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On Friday 17 August, Warwick Senior High School’s STEM program was recognised as the nation’s best at the inaugural Australian Education Awards in Sydney.
The school, located in Western Australia, was also one of only two schools in the state to be named among the 160 finalists for the awards.
Upon accepting the most recent award on behalf of her school, the school’s principal, Lesley Wintle, pointed to hard work of staff and students into making the school’s pedal prix cars project a success.
“One of the biggest highlights of our STEM program has been our pedal prix cars, which we have put a lot of work into and engaged other local primary schools with,” Wintle told The Educator.
“As a former science teacher, I find that science pervades most things we do in terms of learning, experimenting, gaining knowledge, testing your knowledge and understanding the world around you.”
The national award came just weeks after four Warwick staff were announced as finalists in the WA Education Awards – three of whom work in Warwick’s award winning STEAM education program, which also includes arts in the STEM focus.
It also follows recognition for Meritorious Leadership in the 2017 Governor’s STEM Award.
Wintle said the Best STEM program award was acknowledgement of the school’s innovative approach to teaching students and the skill and dedication of staff, specifically the program leaders, Graham Johnson and Jeremy Caspersz.
“STEAM education at Warwick is not an elite program for the best students, it’s for everyone and our students are really benefitting,” she said.
Wintle said Johnson’s mantra that “every child, every class, every opportunity” captures the approach that staff take across all areas of the school.
“We want to excite students about learning and the opportunities that can offer in the future,” she said.