A college in Melbourne’s west has taken out the top gong at the 2015 Victorian Education Excellence Awards for its innovative and engaging maths program.
Minister for Education, James Merlino, presented Sunshine College’s maths team with the Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education.
Outstanding principals, teachers, business managers and school support staff from government schools were recognised for their innovation, leadership and contribution to making Victoria the Education State.
The Sunshine College maths team was selected from the nine category winners announced during an awards ceremony at Melbourne’s Regent Plaza Ballroom on Friday 30 October – World Teachers’ Day in Australia.
The team, which also took out the Outstanding School Advancement Award, has delivered dramatic improvements in student engagement and results through a data-driven team teaching model tailored to each student’s abilities.
Local and global interest has seen the college share its expertise at national forums and international education conferences.
Each category winner received professional development and research grants ranging from $20,000 to $25,000 – with Sunshine College’s Maths Team receiving an extra $20,000 for winning the Lindsay Thompson Award.
The College will use the money to create a ‘bank’ of maths problems to share with other schools and is looking to set up live video streaming of its maths classes for schools across Australia.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, James Merlino
“Sunshine College is a great example of a school working towards meeting our ambitious Education State targets to have more students reach the highest levels of achievement in mathematics and reading.”
“All finalists across the nine categories deserve our praise and thanks for the crucial work they are doing to give Victorian kids a great education.”
“We’re investing almost $4 billion to make Victoria the Education State, so every community has access to great local schools and every child gets the chance to succeed.”
List of winners:
Outstanding Koorie Education Award
Northern Bay P-12 College – Koorie Education Program
Outstanding Inclusive Education Award
Katandra School – The Katandra Project
Outstanding School Advancement Award
Sunshine College – Sunshine College Maths Team
Outstanding Education Support Team Award
Mornington Primary School – Education Support Officer Team
Outstanding Business Manager Award
Fiona Kirby, Old Orchard Primary School
Outstanding Primary Teacher Award
Sarah Asome, Bentleigh West Primary School
Outstanding Secondary Teacher Award
Robert Sbaglia, Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College
Outstanding Primary Principal Award
Leanne Edwards, Bass Valley Primary School
Outstanding Secondary Principal Award
Anthony Rodaughan, Kurnai College
Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education
Sunshine College – Sunshine College Maths Team
Reviewed 19 August 2020