The Academic Academy ACADEMIC

Excellence Program

Mission Statement

Central to the very heart and core of A.B. Paterson College is the aim of developing young men and women of character – leaders now and for the future. The College’s Mission ‘To challenge the individual to achieve, and to act with purpose and character’ is embodied in every engagement, interaction and opportunity within the College.

This Mission is encapsulated within the College’s Academic Academy program, thereby providing many opportunities for all students of the College. The Academic Excellence Program has the core strategic goal of supporting the needs of academically gifted and high ability learners. The Academic Academy coordinates and offers a significant number of academically enriching and challenging activities for students ranging from opportunities for staged acceleration through to international level competitions.

Criteria for Selection

In Junior School, The Academic Academy runs programs for students in Prep to Year 6. Students for that program are determined by a variety of subjective and objective data.

The Academic Academy is an exclusive opportunity for the Senior School Students. Selection for entry into this program is by invitation only. Details surrounding the selection process and course acceptance are as follows:

Top achieving students within the cohort, determined by objective (standardised) data and subjective data, are offered a position in The Academic Academy for the academic year. Data can be drawn from a number of sources, which include but are not limited to: the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Reading, Science and Mathematics, ACER General Ability Test, Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT), as well as Academic results.

Future Problem Solving

The collective ingenuity of human civilisation is leading to more advancements in technology and innovation. It is quite likely that a permanent human settlement will eventually be established on another planet within our galaxy. Although this might occur in the not too distant future, there are still some problems that will be experienced in conducting a planetary mission. But, who could we rely on to identify and design a range of effective solutions to these potential challenges?

As we look up and dream of expanding our civilisation across the solar system, we need Future Problem Solvers Years 1-6 who are capable, willing, and courageous to take the next giant leap. They will embark on a voyage of exploration and discovery to understand the wonders of our world and universe. Exploring new issues, technology, and information will leave our Future Problem Solvers with a sense of awe and astonishment. Ultimately, it is their curiosity and creativity that will overcome the hurdles that currently (or potentially) face human civilisation.