Beyond the School Gates

Study 

Eight Gold Coast state high schools have joined together to share resources and teaching expertise to deliver free after-hours online masterclasses to Year 12 ATAR students this year.

The pilot project, titled Beyond the School Gates, will allow any student studying mathematics methods, chemistry or physics to access high level academic virtual tutoring with subject experts each week over a nine-month trial period.

The project is an initiative of the Gold Coast Secondary Principals’ Alliance, jointly funded by Study Gold Coast’s Education Vision Project Fund, and will culminate with project partner Griffith University’s Science On The Go team delivering free school holiday consolidation workshops during the June/July school holidays.

Access to the best educators

Gold Coast Secondary Principals’ Alliance President Sharon Schultz said the Gold Coast’s state secondary schools provide education for all students regardless of their financial position or community status, and this project was an extension of their commitment to ensuring every student is succeeding.

“By sharing the expertise of teachers from across our schools, students will have access to the very best educators the Gold Coast has to offer while increasing our collective ability to provide expert targeted student support and strengthen pathways to university,” Ms Schultz said.

The online workshops will be run over six week blocks in Terms 1, 2 and 3 from 4.15pm to 5pm starting from February 7. The sessions will also be recorded and housed in a learning management system for students to access the resource 24 hours a day and as a resource for future students.

Improved academic results

Study Gold Coast CEO says the initiative was a wonderful example of how Study Gold Coast’s Education Vision Project Fund can facilitate collaborations across the spectrum of the education sector to deliver a more comprehensive educational offering for improved academic results within the city's student cohort.

“This initiative provides more support for our secondary students in critical STEM subjects which are becoming increasingly vital in meeting the needs of our technologically advanced society,”

“For students wanting to further their studies in this area it will help to provide them with greater opportunities in pursuing their dream careers.” Study gold Coast CEO said.

Online workshops 

Griffith University’s Program Lead for Griffith STEM Education Alliance and Head of Chemistry and Forensic Science, Professor Richard John said Griffith University was pleased to be partnering with the Gold Coast Secondary Principals’ Alliance on this exciting new project.

“The online workshops will help alleviate some of the challenges facing Year 12 students, particularly with the recent introduction of the state-wide, external exams,” Professor John said.

“This project perfectly complements our own ‘Academic Bootcamps’ program, held in the September holidays each year, which has gained an excellent reputation for successfully assisting students with the Queensland external exams in STEM related subjects."  

The workshops will be available to Year 12 students from the following schools:

·      Coombabah State High School

·      Ormeau Woods State High School

·      Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School

·      Pimpama Secondary College

·      Queensland Academies of Health Sciences

·      Robina State High School

·      Southport State High School

·      Varsity College