2024 WA Education Awards finalists: excellence in teaching and learning (secondary)

Four public secondary schools have been recognised in the WA Education Awards for the way they prepare students for life beyond school.

Applecross Senior High School, Fremantle College, Wanneroo Secondary College and WA College of Agriculture, Cunderdin were named finalists in the excellence in teaching and learning (secondary) category. 

This award acknowledges secondary schools that create environments that enhance student achievement and progress through collaboration, inclusion, and innovation.

Applecross Senior High School 

The teaching and learning programs at Applecross Senior High School lead to consistently high student results and achievements.  

The school’s values of ‘mutual respect’ and ‘personal best’ lead all aspects of education.  

Effective ATAR and VET pathways, a strategic approach to STEM education and specialist arts and sports programs, are key to enabling student success. Extended extra-curricular programs also promote creativity and resilience. 

There is also a strong emphasis on staff professional development, allowing teachers to further enhance their teaching impact. The investment in a ‘teachers leading teachers’ model involving a Lead Teachers Team drives whole-school teaching and learning initiatives. 

Fremantle College 

Since its establishment in 2017, Fremantle College has rapidly evolved into a thriving, vibrant and inclusive learning community, distinguished by excellence in both academic achievement and student wellbeing. 

A culture of mentoring and coaching is at the heart of all teaching and learning strategies at the college.  

The Aboriginal Education Team works to ensure that all staff recognise the importance of Aboriginal peoples’ cultural strengths and identities, and that they embed that across their teaching. 

In addition to Specialist Program and Gifted and Talented opportunities, the college is a trailblazer in career education practices. The WE3 model - exposure, exploration and experience - is embedded into lessons for each year group, creating a clear vision for career development from the early years of secondary education. The school is one of the state’s leaders in career tasters and workshop attendance, boosting student confidence in course selection and career pathways. 

Wanneroo Secondary College 

Wanneroo Secondary College embodies a vision of ‘Star in Your Future’, showing commitment to care and excellence for every student who walks through the doors. 

Located in Perth’s northern suburbs, staff are committed to providing a range of opportunities that allow for student agency and enrichment in specialist programs, student leadership committees and social-emotional learning programs, such as the girls and boys resilience program. 

A combination of opportunities, across two campuses, provides clearly structured pathways for students with varying goals. The Joondalup Senior School Campus caters for students who wish to move directly into apprenticeships and employment once they complete school. The campus provides a work-like environment where ‘disengaged’ students thrive in an employer-employee simulated environment. 

This year, the college opened an Education Support Program, where individualised educational plans are developed by staff in collaboration with the student, their family and external medical and allied-health professionals.  

WA College of Agriculture, Cunderdin 

Students choose the WA College of Agriculture, Cunderdin for its training opportunities, where it blends theory with hands-on practical experience in various industrial settings. 

Educational programs are delivered in classrooms, on the commercial farm and state-of-the-art Trade Training Centre, which includes fully-equipped workshops for automotive, furnishings, engineering and building and construction. The commercial farm offers training in pork, beef cattle and sheep production, sheering and wool handling, broadacre cropping, meat processing, poultry and workshop maintenance and fabrication. 

Industry partnerships, and relationships with stakeholders, provide opportunities such as scholarships and other educational and career pathways for graduates. A thorough understanding of industry needs and workforce demands ensures informed and current guidance for students. 

Students participate in events and competitions, showcasing the skills acquired through training programs including wool and meat judgements, shearing, farm skills events and wool handling.