WENONA ANNUAL REPORT
Message from the Principal
As I reflect upon Wenona’s many successes and celebrations during 2024, I am in awe of the wide range of skills, extraordinary talents, and exceptional abilities demostrated by members of this remarkable community.
This was exemplified by our students from the Class of 2024, who achieved the strongest HSC results in Wenona’s history. With a record median ATAR of 92.95, an unprecedented 62.9% of students attaining ATARs above 90, along with 44 HSC Showcase nominations, these young women ably demonstrated the Wenona School Values that guide us, especially those of Strength and Courage. Our 2024 HSC Dux, Milly Simpson, recorded an ATAR of 99.65 and secured first place in the state in Modern History – a testament to the excellence that flourishes in a culture that encourages students to stretch beyond their comfort zones.
A key strength of Wenona is our effective support of excellence in teaching. This was emphasised in 2024 by our work on literacy from Kindergarten to Year 12, through collaboration with the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) NSW. This project is contributing to a culture that empowers teachers to skilfully collect and analyse classroom data to support individual student growth and further our expertise in educating girls. The participation by our Dean of Research in the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Global Action Research Collaborative is also transforming our educational approach while contributing to girls education globally.
Another successful 2024 program was our Early Career Teachers’ Mentorship initiative, which provided our early career teachers with an exceptional foundation to guide their future careers.
Our teaching staff received well-deserved recognition, with seven faculty members honoured in 2024 by the Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales. These awards acknowledge outstanding contributions across diverse areas, from creating nurturing learning environments to transforming academic programs.
Championing female expression and leadership is a central characteristic of a Wenona education. Our 2023 to 2024 Prefects’ uplifting theme of ‘Celebrate to Elevate’ gave way mid-year to the equally inspiring 2024 to 2025 theme, ‘No Grit. No Pearl’. Nevertheless, the nature of the weekly Student Leaders’ speeches in Assembly remained consistently engaging and wise, filled with life experiences and advice, appreciated by their younger peers.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the steadfast support of our parent community, whose partnership with the School creates the strong foundation upon which our students thrive. Similarly, the generosity of the Wenona Foundation, our dedicated donors, and engaged Alumnae has enabled us to provide exceptional facilities, scholarships, and opportunities that enrich the educational experience of every Wenona student. Your contribution to our shared vision of empowering young women is invaluable and deeply appreciated.
Message from the Head Prefect
Someone who is very near and dear to my heart, who I look up to and aspire to be, is my younger brother, Hugo. He is eight years old, a keen soccer and cricket player, loves to dance, isn’t the biggest fan of mathematics and is very good-looking. A few weeks ago, I found him in the living room practising his viola, an instrument he has begun learning at primary school.
So, I sat on the couch, ready for the performance of a lifetime and asked him to play for me. It was at that moment that he became coy and scared to show me the skills that he had developed. After a bit of encouragement, he started to play the first few notes with some trepidation. As he moved further into the piece (the classic Hot Cross Buns), he started to forget he was scared – the hesitancy left his eyes and posture. It was at that moment I realised Hugo was no longer my baby brother but rather, he was starting to grow up into a little man, for he was beginning to lose the best superpower of young people – being excited to learn rather than embarrassed. Over time, he has learned to look at other people before
doing something, in fear of judgement; he has learnt to only value an A on a test, to be embarrassed by his mistakes, and to only celebrate the victories, but not the skill and hard work it took to accomplish them.
As we get older, we all tend to lose our inner child, and the superpower that coincides with our youthfulness. Such a superpower is our ability to learn; to learn unapologetically, with confidence, constantly, and with devotion. This superpower is something we are given at birth and lose as we age, unless we do something about it … unless we practice it. We lose the ability to value learning and have fun while doing it. We get scared to try new things and find new hobbies. We get complacent and comfortable, thinking we know everything in a world so large.
I think the solution is to find our superpowers again. The superpowers that allow us to not think so much, as just do; the superpowers that allow us to learn for passion’s sake. I am re-finding my superpowers through my Hugo, he teaches me to laugh and find my inner child again. He teaches me to be unapologetically myself and to live life with a sense of youthfulness – because really, we are all just big kids.
Wenona farewelled Principal, Dr Briony Scott, at the end of 2024, after 14 years of outstanding service and leadership. Culminating in an extraordinary whole-school event at the ICC, it featured moving tributes from Alumnae, current students, and former staff and student leaders who served during Dr Scott’s time, with a focus on the School’s Values of Courage, Strength, Grace, Wisdom, and Kindness.
Having stepped into the role of Wenona Principal in January 2025, I am honoured to be building on the strong foundations laid by Dr Scott as we continue Wenona’s tradition of empowering young women to serve and shape their world. I look forward to working with this exceptional community as we continue to foster an environment where girls are encouraged to take risks rather than seek perfect outcomes, and develop the resilience and strength that will serve them throughout their lives.
May the achievements of 2024 inspire us as we move forward together, cultivating a culture where each student strives for personal growth, discovers her unique voice and develops the confidence to use it in service of a better world.
Ms Linda Douglas Principal
Wenona enables us to find our inner child and the superpowers that come with that. I, alongside many of my peers, have been able to participate in sports, music, debating, leadership, Cadets and more. We are offered a privilege that is unheard of in many parts of the world. We can walk past the School gates each morning and cross the threshold of a classroom into a space where we are safe and able to learn about ourselves, the world, and our place in it. The 2024 to 2025 Perfect Initiative is ‘No Grit. No Pearl’. It inspires us students to value the grit and courage it takes to make a ‘pearl’, a notion that I believe holds truth and value differently within everyone.
In relation to learning, I think it is a privilege to be able to exercise grit and courage in the pursuit of our ‘pearls’. A privilege that can be easily forgotten. So, my encouragement to you is to find something that you want to learn and work to fall back in love with the process of learning. Find your inner child again, be cheeky, have fun, realise your privilege, and above all, discover your superpowers.
Zara Yee Head Prefect
Characteristics of the student body
Wenona’s student body encompasses girls from Kindergarten to Year 12. Students experience a strong sense of belonging and connectedness to Wenona, strengthened through the Sub-Schools: Woodstock (K-3), Hooke House (Years 4 to 6), Middle School (Years 7 to 8), Upper School (Years 9 to 10) and Senior College (Years 11 to 12).
Student wellbeing is foundational to Wenona’s philosophy of education, and as such, students enjoy safe and respectful relationships with peers and staff. These relationships are evidenced in co-curricular activities, on the campus, sports fields, and in classrooms.
Academic rigour, engagement in learning and intrinsic motivation are distinctive features of Wenona’s student body, who achieve outstanding academic results. Wenona students are inspired to be Renaissance women, who experience a holistic education, valuing a curiosity for learning, with diverse interests and skills and a global mindset.
The School motto, Ut Prosim: that I may serve, shapes students’ appreciation of their privileged education and responsibility to support and use their voice to advocate for the needs of others. Coupled with this are the School Values of Courage, Strength, Grace, Wisdom, and Kindness – personal attributes students are encouraged to embody and live out with integrity.
Student outcomes in NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) was completed online by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN results indicate that Wenona students are performing well above the national standard in all areas of literacy and numeracy.
Summary Year 3
Summary Year 7
Results in HSC
Qualification attainment
Record of school achievement
Tertiary destinations
Accreditation status of all teaching staff
Workforce composition
accreditation for Wenona teachers
Summary of qualifications of teaching staff
All Wenona teaching staff hold tertiary qualifications with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. The majority have pursued further study, earning Graduate Diplomas, Master’s degrees, or PhDs in fields related to their teaching practice. Among the 149 teachers on staff in 2024:
Professional learning undertaken by teachers
In 2024, the school-based professional development focus for teaching staff was whole school wellbeing delivered through a project partnership with the AISNSW. Teaching staff also engaged in professional learning in writing instruction, generative AI, inclusive classroom practices, understanding autism, and managing anxiety in girls. The Mental Health First Aid course was also made available to all staff.
Onsite professional development was provided for all staff in the areas of Child Protection, Mandatory Reporting, and Disability Legislation. Accredited providers were engaged to deliver First Aid courses (3 years validity) and annual refresher courses for all staff in Asthma Management, Anaphylaxis Management, and CPR. Boarding staff completed Duty of Care training, and some select boarding staff also completed the annual Pool Lifeguard training alongside our Aquatics, PDHPE, and Sports staff.
Stakeholder engagement and satisfaction
Staff
Wenona offers numerous opportunities for staff to provide feedback, voice concerns, and build connections. Throughout 2024, Senior Executive, Heads of School, Heads of Department and teaching staff engaged through both formal and informal forums. Staff were encouraged to bring up topics of interest or concern during various staff meetings (Academic, Wellbeing, Professional Development/PODS, and full staff meetings) held every Wednesday of the term. Additionally, the weekly Friday Morning Tea and shared meals on staff days promote staff engagement and connection, while the Wenona Staff Induction program helps new staff understand Wenona’s policies and procedures.
Parents and Students
Parents have representation on Wenona’s Board of Governors and its sub-committees. The Wenona Parents’ Association (WPA) meetings are held once per term to keep parents informed about events and projects, and regularly feature reports and presentations from the Principal and School Executive Team members. Additionally, the Principal, Deputy Principals, and Senior Leadership Team members contribute to the weekly e-newsletter sent to the Wenona community, while critical matters are communicated via email and mail. An SMS system is available for urgent communications. Throughout the year, parents and students can discuss issues with class, subject, and Connect (wellbeing) teachers during formal meetings and interviews. The Student Representative Council met with staff to discuss issues and plan student-led initiatives. Feedback from parents through emails and interactions indicates genuine satisfaction and recognition that the Values of Courage, Strength, Grace, Wisdom, and Kindness are evident in Wenona’s culture, with staff dedicated to student wellbeing.
Community Relations
The Wenona community have many opportunities to engage and connect, including the annual Cocktail Party for parents, and welcome events for parents in every year group. The WPA is supported by the School to host a wide range of community connection activities throughout the year. In 2024, the WPA also coordinated the biennial Spring Fair and the annual second-hand uniform sale. The Wenona Alumnae Association contributed to the Wenona community via the Mother-Daughter Breakfast and School reunion events such as the White and Blue Luncheon. The Director of Advancement and Executive Director, Wenona Foundation is the liaison between the School, Wenona Foundation, the WPA, and the Wenona Alumnae Association, working with them on all major functions.
Financial information summary
About Wenona
Celebrating excellence in girls’ education since 1886, Wenona is an independent day and boarding school for girls from Kindergarten to Year 12, in North Sydney, close to Sydney’s cultural centre.
Under Principal, Ms Linda Douglas, our vision is for Wenonians to graduate as creative, resilient, articulate, and well-educated women, filled with a sense of humour and a capacity for adventure. We aim to develop integrity, grace, a sense of purpose, and a strong moral and ethical outlook in our students, raised to value service and be a proactive and positive voice within the local, national, and global community. With 1,349 students, including 45 boarders, Wenona offers a rich array of academic and cocurricular opportunities within a creative and caring community.
Wenona’s impressive results are influenced by an academic peer culture, professional teaching and learning, and innovative use of ICT. We operate Evening Study Centres for the older students, and students tend to seek an increasingly diverse array of university pathways. Wellbeing is enhanced through age-appropriate small groups and our vertical House system, together with professional counselling, an Allied Health Clinic, and a strong careers pathway.
The school’s innovative learning environment includes a blend of heritage and new spaces, including The Athenaeum, a multi-purpose building, opened in 2020, that includes water polo and Learn to Swim pools, cardio and fitness facilities, state-of-the-art STEM labs and a Senior College university-style learning commons. Leadership and teamwork skills are fostered through international and local servicelearning initiatives, guided by our motto, Ut Prosim, that I may serve.
See also Wenona’s profile on the My School website at https://www.myschool.edu.au/school/43868/profile/2024
