Queensland Academies partnership a bright idea
March 27, 2014
Kawana Waters State College (KWSC) is set to become the only Sunshine Coast school to have partnered with the prestigious Queensland Academies, delivering a specialist curriculum for the region’s gifted and highly capable secondary students.
Kawana Waters State College (KWSC) Principal Paul Williamson said the Queensland Academies — which cater for both middle and senior school students — offer a rigorous curriculum and challenging extension programs in the areas of science, maths, technology, health sciences and the creative industries.
“We’re incredibly excited to be fostering a relationship with the academies, which will be instrumental in maximising the potential of particularly bright students and preparing them for university,” Mr Williamson said.
“Previously, these links have only been available to students located in metropolitan areas, so it’s great to see a regional school benefiting from their offerings.”
Representatives from the Queensland Academies will visit KWSC this week to kick start the accreditation process, which will see the college become an official member of the Queensland Academies Partnership Schools Program by the end of 2014.
“We take the provision of education for gifted and highly capable students at KWSC very seriously and will work closely with the academies to ensure our academic, health and arts programs continue to perform at a world-class standard,” Mr Williamson said.
“Students will benefit greatly from the new partnership, enjoying an innovative curriculum and having access to extra-curricular online learning modules in their area of interest.”
Mr Williamson said a strong demand for programs that cater to the needs of gifted and highly capable students existed locally, as evidenced by the response to KWSC’s specially-designed Academic Curriculum Extension (ACE) Program.
“The ACE Program is now in its second year and has grown exponentially, with the number of students applying for entry having doubled this year when compared to 2013 figures,” Mr Williamson said.
“This program been developed in line with Education Queensland’s Framework for Gifted and Talented Students and expands on the standard curriculum in a way that challenges gifted and highly able students academically and supports their development.”
“The ACE Program is really just the start of what will be a globally-benchmarked education program and stimulating learning environment at KWSC for advanced students.”
For more information about the programs on offer at Kawana Waters State College, please visit www.kawanawaterssc.eq.edu.au, email the.principal@kawanawaterssc.eq.edu.au or call (07) 5493 3388.
Further information regarding the Queensland Academies can be found at www.qa.eq.edu.au.
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Kristen Roder, Fresh PR & Marketing
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