MAJOR WINS FOR ROBINA STATE HIGH SCHOOL
HE may have only been at the helm of Robina State High School for two years, but principal Ben Weeks has certainly scored some holes-in-one.
This year alone, Mr Weeks and his team have taken home three major education awards – one for its internationally recognised Sports Academy and two for its unique approach to inclusive education practices.
“My mantra is that continual improvement of classroom practice will always lead to improving student outcomes,” he said.
“It is exciting and rewarding to see first-hand how improvements have positively impacted students’ success across both academic and sporting areas.
“These awards recognise the hard work and dedication of our team that I am extremely honoured to be a part of.”
Robina State High School was announced this month as the regional winner of the QSuper Showcase Award for Excellence in Secondary Years for its Sports Academy.
Last month the school and staff won two major gongs, the Bond University Excellence in Secondary Education Leadership Award and the Southern Cross University Excellence in Innovation Award at the Gold Coast Secondary Excellence Awards.
The Robina Sports Academy offers fully-fledged programs in golf, futsal, baseball, netball, triathlon and general sports. As a keen golfer himself, you will sometimes even find Mr Weeks playing golf with his students.
“Golf is an important wellbeing strategy for me and I really enjoy playing with the Sports Academy students. It’s a pleasure to play with golfers who are so passionate as well as being wonderful people,” he said.
“It has been a highlight for me at this school.”
In the last five years, the Robina Sports Academy has increased 330 per cent, including a 558 per cent rise in participation from girls, as well as improvement in academic data. In 2023, a Diploma of Fitness will be introduced in Year 11 to ensure that high-achieving students can continue to study toward an ATAR.
Inclusive education at Robina State High School sees all students with disabilities learn in the classroom with similaraged peers using a co-teaching model, pioneered by the school. This moves away from traditional special education units and withdrawal of students and instead allows students with disabilities to access support and learning alongside their similar-aged peers in a general education environment.
“I’m a product of state education and I feel that every student absolutely has the right to attend their local state school and get just as good – if not a better – product than what they are getting at any other type of school in the state,” Mr Weeks said.
“We need to recognise that we are a high-performing organisation and we need to build that culture from the bottom and I can see the perceptions changing in the community.”