Diverse pathways prepare students for the future
BENTLEY Park College is a Prep to Year 12 state school in the southern corridor of Cairns.
Since its establishment 20 years ago, the college has continued to build on its motto: “Aspire, Learn, Achieve – Pathways to Success”.
The college was the 2017 Showcase Regional Award Winner for State School of the Year, based on its Pathways to Success Through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program.
A STEM partnership between the college and James Cook University is also currently being developed.
Three key pathways are offered at Bentley Park College: academic (OP), leading to tertiary study; blended academic and vocational, leading to further study or work; and vocational, leading to certification and skilled work placement.
The college has also developed a very strong Information Technology (IT) stream, which provides opportunities for students to be successful in further study or industry placement in this field.
Part of the Prep-Year 9 digital learning pathway, the “Tech Express” one-to-one laptop program has been operated for students in Years 3-6 since 2008.
Robotics Club operates each week for Primary and Junior Secondary students, with Robotics also being introduced as an elective subject for Year 8s this year.
This subject leads into Robotics in Years 9 and 10, followed by Senior Digital Technologies and can later lead to an engineering degree at James Cook University.
Prep to Year 2 students have the opportunity to apply for the Enrichment@Bentley program, which engages students in a range of extracurricular enrichment activities including academic, multimedia, health and the arts.
Another key feature of Bentley Park College is its specialist sports programs for Secondary students, including the Rugby League Academy, Netball Development Program, and Sports Excellence Program.
The college also welcomed the Clontarf Foundation in 2017, a non-profit organisation that strives to equip young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men to become meaningful members of society by helping to improve their education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects.
It does this by establishing Football Academies in partnership with local schools.
Students at Bentley Park College also excel in the arts.
All students study music in primary school, with Instrumental Music, Band and Choir being offered.
In Secondary, all Year 7 students experience specialist classes in Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts, as well as Manual Arts, Home Economics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and are able to select these electives in their subsequent years to complement their core subjects. To find out more about Bentley Park College, including enrolments, call 4040 8111 or visit bentleyparkcollege.eq.edu.au.