The importance of dedicated, innovative teachers cannot be overstated when it comes to delivering excellence in education.
So says the head of St Mary’s School in Waverley, Deanne King. As Johannesburg’s oldest school with a proud 127-year history, St Mary’s could easily risk becoming dated in its approach. But it hasn’t, says King. On the contrary, its advanced information and communications technology infrastructure and sciences programmes are giving pupils the edge in currently in-demand study fields. The school’s 2014 matric pupils excelled yet again, a large proportion of them in maths and the sciences, while national averages in these subjects continue to drop.
The St Mary’s 2014 matric class again produced a 100% pass rate, with a 99% bachelor degree pass rate and 376 distinctions. Among its top achievers were Ciara Rowe with 10 distinctions, and Terri Elie and Thalia Rogers, who both achieved eight distinctions. All three girls were named on the Independent Examination Board’s list of outstanding candidates for having achieved in the top 5% in six or more of their subjects in the 2014 exams. While top marks are a norm for the school, King says St Mary’s has witnessed some changes in its matric trends in recent years.
Most notably, more pupils are excelling in maths and the sciences, and a growing number of English mother tongue speakers are excelling in African languages as a first additional language.
King says a number of factors contribute to academic excellence, including maintaining an environment conducive to learning and a committed body of teachers, and engaging the pupils’ parents. The people factor is crucial, she believes.
“There is no doubt that a teacher can make a significant difference in a child’s life and unleash the child’s potential,” she says. “Because the teacher is ‘in the trenches’, so to speak, school management must encourage teachers’ input into school policies and empower teach- ers to innovate in education delivery.”
This does not always make for ease of management, especially in a school with over 130 teachers, King concedes. “A good teacher is never passive, but rather passionate, outspoken and committed. Effective school managers must create an environment in which these teachers are able to grow professionally and enjoy a level of autonomy.”
St Mary’s has a long tradition of professional development for staff, but has recently added a new component: a dedicated education innovation portfolio. The school’s deputy head manages this portfolio, leading weekly staff workshops and training sessions focused on innovation in education delivery. The programme aims to harness the best of global education innovation for use in St Mary’s class- rooms and to broaden the skills of the teachers. The school now has a director of mathematics, to oversee maths skills development in pupils from foundation phase through to matric. As part of the school’s innovations in education delivery, it is delivering more project-based learning across subjects and incorporating various new technologies to enrich learning.
Parents also play an important role, says King. “We are fortunate in that our parents are actively involved in school activities and their childrens’ progress. They realise that their childrens’ personal and academic development cannot rest with the school alone. Modern parents often face serious time constraints, making it difficult for them to be fully involved in school activities. So it is important that the school and parents collaborate closely and activities are planned well in advance, to enable parents to participate actively,” she says.
St Mary’s is entering 2015 with a renewed focus on innovation, academic excellence and personal development, says King. “We strive to empower our pupils to achieve both academic and personal growth. One of the greatest compliments we receive from old girls is that they left the school well prepared.”