.edu.au Website: bdc.nsw.edu.au

Adriano Di Prato

Founding

Partner

A School for Tomorrow

Phone: +61 (2) 8064 9595 Email: adriano@circle.education Website: aschoolfortomorrow.com

Kim Powell

Learning Leader: Innovation Lutheran Education (Vic, NSW, Tas) Phone: 0418861120 Email: kim.powell@levnt.edu.au Website: levnt.edu.au

Therese Turner-Jones

Head of English

Wenona School

Phone: 9409 4400 Email: TTurnerjones@wenona.nsw.edu.au Website: wenona.nsw.edu.au

Dr Keith Graham, OAM

School Principal/Internal School Reviewer Education Queensland

Phone: 0414 811 445 Email: kgrah25@eq.edu.au Website: rochedalss.eq.edu.au

Loretta Wholley

Principal

Genazzano FCJ College

Phone: +61 3 8862 1000 Email: principal@genazzano.vic.edu.au Website: genazzano.vic.edu.au

ST MARGARET’S ANGLICAN GIRLS SCHOOL

IN MARCH 2022, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School was named one of The Educator’s 5-Star Employers of Choice, and with good reason.

The school leaves no stone unturned when it comes to making sure both staff and students are looked after and performing at the top of their game.

Staff can earn extra income for extracurricular opportunities, enjoy an extra day’s leave for their own wedding preparation and an additional day of leave over the two-week Christmas shutdown period in recognition of their commitment to the school.

The school also has a generous professional learning budget of approximately $1,000 per person annually, which enables staff to access programs externally or through the school’s Centre for Teaching and Learning Excellence.

In a staff survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, 98% of teachers indicated their career paths and promotional opportunities were encouraged and promoted.

Over the past two years, St Margaret’s academic results have excelled, with its results placing it in the top 10 ranking schools in Brisbane and within the top five independent girls’ schools of equivalent size.

Leading the school’s charge towards educa-

tional excellence is principal Ros Curtis, who in 2020-2022 received an Excellence Award for School Principal of the Year: Non-Government at the Australian Education Awards.

In May 2022, Curtis was named one of Australia’s Most Influential Educators, an accolade she says comes from “seeking out the wisdom” of other influential educators and industry leaders, both in Australia and around the world.

“A strong educational institution and industry are built in collaboration with others, and if I can, in turn, pass on the wisdom gained from others and from my many years’ experience, I am humbled and happy to be in the position to do that,” she tells The Educator.

Recalling the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ros says she witnessed the “incredible dedication and professionalism” of the school’s teachers and support staff.

“They were determined to continue to provide our students with the highest level of education possible, in any circumstance.

“Our collaborative culture enabled quickthinking problem-solving, the pooling and sharing of knowledge in the online learning space and a commitment to professional development where required.”

In November 2022, the school was again in the headlines for all the right reasons when it was named in The Educator’s 5-Star Innovative Schools for 2022 in recognition of the St Margaret’s Plus Mentoring Program, which, as part of its career education offerings, connects students with successful alumni across various industries. The program has also reenergised past student engagement.

Innovation thrives at the school, with Kerry Daud, head of faculty - elearning, research, technology and design, being named in The Educator’s Hot List in December 2022 for her work in pioneering girls’ participation in esports and introducing the first Queensland interschool all-girls gaming invitational.

Looking to the year ahead, Curtis says now, more than ever, schools need strong educational leadership, and excellent educators to stay in an industry that she describes as being “as challenging as it is rewarding”.

“Educators need professional learning that can open their minds to the exciting leadership opportunities that may arise,” Curtis says.

“At the same time, these opportunities should also prepare them to deal with a degree of ambiguity endurance – there are many paths to leadership that may arise at different times, in unexpected roles and locations.”

The principal of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Ros Curtis, delivers a session at the school’s Aspiring Leaders Program for middle leaders across a number of schools

MOST INFLUENTIAL EDUCATORS

Damien Aldridge

Chief Operating Officer

STEM Punks

Marg Clark

Principal

Prospect North Primary School

Phone: 0402782206 Email: marg.clark2@schools.sa.edu.au Website: prospectnorth.sa.edu.au

Ross Phillips

Senior Dean of Learning Futures

Strathcona Girls Grammar

Phone: +61 3 8779 7500 Email: rphillips@strathcona.vic.edu.au Website: strathcona.vic.edu.au

David Roy

Lecturer in Education University of Newcastle

Deborah Netolicky

Head of Teaching and Learning St Mark’s Anglican Community School

Fleur Johnston

CEO and Founder PeopleBench

Gavin

McCormack

Michael Smith

Deputy Principal

Marsden State High School

Phone: 04 220 67612 Email: msmit229@eq.edu.au Website: marsdenshs.eq.edu.au

Simon Crook

Director

CrookED Science

Phone: 0458 299573 Email: simon@simoncrook.com Website: crookedscience.com

Co-Founder Upschool.co and Education Influence

Helen Street

Education Consultant, Founder Contextual Wellbeing Positive Schools

John Crowley

Former Acting Principal, St Kevin’s College, Toorak Currently Director of Registration and Incorporation at Edmund Rice Education Australia

Rachel Howley

Director of Grace Academy

Grace Lutheran College

Phone: (07) 3203 0066 Email: rachel_howley@glc.qld.edu.au Website: rachelhowley.com

Susan Just

Principal

Lauriston Girls’ School

Phone: (03) 9864 7555 Email: principal@lauriston.vic.edu.au Website: lauriston.vic.edu.au

Alex Wharton

Principal Carinya Christian School, Gunnedah

Brett Webster Headmaster Ormiston College

Cressida Batterham-Wilson

Julia Lippold

EAL and Senior Years Coordinator and Wellbeing Program Developer Lauriston Girls’ School

Kathleen Donohoe

Director, School Learning Environments and Change School Infrastructure, NSW Department of Education

Kim Flintoff

TIDES Coordinator Peter Carnley ACS

Kristie de Brenni

Renee Dunne

Program Leader Excellence

Brigidine College Indooroopilly

Phone: (07) 3870 7225 Email: dunner@brigidine.qld.edu.au Website: brigidine.qld.edu.au

Head of Campus Preshil School

Principal Queensland Pathways State College

Lauren Sayer

Damian

Howard Principal

St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School

Executive Director of Research and Innovation Melbourne Girls Grammar

AWARD WINNERS

MOST INFLUENTIAL EDUCATORS

Lissa

Gyte

Deputy Principal Operations and School Development Loreto College Coorparoo

Matt Richards

Educational Consultant Catholic Education South Australia

Matthew Dodds

Science Teacher/PD Provider Science with Mat

Maxine Galante

Deputy Principal Director of Innovation and Collaborative Practice Margaret Hendry School

Mel Wyatt Senior Manager of Education Zoos Victoria

Michael Ha

Founding Principal Element College

Mitchell John Mills

Senior Physical Education Teacher Saint Stephen’s College

Paul Rikmanis

Director of Teaching and Learning St Columba Anglican School

Peter Thomas Director FORWARD, RMIT University

Rowan Garner

Director of Borderless Learning Pacific Hills Christian School/Pacific Group of Schools

Safina

Babar

Sustainability Representative Hoppers Crossing Montessori Centre

Shelley Parkes

Head of Junior School Oakleigh Grammar

Stuart

Marquardt

Principal Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School

Tracy Hart College Psychologist Penrhos College

Zachary Gomo Assistant Principal and Director of Jewish Life Bialik College

Clare Ballard

Head of House

Kardinia International College (VIC)

Phone: (03) 5278 9999 Email: c.ballard@kardinia.vic.edu.au Website: kardinia.vic.edu.au

RISING STARS

Catherine Newton

Head of Digital Learning and Innovation

Strathcona Girls Grammar (VIC)

Phone: 03 8779 7500 Email: cnewton@strathcona.vic.edu.au Website: strathcona.vic.edu.au

Melissa Armsden Teacher

Brigidine College Indooroopilly (QLD)

Phone: 07 3002 0662 Email: armsdenm@brigidine.qld.edu.au Website: brigidine.qld.edu.au

Alex Wharton

Head of Middle School

Carinya Christian School Gunnedah (NSW)

Amelia Farrell

Secondary English Teacher

Amy Plumridge

Head of Faculty, English and Languages

St Patrick’s College, Townsville (QLD)

Phone: (07) 4753 0300 Email: aplumridge@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au Website: stpatscollege.qld.edu.au

David Ramsay

Deputy Principal

Australian Christian College, Southlands (WA)

Phone: (08) 9892 5100 Email: davidramsay@acc.edu.au Website: acc.edu.au

A B Paterson College (QLD)

Ashley Keith Pratt

Executive Director, Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Innovation Melbourne Girls Grammar (VIC)

Catherine Gallus

Senior English Teacher/ Literacy Learning Specialist John Monash Science School (VIC)

Drew Mitchell

Head of Department, Support Services Marsden State High School (QLD)

Anna Ludwig

Micro Credentialing Manager and Mathematics/Business Teacher

Beenleigh State High School (QLD)

Phone: 07 3442 3783 Email: aludw0@eq.edu.au Website: credly.com/organizations/ beenleigh-state-high-school/badges

Eliza Nolan

Year 2 Teacher

Strathcona Girls Grammar (VIC)

Phone: 038 8053 800 Email: enolan@strathcona.vic.edu.au Website: strathcona.vic.edu.au

Gabe Robbie

Head of Department, Humanities and Social Sciences

Concordia Lutheran College, Toowoomba (QLD)

Echo Gu

Teacher/Student Data Analyst

Lauriston Girls’ School (VIC)

Ella Evans

Economics and Geography Teacher

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School (NSW)

Elle Smith

Bianca Farley

Teacher and Year 8 Team Leader

Genazzano FCJ College (VIC)

Phone: +61 3 8862 1000 Email: bianca.farley@genazzano.vic.edu.au Website: genazzano.vic.edu.au

Gemma Beard

Head of Languages

The Knox School (NSW)

Phone: 038 8053 800 Email: jenny.lutz@knox.vic.edu.au Website: knox.vic.edu.au

Senior Learning Coach

St Andrew’s Cathedral School (NSW)

Eliza de Hoogh Teacher

Australian Christian College, Singleton (NSW)

RISING STARS

Emily Brewer

English Teacher

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School (NSW)

Emma

Enticott

English Teacher Forest Hill College (VIC)

Harriet O’Donnell

Teacher

St Andrew’s Cathedral School (NSW)

Holly Millican

Mathematics Teacher

South Grafton High School (NSW)

Jack Pick Teacher

Lobethal Lutheran School (SA)

Jenna Cullen

Head of Department, Teaching and Learning Teacher Librarian Marsden State High School (QLD)

Jennifer

Frank

Head of Rolland House and Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator St Philip’s College (NSW)

Kara Handberg

Acting Head of Senior School O’Loughlin Catholic College (NT)

Kara Williams

Leader of Wellbeing and Junior School

Australian Christian College Singleton (NSW)

Karina Smith

Classroom Teacher

Kalianna School Bendigo (VIC)

Karinne

Cooke

Junior School Coordinator (Pastoral Care and Operations), Acting Head of Junior School St Philip’s Christian College Cessnock (NSW)

Lachlan McGinness

Senior Physics Teacher Canberra Girls Grammar School (ACT)

Lauren Holding

Head Teacher, Instructional Practice

NSW Department of EducationWest Wallsend High School (NSW)

Liam Bassett

Director of Digital Learning Westbourne Grammar School (VIC)

Lucy Loxton

English Teacher

Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Perth (WA)

Markus Munday

Campus Year 1 Teacher

Scots College (previously Beaconhills College Pakenham) (NSW)

Matthew Hawke

Year 6 Teacher and Wellbeing Leader Knox Grammar Preparatory School (NSW)

Mitchell Mills

Acting Head of Year, Head of House and Senior Physical Education Teacher Saint Stephen’s College (QLD)

Rebecca Newman

Acting Grade 2 Leader

St Andrew’s Cathedral School (NSW)

Samuel Dudley

Teacher

Ormiston College (QLD)

Scott Waring

Head Teacher, Secondary Studies

Great Lakes College Senior Campus (NSW)

Sophie Sharp

Year 1 Teacher

Tarrington Lutheran School (VIC)

Steffany

Mylonas

Senior School Teacher

Redeemer Lutheran College (QLD)

Stephanie Browning

Head of Curriculum, Response to Intervention

Southport State High Independent Public School (QLD)

Tabitha Southey

PE and Health Teacher

Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College (VIC)

INTERACTIVE LEARNING

Atomi

Email: schools@getatomi.com Website: getatomi.com/au/schools

Lumination

Phone: 1300 833 765 Email: hello@lumination.com.au Website: lumination.com.au

LiteracyPlanet

Phone: 1300 565 696 Email: hello@literacyplanet.com Website: literacyplanet.com

Atomi

Email: schools@getatomi.com Website: getatomi.com/au/schools

Phone: 1300 932 338 Email: hercules@schoolbox.com.au Website: schoolbox.com.au

Phone: 1300 932 338 Email: hercules@schoolbox.com.au Website: schoolbox.com.au

Phone: 03 9521 8439 Email: office@sevenstepswriting.com Website: sevenstepswriting.com

MINARAH COLLEGE

MINARAH COLLEGE – an independent K-12 Islamic co-educational school located 7 km from Liverpool – is at the forefront of transformational change in educational practices and pedagogy that will impact the lives of its students in Western Sydney, both now and into the future.

Over the past 12 months, the school has undergone a substantial overhaul in programming to fully align with the models of Deep Learning and 21st-Century Learning.

“The learning cycle and pedagogies were reviewed and the crucial need for a holistic approach to engage students of varying needs, and not only the academic oriented, was evident,” principal Jay Halai says.

“The high focus on traditional ways of delivering lessons through textbooks and lecturebased teaching was to be replaced by interactive and collaborative learning, resulting in development of students’ creative and critical thinking and communication using a range of resources, including ICT.”

Additionally, the school’s introduction of one-to-one devices enabled 21st-century learning through the use of e-textbooks, e-resources and programs, that students are more receptive of. This facilitates the development of skills students will be using in their future employment endeavours.

“As the key external exams are delivered online, the devices will further facilitate the process,” Halai explains.

Halai says this approach provided a more structured sequence in comparison to the previous one-off charity-based activities.

In tandem with this overhaul, Halai has motivated all staff at the College to seek deeper investment in promoting positive outcomes for students. He says the most outstanding outcome from this is the benefit to the students, which is evident through the College’s Lesson Observations and Learning Walks.

“The focus now is on differentiation and development of Higher-Order Thinking Skills. There is documented planning on differentiation to ensure the students who are struggling are being catered for and those who are above average are being challenged to do better,” he says.

Halai says the syllabus outcome is now achieved through differentiated tasks that are aligned to the student capabilities and learning needs.

“With less focus on textbooks, students now engage more in experiential and inquiry-based learning and have ample opportunities to work in collegial groups using various thinking routines,” he says.

Halai says staff development is highly focused on enhancement of ICT skills through regular professional learning with Microsoft Teams.

“The success stories on Deep Learning from classrooms were shared by the staff as part of professional development, and these presentations were well received by the teachers, and seen as a learning opportunity, and peer appreciation.”

As for what’s next for Minarah College, Halai says the process is in place for changing the learning environment with collaborative learning places for all students.

“The shift is from students just learning the knowledge to authentic application of this knowledge to the wider world. The focus at Minarah College is for teachers to equip students with the tools to navigate their learning process and improve their expertise in developing efficacy,” he explains.

Halai says the college will also be using appropriate data analysis and interpretation of data to make informed decisions that positively affect student outcomes.

“This proactive stance will encourage students to be committed to advocating essential values. To reflect and develop their critical thinking skills and to become active members of the community.”

THE Positive Education Schools Association (PESA) is the national peak association for wellbeing in education. It consists of schools, educators, universities, researchers, charities, parents and other community members who share an interest in an evidence-based approach to wellbeing and a commitment to supporting schools, student and the wider community to flourish.

PESA’s vision is for the science of wellbeing and positive psychology to be integrated throughout the education system, enabling all students, schools and communities to flourish. As such, its mission is to lead, promote and foster the implementation and development of positive wellbeing education.

PESA provides its members with the following:

• A community of practice of leading

wellbeing educators, researchers and academics

• Free PD and learning for staff delivering wellbeing education

- PESA’s Digital PD & Learning Program provides staff with a 12-month plan for PD and learning in wellbeing education

• A library of free wellbeing education resources

- The latest research, theory and evidence

- Classroom activities, curriculum, programs and strategy examples from leading wellbeing schools

• Ways to demonstrate to prospective parents a school’s commitment to an evidence-based approach to wellbeing

- Parents look to PESA’s list of schools to see which schools are implementing an evidence-based approach to wellbeing

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