You will notice that our purpose statement at GPCC does not specifically refer to academics and sometimes I get asked if academics is not important to us.  Our statement reads: The Purpose of GPCC is to equip students for a life of redemptive action through a holistic education grounded in a Biblical perspective.  Clearly, to be well equipped for life in all its fullness must involve a good level of academic skill especially in the increasingly complex world in which we now live.

At GPCC we take a holistic view of what it means to be human. We are not just working with brains on sticks but dealing with children and young people who are physical, emotional/social and spiritual as well as intellectual. Educators throughout the ages have often stressed the importance of a balanced life when it comes to intellectual growth i.e., the physical wellbeing of a person, their social emotional wellbeing and their spiritual wellbeing all contribute to their ability to learn well across a range of domains. 

We have been working on all these areas at GPCC over the past few years and although much of the academic activity may not be apparent to you, be assured that we are focused on ensuring that our students have every opportunity to excel academically.  It begins in Primary and over the past two years we have run training for teachers on enhancing their teaching of literacy and numeracy, the building blocks of so much of our learning. In Kindergarten we have introduced a play-based approach because research shows that children learn well when they can connect play with the more formal learning they are doing in class. Visiting Kindy now often leads to the offer of a coffee, or a pizza and the children delight in talking about the money and the process of making these things for you – pretend of course! 

In Primary and Secondary we have instituted a professional learning framework for our teachers who are all engaged in a group focused on enhancing and improving their skills and the work they do with students in class.  Every week, all teachers are engaged in learning activities to help them grow professionally as better teachers leads to better academic outcomes for students.  Our Academic in Residence, Dr Martin Dowson, is working with teachers and senior classes on research skills and better approaches to study and revision to help students develop the skills and habits they need to be successful.  We are developing better approaches to analysing data coming from external testing such as NAPLAN and HSC to help teachers focus in on areas that students are finding difficult or that need a different approach from a teaching perspective. 

Not forgetting that some students are not looking so much at a post-school academic pathway, we are investigating offering more vocational preparation courses for students that will lead to post school qualifications in trades and other vocational areas.  We plan to offer some of these in 2024 and encourage students to remain at school while they undertake programs that will lead them into post-school work or further study rather than leave school early. 

We want all our students to be excellent learners, using the gifts and abilities God has implanted in them and to find their pathway in life confident that they can be successful in whatever they attempt.

Phillip Nash

Principal