One of our smartest schools gets bigger

The “Smart State’’ academy at Toowong celebrates a landmark this year as it welcomes its first Year 7 cohort.

The Queensland Academy of Science Maths and Technology at Toowong is taking Year 7s for the first time this year.

The “Smart State’’ academy at Toowong celebrates a landmark this year as it welcomes its first Year 7 cohort.

In its first 12 years since opening, the selective-entry Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology only offered its unique International Baccalaureate studies to students in Years 10-12.

Proud principal, Kath Kayrooz, said welcoming Year 7s was an extremely exciting time for staff, current students, incoming students and parents.

“It’s history in the making. There are three Queensland academies and it’s the first time any of them has extended enrolments to Year 7s,’’ Ms Kayrooz said.

“In three years, we will be a full Year 7-12 school.

“The new Year 7s will be studying the International Baccalaureate Middle Years program, essentially a broad liberal arts curriculum which aims to develop international mindedness.

“We now have graduates who are Readers at Oxford and others working or studying in the United States.’’

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The academy has a stunning academic record, with 40.3 per cent of its OP-eligible students scoring an OP1 last year, and 81.1 per cent achieving an OP 1-10.

Every one of its eligible students attained at least an OP15.

QASMT has 205 Year 7s this year, 228 in Year 10, 286 in Year 11 and 152 in Year 12.

By 2021 the expansion of QASMT will be able to accommodate up to 1200 students across Years 7-12.

“The benefit of offering 7-12 is that students are not disrupted during their high school studies by moving between schools,’’ she said.

“The students will instead experience continuity and fluidness of an educational experience, including maintain friendships and teaching networks.’’

The expanded student numbers will be accommodated in several refurbished buildings and a new, large Science Technology Engineering and Maths facility, which will include a large library and undercroft play space.

There will also be a new language precinct next door to the STEM building.

QASMT students Alexandra Grant, Rebecca Day, Laura Boyle, and Martyna Judd won a linguistics competition in 2013 to travel to Manchester England. All students at the school must study a language.

Ms Kayrooz said one thing which set the academy apart was that all students had to study a language, mostly Latin, French, Spanish, German or Japanese, but some had studied in their mother tongue (usually Chinese).

“The expansion includes the development of new learning areas for our students including state-of-the-art STEM facilities, flexible learning spaces designed for collaboration as well as individual learning, fixed spaces for quiet spaces, and outdoor spaces,’’ Ms Kayrooz said.

“The design promotes environmentally sustainable outcomes for QASMT.

“At the heart of the school is a pastoral care system providing high level student support to promote a safe, welcoming and secure environment.

“Our academy aims to extend students’ learning by blurring the line between school and university.

“The curriculum is rigorous and we maintain relationships with the University of Queensland, Griffith University, and the Queensland University of Technology.’’