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In recent months we have taken part in research through the International Coalition of Girls Schools together with Challenge Success to better understand wellbeing, engagement and belonging in school environments. Whilst the broader research findings will not be known for some time, we have gained access to our own students’ data, that is de-identified, to help us respond immediately to what they say about their own school environment. Although they are a small sample of student views in a…

In a world where information flows freely, children are exposed to confronting events that occur throughout the world through various mediums despite the controls we have in place for them. With a stream of images, headlines, information and conversations, it is important to check in with your children, reassure them, and correct any inaccurate information they may have heard, or incorrect assumptions they may have made. We need to remember that young people view the world through their lens,…

We live in an age where social media is synonymous with adolescents' lives. Popular social media platforms like TikTok offer young girls a space to express themselves creatively, connect with others, and explore various trends on their social networks. These formative experiences are not new experiences for this generation, they are just being explored in broader, less filtered and more responsive ways than the Dolly magazines, Plaster Fun Houses and Blue Light Discos of my era. However, as…

The Path to Scholarships - A Guide for Parents Q - Should my child sit for a scholarship at a school? A - Sitting for a scholarship is a really personal choice and it comes down to what you are hoping to achieve. A scholarship may increase the school options available to you, making some schools more accessible to more families. Other families may want to sit them as a means of gaining more external data on their child’s progress, increasing the ability to target focus areas. Some families may…

How to work with neurodiverse women in the classroom I was recently asked the question by someone intrigued by the world of education, ‘What has changed the most in your role as a teacher over time?’ I found this question really interesting to reflect on and I am sure the answer I gave will resonate with other educators. Early on in my teaching career I would acknowledge different types of learners and learning styles in the classroom and over 20 years later, I am still differentiating. I am…

Should the ATAR stay or go? How challenging traditional methods of reporting will open real industry pathways for students. I commenced my teaching career in 2000, at the beginning of the century (that sounds both momentous and frightening simultaneously). This time not only marked the beginning of my career but also a time of change in the world, where the students I taught learnt the meaning of the word terrorism through world events and not just fictional texts. With any kind of change it…

The Importance of Successful Transition to High School At the beginning of a school year, students, parents and educators alike, have a large focus on transition. We understand the importance of transition for two important reasons: A successful transition to high school instils self-confidence and develops social competence, which allows for new connections and friendships to be forged, and it enables new beginnings to be created, allowing for goals and plans to be made that direct a young…

How will ChatGPT alter the world of education ? Just when we thought we could be returning to a sense of normality in schools in 2023, our next wave of disruption comes crashing down, right before those gates open for a new school year. ChatGPT has crept into the world right when we were unplugging for a few weeks and finally reading books for pleasure, watching a TV series and enjoying the luxury of having nowhere else to be. If you are not already familiar with ChatGPT it is a language model…

How to support your child’s return to school As we prepare our children for the return to school, while it is a very exciting time for many, for some it can bring with it feelings of unease, uncertainty and trepidation. Those butterflies in the stomach are completely normal as we face challenges or change, and it is important to work with those feelings, not against them. Whether it be concerns around starting a new school, a desire to explore new friendship circles or being away from parents…