The Academy of Academic Excellence program provides a pathway to enrich the development of creative and connected thinkers through high quality teaching that promotes intentional collaboration and deep learning for students in Years 7 - 10. Students have the opportunity to work with specialist teachers to prepare them for academic and workforce pathways of success as globally competent and future ready citizens.
Vision
The Academy of Academic Excellence program at Ormeau Woods State High School provides a pathway to enrich the development of creative and connected thinkers through high quality teaching that promotes intentional collaboration and deep learning. We recognise that gifted students have advanced learning capacity compared to same age peers and that specific learning needs must be met to allow high achievement, the realisation of potential, and positive wellbeing outcomes.
The Academy of Academic Excellence Difference
The Academy of Academic Excellence program is informed by research and best practice in gifted and
talented education. The Academy of Academic Excellence classrooms are more than just a group of like-minded
students working in a focussed and encouraging environment. The Academy of Academic Excellence is about
extending and challenging individuals through deep learning and real-world
application. Students have the opportunity to work with specialist teachers to
prepare them for academic and workforce pathways of success as globally
competent and future ready citizens.
Curriculum
The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority acknowledges that numerous models of curriculum adjustment for gifted and talented students are available. Gifted and talented students benefit from rigorous, relevant and engaging learning opportunities based on the Australian Curriculum. The Academy of Academic Excellence Program engages students in a compacted curriculum in their core subjects of English, Maths, Science and Humanities that is differentiated through abstraction, complexity, and variety. Teachers use pre-assessment and ongoing formative assessment to ensure that learning area content and adjustments align with student needs.
Pedagogy
In our Academy of Academic Excellence classrooms, we teach students to take ownership of their learning, resulting in academic, social and emotional growth and self-advocacy. Utilising pedagogy underpinned by the New Art and Science of Teaching (NASOT) and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) our teachers use rigorous, explicit, high-engagement teaching and learning strategies to allow students to digest, understand and critically interact with the content they are taught. Students develop skills in writing, inquiry, collaboration, organisation and reading so they can participate in a global community as active citizens.
Enrichment
Students engage in experiences both inside and outside the classroom that empower them to collaboratively think, create, communicate and problem solve in real world challenges. Inside the classroom students engage in projects and cross-curricular learning allowing them to apply and connect their knowledge and skills to real world experiences. Outside of the classroom experiences include an Academic Excellence camp, the Opti-MINDS Challenge, and the Somerset Writers Festival.
Extension
Academic competitions play an important role in learning for gifted, talented and highly able students. Across the school year XL students engage in a range of national and international academic competitions including the UNSW School Mathematics Competition, Readers Cup, ICAS English, ICAS Science, and UQ/QAMT Problem Solving Competition, to challenge and inspire their thinking.
Staff Professional Development
Teachers of the Academy of Academic Excellence are provided with and committed to on-going professional development. Dedicated and experienced teachers are selected to be part of the Academy of Academic Excellence Program and our Heads of Department, Deputy Principals and Heads of School are actively involved in encouraging and supporting continuous improvement of pedagogy related to gifted, talented, and highly able students. The Academy of Academic Excellence staff commit to frequent meetings as a Professional Learning Team focusing on improving the outcomes of our high performing students.
Application Guide
Students who apply for the Academy of Academic Excellence Program must complete a 2-stage process:
Stage One
- Complete the Academy of Academic Excellence Application form.
- Attach Year 5 Naplan and Year 5 Semester 1 and Semester 2 Achievement, Effort and Behaviour report cards along with any supporting documents of Achievement.
- Stage one applications close 3.00pm Friday 26 April 2024
A panel will assess all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to progress to Stage Two.
*Not all candidates will progress to Stage Two.
Stage Two
Applicants will be will be required to complete the Cognitive Abilities Test (CoGAT) at Ormeau Woods State High School in term 2
Please note, the testing date will be advised via email.
Download the Academy of Academic Excellence Application - HERE
Applications close 3.00pm Friday 26 April 2024
*
- To complete, please download the application form and save to your computer.
- For button functionality you will need to complete within Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded from: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
- After completing all sections of the application form use the ‘SUBMIT’ button to automatically attach application directly to an email. (if ‘SUBMIT’ button functionality fails to work, please save updated form and email to academies@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au)
- Within the email attach all supporting documents (please ensure attachements contain the students name)
- Limited functionality is available on mobile devices
For further enquiries, please contact the Excellence Academies email: academies@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au