BCC named School of the Year

BALLARAT Clarendon College has been named non-government Secondary School of the Year at the recent Australian Education Awards.

Also a finalist in the Principal of the Year category, BCC’s Head, David Shepherd was proud to accept the top honour, against many strong schools like Haileybury College, Trinity Grammar and Melbourne Grammar.

He said it’s “gratifying” to be acknowledged with an award, but his team works hard to be rewarded in other ways.

“At the centre of our work is knowing, nurturing and challenging every child,” Mr Shepherd said. “We remain committed to ensuring that every student makes optimum progress in their learning and their capacity to effectively and compassionately contribute to their increasingly complex world.

“To be 2019 Secondary School of the Year is acknowledgement by our peers in the education community that we’re doing pretty well on those commitments.”

The award is testament, he said, to the whole school collective of students, staff, parents and supporters.

“The entire Clarendon community has contributed to this wonderful recognition… Our teaching staff, our administrative staff, our maintenance and grounds staff, over 200 members of a regional community working together to provide our students with the best opportunities possible,” Mr Shepherd said.

In 22 categories, more than 540 schools nationally were nominated for Australian Education Awards this year.

Judges included the University of Melbourne’s Professor Stephen Dinham, Gonski Institute for Education’s Deputy Director Professor Pasi Sahlberg and the Association of Independent Schools of Australia’s CEO Beth Blackwood.

Directors and Executive Officers from various states’ Departments of Education and Catholic sectors also had input.