Two Ipswich schools are finalists in the prestigious 2019 Australian Education Awards.
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School including Ipswich Junior Grammar School (IGGS and IJGS) is a finalist in two categories including the Best Professional Learning Program category and Primary School of the Year – Non-government.
Ipswich State High School is a finalist in the Best STEM Program category.
Both schools will compete against the country’s best, a credit to their staff and teachers.
Ipswich Junior Grammar School grade three teacher Candy Coombes.
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School including Ipswich Junior Grammar School (IGGS and IJGS) – Best Professional Learning Program
The Best Professional Learning Program category is judged on: Innovation and excellence in program design and delivery.
Demonstrated support for individual professional learning and links to individual and school-wide learning priorities.
That the program contributes to improved student learning and effective collaboration and feedback.
The program is administered by a team of the school’s leading teachers.
Mrs Jayne Acutt, deputy principal and team leader said the Quality Teaching (QT) team has led the way in the implementation of best practice professional development programs to achieve academic excellence in teaching and learning at IGGS and IJGS.
“The focus for pedagogical instruction are the principles associated with The New Art and Science of Teaching and the New Taxonomy of Educational Objectives,” Mrs Acutt said.
“The QT team and other academic leaders in the school have coupled these principles with a learning analytics suite of data about our students and a rigorous feedback loop to ensure that both staff and students are clear about their learning objectives and academic goals.
“In this manner all are working enhancing teaching practice and deepening student learning.”
Ipswich State High School – Best STEM Program category
The Best STEM Program category is judged on the most outstanding STEM-based project or education program implemented by a school in Australia.
The school will have to demonstrate school leadership and support of STEM education.
Have consistently high standards of STEM teaching and evidence of student engagement and outcomes in the 2018 school year.
STEM coordinator, Physics and Engineering teacher Renee Ford said Ipswich State High School was the first school in the state to implement STEM as an elective subject and is also the first to have the STEM elective available to all year levels in the junior secondary school.
“The STEM program has been recently revamped and aligned to the Australian National Curriculum,” Ms Ford said.
“STEM at Ipswich State High School consists of student-led, inquiry based learning projects based on a range of topics including forensic science, civil engineering and sports science.
“The STEM program has recently expanded to include a robotics clubs where students at any age or level can engage with programming and robotics.”
Ipswich State High School Science Head of Department Shannon Walsh believes it is their innovation that saw them shortlisted.
“We have a program that enables students to explore all aspects of STEM, and a curriculum that can relate to the students interests,” Ms Walsh said.
“I am looking forward to watching the STEM offerings at Ipswich State High School grow and see even more students become part of the program.”
Ipswich Junior Grammar School, Head of Junior School Nicolee Eiby.
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School including Ipswich Junior Grammar School (IGGS and IJGS) – Primary School of the Year – Non-government.
This category is judged on effective leadership and motivation of staff.
A commitment to professional development, academic and other achievements during the 2018 school year.
Leadership of innovation and change within the school, and, engagement with parents and the wider school community.
Ipswich Junior Grammar School, Head of Junior School Nicolee Eiby, was thrilled that the school had been named a finalist and said the staff were committed to reflecting on their practise as teachers and providing the highest quality learning opportunities to the school’s youngest students.
“Our teachers, innovative learning and co-curricular programs, sporting endeavours, and opportunities in E-STEAM are responsive to the changing demands of our growing student enrolment and demonstrate how we keep each child at the heart of our thinking and decision making,” Mrs Eiby said.
“Our families are welcomed into our school community and we actively encourage all parents to be involved in their child’s education.
“Engaged families realise better results for each child and create a warm, welcoming school community.
“We are proud of our academic reputation and achievements which we have been able to maintain during a period of significant enrolment growth.
“We attribute our achievements to the exceptional work undertaken each day by our hardworking students and expert teaching staff.”
The Australian Education Awards ceremony will be held at Dockside, Sydney on Friday, 16 August 2019.
