Queensland’s best practice in state education showcased at statewide event

• 10 Queensland state schools, across six categories, will receive a combined $200,000 in bursaries as part of the 2024 Showcase.
• Now in its 25th year, Showcase celebrates a system-wide focus on educational achievement, wellbeing and engagement, and culture and inclusion

Excellence in Queensland state school education was celebrated this evening with 10 schools receiving a $20,000 bursary as part of the 2024 Showcase.

The bursaries will be used to support leadership teams to document and share their innovative leadership practice with school communities or to reinvest into their school improvement initiatives.

Showcase is designed to celebrate state schools and share examples of innovative and outstanding practice, in an effort to enhance collaborative efforts to improve the lives of young people.

Education Minister Di Farmer addressed the Showcase ceremony, praising a high-performing education system focused on educational achievement, wellbeing and engagement, and culture and inclusion.

This is the second year that Showcase, which has operated since 1999, has utilised a new celebration and selection process, to better align with the Queensland’s Department of Education’s education strategy.

In 2023, the Department of Education announced the Equity and Excellence: realising the potential of every student education strategy.

It links to the national commitment to equity and excellence in education outlined in the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration – that all children and young people are confident, creative, lifelong learners active in their community.

Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 300 guests attended the celebration dinner, including principals, teachers, school community representatives, sponsors and other key education stakeholders.

Showcase 2024 was sponsored by QSuper, Smartsalary, the Queensland Teachers’ Union, Griffith University and Telstra.

Quotes attributable to Education Minister Di Farmer:

“I’m proud to highlight the innovative work being done in state schools right across Queensland and Showcase is a fantastic opportunity, not only to celebrate best practice, but to share it across Queensland.

“Congratulations to all schools who were showcased this year, as well as each and every state school for their ongoing efforts to work together to give every Queensland student the best possible education.”

Quotes attributable to Barkly Highway State School Fiona Kropp:

“Being involved in Showcase allows us to share the work of the cluster, the impact it has had on the lives of students and how it has built staff capability.”

“It also gives us the opportunity to highlight the exceptional work of our Prep to Year 2 teachers and their commitment to continual improvement over the last two and a half years.

“We are very proud to hear that the work we are doing in a regional area is being recognised, and we hope that it can be replicated in other clusters and regions.”

Quotes attributable to Miallo State School Principal Dr Anet Ridley:

“We are humbled and honoured to be recognised at Showcase.  We are very proud of the work we do to support our students and know that our school is special.”

“The bursary will be used to document our work to support other schools - there are a lot of moving parts and a great deal of staff expertise to capture.” 

Quotes attributable to Parkhurst State School Principal Dan Evans

“Being one of this year’s showcased schools is a tremendous honour for our school and community.”

“It recognises the hard work of both our staff and students, as well as assures our leadership team that we are on the right track.

“We are proud to be recognised as a model for innovation and excellence, and it motivates us to continue striving for even greater achievements.”

Further information:

A full list of the showcased schools is below and via the website.
For more information, visit www.showcase.education.qld.gov.au

List of Queensland’s 2024 Showcased schools

Category: Starting Strong (Early Years to Year 2)

School: Mount Isa Cluster: Barkly Highway State School, Happy Valley State School, Healy State School, Mount Isa Central State School, Townview State School’

'Project 1000’

School: Parkhurst State School

'An inquiry approach to outcomes.’

Category: Telstra Building on Foundations (Years 3 - 6)

School: Manly State School

‘A structured approach to literacy’

Category: Smartsalary On Track for Success (Years 7 - 9)

School: Dakabin State High School

'Assessment-literate learners’

School: Park Ridge State High School

‘Learning Design, Learning Together and Learning Life’

 Category: QSuper Ready for the Future (Years 10 - 12)

School: Coolum State High School

‘Highly successful senior schooling outcomes and meaningful pathways
for all students in post compulsory participation phase’

 School: Loganlea State High School

'Positive engagement leads to outcomes’

Category: QTU Bevan Brennan ‘Every Child Needs a Champion’:
Realising the potential for every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student

School: Cherbourg State School

‘A place-based approach maximising student engagement and learning’

School: Miallo State School

‘Miallo State School - Where everyone is a learner’

Category: Griffith University Jack Pizzey Leadership Team of the Year

School: Tara Cluster: Glenmorgan State School, Hannaford State School, Meandarra State School, Moonie State School, Tara Shire State College, Teelba State School, The Gums State School, Westmar State School.

‘Leading School Improvement – cross-school moderation practices’

Media - Tim Auguston 0427 090 563

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