Three Western Australian primary schools, including two from the Pilbara, and four secondary schools have been named as finalists in the 2019 Governor's School STEM Awards.
Now in its fifth year, the Governor's School STEM Awards recognise excellence in delivering an innovative, engaging and whole-of-school approach to science, technology, engineering and maths education.
The awards support the State Government's STEM Skills Strategy Future Jobs, Future Skills, which aims to build a globally competitive and innovative workforce for the jobs of the future.
The schools named as finalists have successfully integrated a whole-of-school STEM culture across the curriculum, providing students with opportunities to engage with technology and develop a range of problem solving and analytical skills.
The finalist primary schools are:
- Baynton West Primary School (Baynton - near Karratha)
- Brookman Primary School (Langford)
- Pannawonica Primary School (Pannawonica)
The finalist secondary schools are:
- Cecil Andrews College (Seville Grove)
- Hale School (Wembley Downs)
- Melville Senior High School (Melville)
- Presbyterian Ladies' College (Peppermint Grove)
Judges will visit finalists after the school holidays to help them decide which schools will take out top honours in the awards. In November, representatives from the finalist schools will be invited to an awards ceremony at Government House where the winners will be announced.
For more information, visit http://www.scitech.org.au/
As stated by Science Minister Dave Kelly:
"The Governor's School STEM Awards celebrate shining stars in our State, particularly schools that are taking innovative steps to integrate STEM learning across their curriculum.
"It's fantastic to see regional schools announced as finalists for delivering quality STEM education.
"We want to continue to grow STEM education in Western Australia through our State STEM Skills Strategy.
"This strategy aims to increase participation in STEM by funding programs that break down barriers to those currently underrepresented in the sector, including women, Aboriginal people and people in regional areas."
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
"The finalists in this year's awards show that STEM learning does not need to be limited to a single class subject; teaching students to be inquisitive, critical thinkers and problem solvers occurs in a range of settings.
"Inspired principals and talented teachers play a vital role in getting students excited about STEM subjects, and I thank educators across the State who are delivering innovative programs for WA students."
As stated by the Hon. Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia:
"Congratulations to all of this year's finalists in the Governor's School STEM Awards.
"I am proud to support these awards which celebrate excellence among school leadership teams in delivering outcomes critical to next generational industry development.
"I look forward to hearing about the initiatives of each school and the enthusiasm of their students in learning about science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
