ANNUAL REPORT 2025
CONTENTS
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
1 2 3 4 6 8 10
INTRODUCTION WHO WE ARE OUR ETHOS FINANCIAL OVERVIEW OUTSTANDING RESULTS STUDENT AND STAFF STATISTICS SCHOOL SATISFACTION
INTRODUCTION REACHING OUR POTENTIAL
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Growth is the only evidence of life. John Henry Newman ‘Growth’ is a word that is imbued with potential. Growth is positive, affirmative and inspirational. In the context of education, it encompasses ideas around improvement, greater understanding, participation, student engagement and achievement, which contributes to the culture of open-mindedness and respect we experience at Fintona Girls’ School. Student wellbeing, a sense of belonging, and a safe and inclusive environment where our young people can grow their minds, ideas, self-awareness and sense of purpose are paramount. The core elements of a Fintona education continue to be the traditions that are proven and appreciated, alongside the generation of innovative ideas which keep us up-to-date and aligned with current thinking. Every Term is loaded with opportunities for growth in a multitude of ways. Whilst our results have been consistent, they are not achieved without the hard work and effort of our remarkable academic staff, who strive to always bring out the absolute best in every student. Our students also, are determined in all their undertakings, wholeheartedly embracing every opportunity a Fintona education provides and embodying the school’s values and living up to our motto Age Quod Agis.
Growth in student enrolments and student numbers is an excellent problem to have. The Margaret Cunningham Hall is crammed on Monday mornings at assembly, confirming that the next exciting stage of our Master Plan; a Performing Arts Centre, are justified, with more space and an upgrade of our facilities very much needed. The Capital Campaign is well underway, and both the campaign and the build are progressing well. This impressive new space will accommodate our growing numbers of students and will enhance all school events and productions for decades to come. The Fintona community, once again, has been overwhelmingly supportive of the campaign and we are grateful for their generosity. In addition to the excellent formal academic results of the girls, we have had success in a broad range of sporting and co-curricular fields: from rowing, netball, athletics, cross country, hockey, softball, and football to public speaking, debating, drama and music. Our students have achieved significant outcomes in the Performing Arts, Art and Design, Mathematics Olympiads, and National Competitions in Languages, Humanities, Commerce, and STEM. Nothing we do could be achieved without the work of our academic and general staff, and the commitment they have to their profession. Our teachers bring wisdom, passion, ideas and energy to work every day and they nurture students’ minds and hearts, sparking curiosity and developing in them the ability to seize opportunities, embrace challenges and overcome difficulties. I am grateful for our staff, students, parents, and our alumnae who go above and beyond, and to the School Board who continue to be supportive and firmly focused on the future, which I have no doubt will be successful, exciting and rewarding. 2025 was a year of ‘growth’, where the Fintona community reached its potential in every way. It is a privilege to lead such a school. Rachael Falloon Principal
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
WHO WE ARE
At Fintona, we see the extraordinary in every individual. Here, students are encouraged to develop their talents and interests - to become fearless and adaptable leaders of the future. Every individual is seen and nurtured to move beyond their comfort zone and unlock their natural potential.
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Our learning programs are immersive, integrated and practical. We offer a distinct and stimulating approach to academic excellence by nurturing a love of learning that spans an abundance of disciplines. Our students are driven to make a difference and are supportive of each other’s success. Fintonians are bound together by a sense of belonging, a drive for change and an ability to lead, which challenges the status quo.
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
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OUR ETHOS
A Fintona student can be recognised as one who faces her life with the simple belief that to live is to learn.
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
In every endeavour, she aspires to do the very best she can. She is able to learn and work independently, yet enjoys the opportunity for interdependent and collaborative work. She holds secure moral principles and beliefs, believes in a healthy body, whilst remaining attuned to the intellectual, emotional and spiritual dimensions of her being. As a communicator she is poised and confident, is largely self directed but will ask for help, if needed. For her, the pursuit of excellence is assumed, not contrived, and she knows this innately. We hope that she accepts her limitations and believes that within those limits she can be inspired to make a difference. She nurtures a love of tradition and heritage whilst maintaining a positive vision for the future. She is protective and proud of the School’s reputation and her own and aspires to be truthful and kind in her interactions with others. Her outlook is optimistic and global, essentially because she is tolerant and believes in the inherent decency of all people. She tries to look upon others as individuals rather than a crowd, and is respectful of difference. Like all people, we hope she understands that she has her faults, yet she also reflects on her own behaviour. In all aspects of her life, she eschews what is vulgar and mean-spirited, and directs herself to what is good and noble.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
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The graphs below indicate that the majority of Fintona’s income is derived from Tuition Fees. Government Grants represent 18% of income. Prudent management of expenditure is key to Fintona’s healthy financial position. Employment is the largest expense in all schools, and we continue to value and reward staff as we are able to within our means. ICT remains a constant focus with its staffing and infrastructure.
The School continued its refurbishment program during 2025 and this included: — Building of the Performing Arts Centre commenced — Refurbishment of the Junior School Library — Installation of new awning for Glencairn — Finalised security gate on Senior Campus — Refurbishment of the Theatre Across all campuses: — Sanding and re-staining of external decking and seating areas — Extensive internal and external painting — Carpet replacement — Classroom furniture upgrade continues
Revenue and Expenditure for the Year ending 31 December 2025 Income 2025
76 %
Expenses 2025
71 %
Fees
Employment (3.5% is payroll tax)
18%
8%
Government Grants
Education
4%
7% Depreciation
Other Fintona | Annual Report 2025
2%
10% Other
Donations
4% Buildings, Gardens and Grounds
5
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
OUTSTANDING RESULTS
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Fintona Girls’ School is renowned for consistently achieving outstanding VCE and NAPLAN results, placing Fintona among the highest performing girls’ schools in Victoria. The 2025 results once again affirm this strong position.
2025 VCE Highlights at a Glance Dux Jessica Leung
99.7
Median ATAR
90.03
Median Study Score
35
A perfect study score was achieved in — Mathematical Methods
ATAR ACHIEVEMENTS
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
97+
AN ATAR OF
99+
TOP 1% OF THE STATE
95+ 97+ 99+ 99+
AN AN ATAR OF OF ATAR
AN ATAR ANOF ATAR OF
AN ATAR OF TOP 5%
TOP 3% OF THE STATE TOP 1% OF THE STATE
TOP 3% OF THE TOPTOP 1% 1% STATE OF OF THETHE
COURSE DESTINATIONS
3
95+ 97+ 97+ TOP 5% OF THE STATE
STATE STATE
mmerce
3
COURSE DESTINATIONS
26% 18% 16% 14% 11% 9% 6%
COURSE DESTINATIONS COURSE DESTINATIONS
26% 26% 18% 18% 16% 16% 14% 14% 11% 11% 9% 9% 6% 6%
Science / Engineering
Science / Engineering Science / Engineering
Business / Commerce
Health Sciences
ONS
95+ 95+
TOPTOP 3% 3%COURSE DESTINATIONS OF OF THETHE STATE STATE
S
neering
AN ATAR OF AN ATAR OF
AN ATAR OF
OF THE STATE
Business / Commerce Business / Commerce
Medicine and Health Sciences
Medicine Health Sciences Medicine andand Health Sciences
Law
Law Law
Design
26% 18% 16% 14% 11% 9% 6%
TOPTOP 5% 5% OF OF THETHE STATE STATE
Science / Engineering
3 3
Business / Commerce Medicine and Health Sciences Law
7
Design Arts Education
Design Design
Arts
Arts Arts
Education
UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS
Education Education
UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS
8% 1%7% 7%
10% 2% 4%
4% 33% 33%
6% 6%
NAPLAN
10% 10%
Year 4%5 4%
The 2025 NAPLAN results place Fintona amongst the best performing schools in Victoria for both Primary and Secondary. Since 2025, NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards, with student achievement shown against 4 levels of proficiency: exceeding, strong, developing and needs additional support.
33%
6%
81% % 1% 10%
4%
1% 1% year 5
Fintona File | Autumn / Winter 2024
38% 38% 1% 6% 38%
7%
Fintona File | Autumn / Winter 2024
39 % 33% 6%
Fintona File | Autumn / Winter 2024
Fintona File | Autumn / Winter 2024
1% DESTINATIONS 7% 1% 38% 7% UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS
38%
WritingWriting Reading Reading Numeracy Numeracy Spelling Spelling
Conventions of language
Conventions 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00% 100.00% of language0.00% 0% E10% 20% Strong 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% xceeding Developing Needs Additional support
2025 NAPLAN results Compared to all Australian students Reading
Writing
Spelling
Conventions of language
Year 7
Numeracy
Year 7
WritingWriting
Year 3
Reading Reading
Year 5
Numeracy Numeracy
Year 7
Spelling Spelling Conventions of language
Year 9
Key
Conventions of language
Well Above
Above
0% 10.00% 10% 20.00% 20% 30.00% 30% 40.00% 40% 50.00% 50% 60.00% 60% 70.00% 70% 80.00% 80% 90% 100% 90.00% 100.00%
0.00%
Close to
Exceeding
Year 9
Year 3
WritingWriting
WritingWriting
Reading Reading
Reading Reading
Strong
Developing
year 9
Needs Additional support
Numeracy Numeracy Spelling Spelling
SpellingSpelling
Conventions of language
Conventions of language
Conventions of language 0% 0% 10% 20% 20% 30% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 10% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Conventions of language
Exceeding
Strong
Developing
Individual Year Level Key
80.00% 90% 90.00%100% 100.00% 0% 10.00% 10% 20.00% 20% 30.00% 30% 40.00% 40% 50.00% 50% 60.00% 60% 70.00% 70% 80%
0.00%
Exceeding
Needs Additional support
Exceeding
Strong
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
Numeracy Numeracy
Developing
Strong
Developing
Needs Additional support
Needs additional support
STUDENT AND STAFF STATISTICS
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Our Students
Our Staff
For approximately 600 students from ELC to Year 12, Fintona is a welcoming and safe environment where a sense of belonging and connectedness is experienced.
We are very proud of our staff and recognise that they work with dedication to produce outstanding outcomes for our students.
Retention Rate Our student retention rate across the School was 95%.
Student Attendance Rates Attendance is everyone’s responsibility at Fintona. Attendance is monitored daily and unexplained absences followed up by phone. Extended absences are managed by Heads of School and the School Psychologist with supportive programs in place to encourage a return to school as soon as possible and in a way where wellbeing and the development of resilience is in focus.
The average length of service for teaching staff at Fintona is 7 years. In 2025, our staff comprised of 71% teaching staff and 29% general staff. The average staff attendance was 96% while the retention rate was 94%. The Professional Learning attended by staff was part of the School’s Professional Learning Plan which aims to provide staff with opportunities to strengthen their academic knowledge and teaching skills whilst at the same time encouraging participation in broader areas of interest. The average professional learning expenditure per staff member was $1,300. Our staff are highly qualified and enjoy working in a close and supportive community. The following chart displays the highest qualification of our teaching staff (including Early Learning Centre educators and Instrumental music teachers). It shows that 96% of our teaching staff have a Bachelor Degree or Higher. In addition, 85% of our teaching staff hold more than one degree or certification.
Prep
99%
Year 1
95%
Year 2
93%
Year 3
95%
Year 4
96%
Year 5
95%
Year 6
95%
Bachelors
Year 7
95%
4%
Year 8
95%
Year 9
94%
Year 10
92%
Year 11
93%
Year 12
91%
Teaching Staff Qualifications
37% Masters
59%
Diploma
Fintona | Annual Report 2025
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Fintona | Annual Report 2025
SCHOOL SATISFACTION
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Parent Satisfaction Providing the best possible education for our students is Fintona’s primary objective. To help meet this commitment, we undertook a Parent Satisfaction Survey targeting all parents from ELC to Year 12. The aim of the Parent Satisfaction Survey was to gain valuable feedback from parents, and to understand perceptions regarding the quality of the educational experience at Fintona.
Strongly Agree/Agree
Neutral
Disagree/Strongly Disagree 0
My child feels safe at this school
The school is well maintained Teachers expect my child to do their best
My child likes being at this school I can talk to my child’s teachers or Head of School about concerns My child is making good progress
Student behaviour is well managed Teachers motivate my child to learn My child’s learning needs are being met
Teachers provide my child with useful feedback about their school work Teachers treat students fairly
The school looks for ways to improve Fintona | Annual Report 2025
The school works with me to support my child’s learning This school takes parents’ opinions seriously There are opportunities for me to connect and engage with other parents
A total of 68 parents responded to the survey with good representation across the School and year groups. The results provided clear evidence of the overall satisfaction of Fintona parents and a positive appreciation of the education we offer. The Parent Satisfaction Survey comprised a number of statements that parents could rate from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Parents were also asked to comment on what improvements the School could make and to advise what aspects of the curriculum their daughters enjoy. Overall, the results demonstrate that Fintona parents have a very high satisfaction level with the quality of education their children are receiving.
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40
60
80
100
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FINTONA GIRLS’ SCHOOL Wurundjeri Woi Wurring Country 79 Balwyn Road Balwyn VIC 3103 Australia CRICOS 00139C +61 3 9830 1388 fgs@fintona.vic.edu.au fintona.vic.edu.au