Annual School Performance Report 2023
Love Laughter Learning
COLLEGE DETAILS
Sheldon College is an independent, co-educational, non-denominational College that was established in 1997. The College is organised into 4 Sub-Colleges:
Early Learning (Kindergarten - Ages 3 to 5)
Junior College (Preparatory to Year 4)
Middle College (Years 5 to 8)
Senior College (Years 9 to 12)
Principal: Ms Kate Mortimer
B. ED (Honours)
Master of Education (Educational Leadership)
School sector: Independent
Address: Taylor Road, Sheldon QLD 4157
Year levels offered: Kindergarten/Preparatory to Year 12
Co-educational or single sex: Co-educational
Total enrolments: 1399
Characteristics of the student body:
MISSION STATEMENT
Our role is to provide a world-class educational experience in a safe and supportive environment which nurtures students’ resilience and a love for learning in readiness for an ever-changing world.
Principal’s Foreword
Sheldon College is an independent, coeducational, non-denominational College located in Redlands City. Committed to the teaching philosophy of Love, Laughter and Learning, the College caters for students from 15 months of age through to Year 12.
Sheldon College is located on a 60-acre site in a semi-rural area on Taylor Road, Sheldon. Established 27 years ago, the College is dedicated to providing quality education in a secure and supportive environment that promotes forward-thinking and maintains high standards for both students and staff in academic performance, work practices, behaviour, dress, and appearance.
As a learning community, Sheldon College offers every student the opportunity to achieve and experience the “Extraordinary.” Here, aspiration and traditional values of respect and service are combined with innovative thinking to shape our work and outcomes. Our mission is “to provide a world-class educational experience in a supportive environment, which nurtures students’ resilience and love for learning in readiness for an ever-changing world.”
Our philosophy and aims align with The Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration, which envisions a world-class education system that encourages and supports every student to reach their full potential, regardless of their location or learning challenges. Our Student Exit Outcomes ensure that graduates of Sheldon College are self-directed learners, creative thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, and effective communicators and collaborators. They are skilled in core literacies and possess high self-esteem, ready to transition smoothly into their chosen paths as lifelong learners and to participate responsibly and successfully in a global society.
At Sheldon College, empowering young people to reach their potential is at the heart of what we do.
For further information go to: www.sheldoncollege.com
Ms Kate Mortimer Principal
B. Ed (Honours) Master of Education (Educational Leadership)
College Values
As a College we are committed to the following Core Values:
• Excellence in teaching
• Excellence in learning
• A foundation of wellbeing
• An environment that is safe, organised, inclusive and supportive of learning
• Collaborative partnerships among the school, families, and the wider community
• Shared decision making
• Acknowledgment and appreciation
• A service-focused approach
• Continuous feedback and improvement
• High standards in dress and appearance, behaviour and individual scholarship and work habits
• Individualised support related to intellect, emotions, socialisation, wellbeing, and physical health.
Distinctive Curriculum Offerings
From Preparatory to Year 12, Sheldon College’s core philosophy of Love, Laughter, and Learning is central to everything we do. In Academics, this philosophy is realized through our unwavering commitment to excellence in both learning and teaching, supported by a strong foundation in well-being. This ensures that all our students have the ideal school environment to progress, achieve, and thrive.
Excellence in Learning
It is evident daily in classrooms and across the College that student learning is engaging and meaningful, allowing students to acquire, deepen, and transfer their knowledge understanding and skills. In 2023, our College’s Excellence in Learning achievements include:
• More deeply and intentionally engaging with a quality and viable curriculum (Australian Curriculum and The Alice Springs Mparntwe Declaration) using inquiry questions and meaningful cross-curricular links.
• Knowing and growing each learner at the appropriate level of challenge through data and differentiation.
• Focusing on high-impact teaching strategies such as proactive classroom management, differentiation, learning intentions and success criteria, explicit teaching, modeled examples, collaborative learning, questioning, multiple exposures, metacognition skills, and ongoing formative assessment.
• Designing a seamless and spiraling Literacy curriculum to consolidate spelling practices, deepen reading approaches, and introduce more effective writing strategies.
• Continuously engaging with Junior and Senior Learning Centres to promote academic scholarship and a love of literacy including the development of our online virtual library.
• Streamlining the identification and support of students with diverse learning needs (Gifted, EAL/D, and learning difficulties) through targeted differentiation, adjustments, and where needed, a thorough Review and Response process as well as the commencement of a Head of Learning Enhancement role.
• Continuing to provide quality literacy intervention supports through our Lit Club and other literacy support programs while commencing investment into additional numeracy intervention supports.
• Developing an Assessment Capable Learners initiative to support students to better dissecting questions, inking their thinking, typing more quickly, and mastering multiple choice now that NAPLAN has moved online.
• Developing the Ready, Set, #Sheldon Prep and Year 6 into Year 7 transition programs to ensure a smooth, seamless transition at key College junctures.
Distinctive Curriculum Offerings (Continued)
• Leveraging emerging technologies and innovations through the creation of innovation projects and initiatives that explore VR, multimedia, design thinking, creativity, and problem solving.
• Ongoing online and face-to-face positive home/school partnerships and engagement through signature events such as the Prep Fairytale Ball, Year 1 Spring Spectacular, Year 3 Poetry Exhibition, Year 3 Travel Expo, Year 4 Design Day, Year 5 Agents of History Expo, and Year 6 Canberra incursion week.
• Pathways opportunities (traineeships, Tafe @ School, Certificate and Diploma courses) that meet the personalised needs of our students.
• Offering extra-curricular enrichment opportunities which extend and develop student learning outside of the classroom including Titans and Titans Junior, support tutorials, chess, debating, various University essay and speaking competitions, E-Sports teams, UQ Science Ambassadors and community service groups.
Excellence in Teaching
A key element in the success of our students and Sheldon College is undoubtedly the exceptional quality of our teachers. Sheldon College educators are to be admired and recognized for their outstanding dedication and passion in delivering high-quality educational programs to the young students in their care.. In 2023, our College’s Excellence in Teaching achievements include:
• Continuation of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) which allow teachers to deepen their understanding of current student priorities collaboratively. 2023 PLCs include: upper/ lower writing; spelling; coaching/mentoring; numeracy fluency; academic talent development; staff wellbeing; differentiation in the classroom; providing feedback on learning; pedagogy; and creative thinking.
• Dedicated Early Career Teachers program with targeted initial orientation, induction, and support processes for new graduates and those who have been teaching for less than 3 years.
• Sharing and celebrating pedagogical practices through Learning Walks and Talks, and Watching Others Work initiatives.
• Deepening teacher knowledge and building expertise through micro-credentials- Latrobe University Science of Reading.
Co-Curricular Activities
Sheldon College provides a comprehensive array of programs in sports, arts, academic enrichment, technology, personal development, and community service. These programs ensure that students have diverse opportunities to develop self-esteem, teamwork, and advanced thinking skills.
The College’s extensive co-curricular Sports Program caters to young beginners and social athletes through to those representing Australia in international competition. Students from Prep to Year 2 are offered a range of sport development programs, while students in Years 3 to 12 have access to weekly Saturday morning interschool sporting fixtures and associated training programs. Sports on offer in such weekly interschool fixtures include Australian Rules Football, Basketball, Football (Soccer), Indoor Cricket, Netball, Touch Football and Volleyball, while interschool carnivals are run for Swimming, Cross Country and Track & Field.
In addition to interschool sport, a number of opportunities exist for students to compete in club sport for the College. At present such opportunities exist for Basketball and Touch Football. The College also actively participates in a number of State and National tournaments to offer our students further opportunity to compete and grow in their chosen sport.
The Sheldon Academy of Sport (SAS) covers the College’s year-round, professionally coached individual performance sports of Athletics, Swimming and Tennis, with Strength & Conditioning and rehabilitation support. Some students enrol in SAS programs as casual/social participants, while the more serious athletes commit significant time and effort to more advanced pathways in their goal of reaching their full sporting potential. All three SAS programs are affiliated with their relevant sport governing body, opening direct competition pathways to state and national representation.
The Australian School of the Arts (ASTA) offers a comprehensive and innovative co-curricular Arts Program, catering for students in Preparatory to Year 12 across all facets of Arts Education. This program builds on Arts curriculum to identify, equip, extend and nurture students who show a passion and talent for any area of the Arts, thereby enabling them to become resilient, confident, creative individuals and equipping them to follow their chosen pathways post school. The ASTA Academy Programs offer students in Prep to Year 8 the opportunity to gain skills and excellence in Drama, Dance and Visual Art. The ASTA Professionals Program is a suite of audition based, specialist excellence courses that support talented Arts students in Years 9 to 12 in the areas of Combined Performing Arts, Fine Art, Fashion Design and Film, Television and New Media.
The ASTA Performance Music Program offers vocal and instrumental tuition to around 500 students and boasts more than 30 ensembles that rehearse weekly. One of the major aims of this program is to provide our young musicians with “real world” performance experiences. Over the years, these have included performances for the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Ball; Lord Mayor’s Business Dinner; The Governor’s Breakfast; the annual Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Open Day; 1st Test of the Ashes Series at the Gabba; live bands at the Australia vs France and Australia vs New Zealand Rugby Internationals;
drumlines for the Brisbane Bullets; The Ekka and World Rugby League matches; as well as providing the orchestra and choir for the Redland City Christmas Carols. Eisteddfods and competitions are also part of the yearly program, providing students with the incentive to rise to the next level in the pursuit of excellence.
The Academic Enrichment component of the Co-curricular Program is designed to provide opportunities that enhance students’ academic and social development beyond the classroom. Each week, students can participate in a variety of tutorials led by subject area professionals, offering consolidated learning opportunities across different subjects. Additionally, other programs focus on advancing 21st Century Learning skills and dispositions, as well as the skills foundational to all Queensland Senior syllabuses—critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration and teamwork, personal and social skills, ICT/Technology skills, innovation, entrepreneurialism, and global citizenship.
The Social and Emotional Wellness component of the Cocurricular Program is designed to foster a positive approach to student well-being by offering a variety of opportunities for students to engage in both local and global communities, enhancing their social and emotional skills. These opportunities include participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and supporting various charities.
Student Wellbeing
Sheldon College provides a comprehensive program to support student wellbeing from Kindergarten to Year 12. Our aim is to equip students with the social and emotional skills they need to thrive in life and become effective members of the college and wider community.
Our teachers proactively work with students to develop essential coping skills to handle adversity and life’s challenges. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all students graduate as wellbalanced, confident, and respectful individuals who contribute positively to the world, aligning with the college’s focus on a foundation of wellbeing.
We firmly believe in the importance of developing the skills needed to become effective members of the college. Through explicit teaching of wellbeing topics, we enable our students to manage themselves and become independent young individuals, empowered to reach their potential.
Our Primary students explore wellbeing topics each week in lessons that are led by their classroom teacher. Topics covered include:
• Healthy Mind/ Healthy Bodies
• Active Citizenship
• Values and Emotions
• Social Issues e.g. Cybersafety/ Stranger Danger
• Positive friendship making
Our secondary students participate in weekly Personal Health and Development and Focus lessons. These lessons encompass topics such as time management, drug education, relationship education, peer mediation skills, leadership development, coping with adversity, positive decision-making, effective study skills, and community service.
At Sheldon College, we encourage and enable student leadership through the appointment of various leadership positions such as Middle College Leaders, House Leaders, Senior Leaders, Prefects, Cultural Captains, Sporting Captains, College ViceCaptains, and College Captains. Students have opportunities to contribute positively to college life and the wider community by participating in activities like supporting designated charities, traditional events like the Preparatory Fairytale Ball, Showcase, Senior Leader Induction Ceremony, ANZAC Day Ceremony, Celebration of Excellence, Year 10 Semi-formal, Year 12 Formal, and the Graduation Ceremony. These programs and our overall approach to wellbeing at Sheldon College enable and encourage our students to achieve their potential in terms of the College Student Exit Outcomes and reinforce the cultural fabric of the College.
Sheldon College enacts policies regarding Student Protection and Anti-Bullying to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students. These policies can be viewed via the Parent Portal.
The college-wide Provisional Psychologist provided additional support for students who would benefit from counselling, therapy, and crisis intervention services through the provision of a safe and confidential space for students to express their feelings, explore their thoughts, and develop coping strategies.
Our overarching goal is to ensure that every student achieves personal success by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and values needed for a seamless transition to university or the workforce. We aim to foster lifelong learners who can participate responsibly and successfully in a global society.
Parental Involvement
Parental involvement at Sheldon College is seen as a key opportunity to enhance our students’ academic and personal development. The ultimate goal is for parents to feel personally fulfilled through their service to others. The various opportunities for parental involvement offered throughout the year not only provide practical experiences but also enable parents and family members to enjoy a more engaged and fulfilling College-based life.
During 2023, some of the opportunities for parental involvement included:
• Classroom volunteering
• Co-Curricular volunteering
• Special assemblies
• College sporting, cultural and music events
• Parent education sessions
• Community outreach
The Parent Representative Committee (PRC) was established in 2023 to facilitate effective communication and collaboration between parents/guardians and the College leadership. The primary objective of the PRC is to provide a platform for parents to contribute to the development, improvement, and wellbeing of the College community.
Staffing Information
STAFF COMPOSITION
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
Throughout 2023 Sheldon College employed 116 teachers in classrooms and as school leaders.
TEACHER ATTENDANCE
Based on unplanned absences for sick and emergency leave periods of up to five days, the average ‘teacher attendance rate’ is calculated at 95.03%.
TEACHER RETENTION
Sheldon staff are committed professionals. Of the 112.8 equivalent full-time teachers employed at the close of the 2023 program year, 109 were retained in 2024, yielding a teacher retention rate of 97%.
STAFF DIVERSITY
Sheldon College supports its employees by building an inclusive, culturally capable and diverse workforce that reflects the College community and Values. We currently have 1 staff member who identifies as Indigenous.
SCHOOL INCOME BROKEN DOWN BY FUNDING SOURCE
School income broken down by funding source is available via the My School website at http://www.myschool.edu.au/.
Key Student Outcomes
STUDENT ATTENDANCE (WHOLE SCHOOL)
From the 1472 students (Years P-12 August 2023 Census) attending Sheldon College in 2023, there were 11408.50 student day absences (including part-day absences) registered as ‘Absent from School’, ‘Absent for Morning’, ‘Absent for Afternoon’ or ‘Extended Absence’ yielding an average student attendance rate of 91.47%.
‘Student Absence’ information for 2023 is tabled as follows:
STUDENT ATTENDANCE (BY YEAR LEVEL)
The break-up by Year Level for student attendance in 2023 is as follows:
APPARENT RETENTION RATE
In accordance with Australian Government regulations, the ‘Year 10 to 12 Apparent Retention Rate’ is defined as the number of fulltime students in Year 12 in any given program year expressed as the percentage of those students who started secondary school five years previously (this may be greater than 100%).
The ‘Year 10 to 12 Apparent Retention Rate’ data for 2021 to 2023 is tabled below:
MANAGEMENT OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Each day, the College produces a daily absence report and a 3 day absence report. At the end of each term, the College produces an excessive absence report for each year level. The Student Services Office records all absent from College details as provided by parents and this is cross-checked with daily absence reports. Parents are required to notify the College if their child is absent and a medical certificate is required for absences of 3 days or more.
Benchmark Data
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR LITERACY AND NUMERACY (NAPLAN)
In 2023, Sheldon College participated in the National Assessment Plan for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) at Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The benchmark data for Sheldon College in 2023 is as follows:
RESULTS
The average NAPLAN score for all students at the school in each domain, compared to the average score of students in Australia for that domain.
STUDENT PROGRESS
In 2020 education ministers decided that NAPLAN testing would not proceed that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, there is no 2020-2023 student progress available.
Alternatively, data on these outcomes may be accessed via the My School website http://www.myschool.edu.au/
Year 12 Outcomes
The information tabled below relating to Year 12 School Reporting 2023 for Sheldon College is provided by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).
Value Added Curriculum
Sheldon College offers a wide and varied curriculum. Programs on offer that valueadd to the curriculum include such things as:
WONDERLAND
Wonderland, our Long Day Care Facility, operates from 6.30a.m. to 6.00 p.m. for 50 weeks annually. This specially designed facility comprises four air-conditioned classrooms that accommodate children ranging from 15 months to school age. The children enjoy a daily immersion in the three essential elements of education: Love, Laughter, and Learning.
KINDERGARTEN
At Sheldon College Kindergarten, children are encouraged to inquire, investigate, achieve, and enjoy themselves. Our fully accredited Kindergarten Program is administered by highly qualified Early Childhood Educators who collaborate closely with our Preparatory Teachers to ensure a seamless progression into Prep. The exceptional level of care and service provided by our Kindergarten has received recognition for EXCEEDING THE NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD in all seven Quality areas.
OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE
We offer a range of Out-of-School Hours Care options, including Before College Care, After College Care, and Vacation Care. These programs are situated in our modern and custom-designed facility known as “Our Place.” Our aim is to provide a well-rounded experience that complements the children’s active school day. The activities at “Our Place” are interactive and tailored to align with the students’ ideas, passions, and requirements.
SHELDON EVENT CENTRE
Located within the Sheldon College campus, the Sheldon Event Centre has the capacity to host up to 2500 people and offers a dedicated hospitality and catering facility. In addition to its own multi-purpose courts, advanced gymnasium, and swimming pool, the event centre includes dance/aerobics rooms, flexible function spaces, and a large stadium arena that can accommodate events of any size.
Valued Added Curriculum (Continued)
SENIOR SCHOOLING
Years 10 -12 at Sheldon College provides high-quality educational programs that foster collaborations between Sheldon College, tertiary and other training institutions, businesses, industries, and the broader community. These initiatives include:
• Individual Student Pathways to Success
• Mentoring Program
• Leadership Coaching
• No-cost Tutorials
• School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
• Senior subject selection guidance
• Weekly Focus lessons on developing wellbeing and 21st century learner skills
• Links with Business and Industry
• Information to assist students with tertiary entry or entry into the workforce
• Guest speakers from universities and TAFE
• Work Experience
• Provision of extension programs such as University courses
• TAFE at school partnership
• Diploma of Business
• Links with Universities
Parent, Student and Staff Satisfaction
Satisfaction Surveys are conducted annually. Sheldon College employs the services of an external marketing agency ‘Engaged Strategy’ to undertake all our surveys. Below is a cross-section of responses received from the 2023 survey conducted for Parents, Students and Staff. Most questions in the survey were rating questions utilising a 1 – 10 scale; with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest.
Parent Feedback
Key Statements
• My child receives a quality education 8.51
• My children are happy at Sheldon College 8.47
• Parents are made to feel welcome at the College 8.35
• Teachers at the College are genuinely interested in my child/ children’s wellbeing 7.96
• Teachers at the College motivate my child to learn 7.79
•
• At Sheldon College students and their parents come first 8.20
• Team members actively cooperate and help each other when required 7.99
• Employees are constantly looking at new ways to improve students’ performance and unleash their potential 7.77
• Offers me opportunities for ongoing professional development 6.78
I love my job most when I see genuine growth in our practice and in our students
Student Destination Report
This is a summary of the post-school destinations of students from Sheldon College who completed Year 12 and gained a Senior Statement in 2023. The results are from the Year 12 Completers Survey, which is conducted approximately six months after students completed Year 12.
For more information about the survey visit the Next Step website www.qld.gov.au/nextstep Regional and statewide reports will be available from October 2024
73.8% response rate
90 out of 122 Year 12 completers from this school responded to the 2024 survey. Results may not be representative of all Year 12 completers at this school.
Post-school destinations
In 2024, 96.7% of Year 12 completers from Sheldon College were engaged in education, training or employment in the year after they completed school.
Of the 90 respondents, 82.2% continued in education and training. The most common study destination was bachelor degree.
A further 14.4% transitioned directly into paid employment only.
All Year 12 completers were assigned to a main destination. Respondents who were both studying and working are reported as being in education or training, including apprentices and trainees.
Sheldon College PO Box 1188, Capalaba Qld 4157
Telephone: 07 3206 5555
Email: enquiries@sheldoncollege.com www.sheldoncollege.com