Australind high in running for school of the year award

Australind Senior High School is one of four finalists for the State’s public secondary school of the year award.

It marks the second time in three years the school is a WA Education Awards finalist.

Acting principal Nigel Wakefield credited the work of former principal Greg Slavin, who left the school earlier this year, in helping the school to excel.

“The first time the school was nominated was for rapid improvement,” Mr Wakefield said.

“This time we based our application on consistency.

“We’re pretty humble in the way we think about things and for us it is just acknowledgement of the innovation we have shown.

“It says a lot about the staff and the culture they have built.”

Australind will be up against three Perth schools for the top prize which will be announced on November 28.

If successful, it would mark the second straight year Australind has been represented in the winners.

School corporate services manager Maureen Bailey was the State’s school services staff member of the year in 2015 and said this nomination was reward for the school.

“We also had outstanding accolades in a school review which is a reinforcement of what we are doing well,” Mrs Bailey said.

“It’s an endorsement for all staff, who do a lot of behind the scenes work you would not expect.”

“We are always looking at innovation and how we can get better.”

The South West has also been acknowledged in two other categories of the WA Education awards.

College Row School’s Stephanie Lee is a finalist for education assistant of the year while Bunbury Senior High School’s Sharna Dallywater is among candidates for beginning teacher of the year.