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In The News
St Catherine’s has a community of strong, inspirational women leaders. They are passionate, curious and fantastic role models for our students as well as the broader community. Meet two of them.
When Kristy Forrest joined the teaching staff at St Catherine’s in Toorak she was drawn to the school’s “top class” English faculty. As an advocate of quality literature and thoughtful writing, the leading girls’ school was a perfect fit for Forrest. “St Catherine’s was the first school I taught at after graduating and 15 years later I’m still here and very happy,” she says.
As well as teaching English and philosophy to students in Years 9 to 12, Forrest contributes to curriculum development and assessment design. In 2017, she was awarded the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award by St Catherine’s in recognition of her efforts to support fellow teachers to enhance their teaching practices.
“I began running some professional learning teams focused on best practice in the classroom. The groups were voluntary for teachers who wanted to talk about teaching and how to improve what they do and to share new strategies and ideas,” Forrest says.
She was given a fellowship by St Catherine’s to help fund a professional certificate in clinical teaching at the University of Melbourne. She has also since completed a Master of Education (pedagogy and assessment). “Clinical teaching involves taking a more diagnostic approach to teaching and looking at students in a similar way to how a doctor looks at a patient,” explains Forrest.
“It’s about looking at each student and diagnosing and adjusting strategies, rather than using the same strategies with each student. The groups with teachers during schooltime are a chance to share what is happening in their classroom, to highlight any areas of teaching they want to look at and we share strategies for staff and students. We learn from each other.” Helping students build academic resilience and develop deep and effective thinking skills are also a focus of Forrest’s work at St Catherine’s.
“We don’t want girls to give up easily. For example, girls often retreat from difficult mathematics subjects around Year 10. So how can we teach them problem-solving skills and academic resilience so they persist with difficult mathematics or difficult texts?” she says.
This year, St Catherine’s is working with academics at the University of Queensland’s Critical Thinking project to help embed a culture of effective thinking across the school.
“It places learning how to think at the core of curriculum design and teaching,” says Forrest.
“It will shift how students talk about their learning. Instead of a student saying, ‘I got this score on my English essay’ they might instead say, ‘My writing isn’t clear’. It helps them speak more meaningfully and thoughtfully about their learning and will help decision-making and problem-solving skills. At the end of the day, we want our girls to be the best possible thinkers and communicators.” Forrest says a handful of strong female teachers opened her eyes to the excitement of exploring new ideas and the power of good writing. She shares those passions with her students. “It fascinates me how teachers can influence young people’s lives. I remember some of my best teachers were those who challenged me” says Forrest.
“I didn’t grow up knowing I wanted to be a teacher but teaching has allowed me to continue exploring ideas and to be curious. Soon after I joined St Catherine’s I knew I’d found the right career. I’m never bored and I enjoy the academic side of teaching and the human connections you build with students.”
“A good day at work for me is a mix of banter, some high-end academic work, reading some great writing from my students and sharing good moments with my colleagues.”
Inspiring Tomorrow’s Future Women Leaders
When it comes to planning your future, the challenge to find the right career can be overwhelming. With so many choices, and competitive male-dominated industries, it can be challenging to get a foot up the career ladder. Empowering young women to be leaders of tomorrow is a huge responsibility.
In Melbourne’s east, independent girls’ college, St Catherine’s School, is tackling this head-on. Nurturing students’ interests across a diverse range of subjects and providing opportunities to engage with female role models from industry, the school is working to break down gender stereotypes in the workplace.
It is this encouraging approach that has empowered 2019 School Co-Captain Georgina Cottrill (’19) to pursue tertiary studies in global politics.
Fundamental to the decision was her VCE global politics and legal studies classes receiving the opportunity to meet with former Federal Deputy Leader, Julie Bishop.
“I am extremely fortunate for my childhood and education as I’ve never felt restricted in what path I should be taking,” says Cottrill. “However, being able to see other women accomplishing their dreams has made this feel all the more achievable.”
Last year, the VCE global politics and legal studies classes were invited to partake in a “boardroom style” meeting with Bishop, using the time to ask prepared questions focused on their studies to learn from her extensive experiences as Minister for Foreign Affairs and overall time in Parliament.
“The Honourable Julie Bishop left [many of us] in awe,” says Cottrill. “We definitely did not approach [her] lightly when it came to asking questions.
There was a significant variation from the very political and tough questions… to more personal.”
However, Cottrill says part of what was so important about this question and answer session was the respect the students received from the former politician.
“She notably gave each of us a handshake upon first meeting, and respect within the discussions. No matter the topic, Ms Bishop astounded us with her poise and in-depth answers.”
It is an approach to empowerment St Catherine’s has taken throughout its and curriculum, not just through selection of guest speakers, but by instilling in students core school values of mindful thinking, optimism, gratitude and leadership – something Cottrill has in turn tried to embody through her leadership position at school.
“Especially at this younger age, I believe the notion of “leading by example” is the most important role a leader can take.
“I have seen the likes of the Honourable Julie Bishop and the Honourable Julia Gillard leading Australia with confidence, intelligence and grace. Having public figures and strong leaders such as these women has undoubtedly ignited my, and many other girls’, passion and desire to enter leadership roles.”
In 2020, Georgina Cottrill began studying at the Australian National University in Canberra, undertaking a double degree of Law and PPE (Politics, philosophy and economics). She is planning to focus on the field of public policy, and hopes to be a part of sustainable changes in any of the range of categories policy encompasses, on a national or international scale.
The Age | International Women’s Day
Saturday 7 March 2020
