Sunshine Coast school Matthew Flinders Anglican College is among The Educator Magazine’s ‘5-Star Innovative Schools for 2022’.
The national awards recognise schools at the forefront of innovation. Those with ground-breaking educational programs and initiatives, new technologies and methodologies to support the 21st learner’s needs.
Flinders is one of 19 schools in Queensland, and the one of only two on the Sunshine Coast, to be highlighted in the Awards.
Read more: Revealed: Australia’s most Innovative Schools of 2022
Real-world learning at Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders Anglican College supports 1,380 students from Prep to Year 12 through a holistic, personalised and innovative approach to real-world learning.
In 2021’s NAPLAN, Flinders was the highest achieving Primary School on the Sunshine Coast. It ranked 15th in Queensland.
The graduating Class of 2021 achieved a strong median ATAR of 92.35, placing Flinders with Queensland’s highest performing schools and enabling its graduates to reach their potential.
In October, Flinders became an ‘Apple Distinguished School’ for 2022. This recognition highlights the school’s commitment to guiding its students to become masterful and safe users of technology.
Flinders Principal Stuart Meade says the College is thrilled to be among The Educator’s ‘5-Star Innovative Schools’.
“This award celebrates Flinders’ commitment to support and challenge our students in all areas of their education,” Stuart says.
“It recognises our quality staff who step up to embrace new technologies and approaches to empower our students to solve problems and innovate for a better world.
“There is a high degree of mutual respect between teachers and students at Flinders, which is crucial. After all, education is founded on relationships.”
He says genuine learning can only take place where those relationships – with peers, teachers, coaches and mentors – are authentic and supportive.
Read more: Matthew Flinders 5-Star Innovative School Award
Committed to innovation in education
As a leader in future-focused innovation in education, the College teaches human-centred design thinking to enhance curiosity and develop an enterprising spirit within its students.
Students identify ‘wicked’ social, environmental and cultural world issues. They then empathise and prototype a solution, empowering them as custodians of their future.
In the Primary School, signature Flinders design thinking programs include i-Impact and I-care. There is also a two-day interactive design thinking summit for Senior Primary students to prototype a 2050 world city.
In the Flinders Secondary School, the IDEAS program in Years 7 and 8 blends innovation and enterprise with design, art and science.
Year 9 students in 2023 will be the first to experience the Year to Rise curriculum program. They will explore a personal capstone project and solve problems discovered through the curriculum, conferences and field experiences offered across the year.
College facilities include a suite of new technology-rich learning precincts, which recently opened as part of the Flinders Masterplan.
Opening in 2024 is a state-of-the-art design centre. Students can create, develop, test, present and exhibit projects. The facility will feature dedicated specialist studios, maker spaces and laboratories, galleries and presentation spaces.
To learn more about Matthew Flinders Anglican College, visit the school’s website.
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