NSW Department of Education has five finalists in the 2024 NSW Premier’s Awards, including two from the same school, James Meehan High on Dharawal Country.

In four short years, James Meehan High School has seen an impressive turnaround in enrolments, attendance, engagement and school culture.

One of the leaders of the change has been Tara Reynolds, James Meehan’s Head Teacher Learning Design and Innovation.

Ms Reynolds is a finalist for the Anthea Kerr Award for her efforts inspiring her team to step outside their comfort zone and devise a new curriculum.

She said it was an incredible honour to be nominated for such a highly regarded award.

“It has been a privilege to be able to represent James Meehan High School and public education in leading innovative education for our students,” Ms Reynolds said.

“I am proud to contribute to a community that values service, integrity, trust, excellence and leadership in shaping a brighter future for all."

The school was also nominated in the Connecting Communities category for its hugely successful James Meehan Cup transition program.

The program includes academic competitions, gala days and school visits with collaboration between the high school and its feeder schools.

Community involvement has surged since the program’s introduction, while there has been a 50 per cent increase in enrolments in the past four years. The school’s NAPLAN results reflect the highest growth in a decade.

Northern Rivers schools are world-class

An outstanding collaborative effort in the most challenging of circumstances has seen 12 schools on Bundjalung land across the Northern Rivers named as finalists the World-class Education and Training category.

The schools implemented specialised programs to promote a strong sense of belonging, working across multiple principal networks to provide much-needed wellbeing support and community connection for students in the weeks and months following natural disaster.

Mullumbimby Public School principal David Lees said the schools continued to respond to student and community need, building on those earlier team efforts.

“The school leadership team worked closely with a newly appointed student support officer and school counsellor to develop and timetable quality programs such as Stormbirds and Cool Kids,” Mr Lees said.

“Along with a significant focus on regular check-ins with families, these programs and other class-based strategies were specifically implemented to support our students in response to loss, change and uncertainty.”

Setting high standards

Endeavour Sports High School, on Dharawal land, is a finalist in the High Expectations Policy category for its remarkable academic, sporting, creative and performing arts, and extra-curricular achievements.

The school has almost doubled its enrolments over the past decade.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital School successfully challenged the misconception that educational support is not necessary in a short-term stay in hospital to earn a place in the finals of the Excellence in Service Delivery category.

Principal Wendy Barwell and her team created online learning programs, data analysis systems and individualised learning plans for all students, which are reported to census schools, every lesson, every day.

In doing so, the school strengthened relationships with students, carers, NSW Health colleagues and local schools.

NSW Premier’s Awards celebrates excellence in the delivery of public services to the NSW community by the public sector, and not-for-profit organisations and private businesses in partnership with public sector agencies and departments.

More information, including details on award categories and finalists, is available at https://premiersawards.nsw.gov.au/

The awards take place in Sydney next month.