The Journey to Academic Excellence – Future Focused & Innovative 

There is something very unique about an education at St Catherine’s, factors that are challenging to articulate into words, even for me, who has a passion for language.

To really understand this school, you need to walk around our grounds, meet our students, and immerse yourself in the community. St Catherine’s is at its core a community of belonging, inquiry, and practice that is dedicated to improving outcomes for our learners. We strive in all that we do to develop character, competency and wellness in every student. In doing this, students feel a sense of belonging, achieve their potential, and importantly, excel in life post school.

It is this culture that drives our VCE academic achievements which have been stellar over many years. Our 2023 Year 12 cohort were no exception, their Median ATAR was an exemplary 93.4; this is the highest Median ATAR of our School records. The Median Study Score of 36 is also impressive. Of all Study Scores 29% were above 40, placing the School, once again, among the best in the State. 

So, what is it about this school that sustains these remarkable VCE results? 

Academic Care 

Academic Care is at the heart of our decision making, school frameworks and programs.

Our whole school frameworks offer a broad vision of the types of competencies students will need to thrive in school and life. As educators, we have a unified belief to equip our learners with agency and a sense of purpose, and the competencies they need, to shape their own lives and contribute to the lives of others. 

Academic Care Model

In 2019 we commenced our whole school approach to a Thinking Agenda, embedding a culture of thinking about how students learn. We made an intentional decision to change the language of learning and how we educate students. This focus shifted away from regurgitation and memorisation of content to a ‘thinking agenda’ in every classroom. 

Our Thinking Agenda became an embedded pedagogical approach in all classes, supported by our Staff Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) that allowed teachers to collaborate and share best practice across different Faculties. Our PLTs created a learning environment for teachers and developed their expertise in the Teaching and Learning Framework.

St Catherine’s Bespoke Frameworks

In 2022, after extensive consultation and collaboration we implemented our new Teaching and Learning Framework across the whole school. In designing this framework, we developed a learning continuum that prioritises eight learner competencies for students that reflect 21^st century skills. (Refer to framework graphic)

This Framework provides every student with the strongest foundation possible for them to reach their aspirations in learning and in life, influenced by current pedagogies and evidence that demonstrates the strong association between wellbeing and learning. It is aligned to our school values, Teaching for Thinking, and student programs. This is the strength of our frameworks, the ability to align them all, in short our Academic Care.

St Catherine’s Teaching & Learning and Wellbeing Frameworks 

In 2023, we commenced research on our new Wellbeing Framework, again this emerged out of a need for students to develop their social, emotional and cognitive learning through a range of wellness competencies. (Refer to framework graphic) This framework is founded on the central intent of We Belong. A sense of belonging is crucial for students’ wellbeing as it fosters a supportive, connected and inclusive environment. When students feel connected and valued within their school community, it enhances their overall sense of purpose and contributes significantly to their emotional and psychological resilience.

Our Innovative & Future Focused Programs 

Senior Years Learning Model

In the last three years the school has continued to design and implement programs that align with our Frameworks and develop the skills that students will need in post school life.

Our signature program, the Senior Years Learning Model at Years 10 and 11 has embraced the benefits of both face-to face teaching and an online delivery for students. This hybrid learning model develops students’ independence and agency. Our Class of 2023 is the first cohort to graduate from our bespoke Senior Years Learning Model and this will serve our graduates well as they commence their post-school pathways. 

Academic Advisory Program 

This year, I am excited to launch our bespoke Academic Advisory Program for Middle and Senior Years.  The intent of this program is to introduce students to specific study strategies and skills, giving them an opportunity to apply a strategy and then reflect and review their approach. The sessions run every Tuesday for 20 minutes and are delivered in 3-week modules, with Week 1 a lecture to all students by an expert on the strategy or mindset and then supported by the House Tutors in Weeks 2 & 3. 

This program has been written by Ms Kristy Forrest, Head of Professional Practice and Mrs Ceri Lloyd, Deputy Principal, Head of Senior School where a booklet has been created for students to access for every module and strategies.

Final Thoughts

As educators, it is essential we are future focused, action-oriented, inclusive and empowering in our approach and we need to instil these skills and values into students. (Cummins, 2019)

This is what we strive to achieve at the school and what I will continue to develop in every learner and teacher. The collaboration and team approach that we have at the school is crucial to our academic success.

To come back to that allusive question on what sustains these academic results, in short it is our community that values belonging, innovation, inquiry and adaptive expertise.