Tamborine Mountain State School announced as Primary School of the Year at National Education Awards

IT’S the school that has no homework. But that hasn’t stopped them from winning the National Education Award for Primary School of the Year.

Tamborine Mountain State School’s principal and students with their award. Picture Mike Batterham

UP on Mount Tamborine, the kids have learnt a very important lesson — it’s OK to fail.

And they’ve responded and are succeeding, and that has earned the Tamborine Mountain State School the top gong of Primary School of the Year (Government), at the inaugural National Education Awards.

“Our school is unique, the culture is shaped around expectations rather than rules,’’ principal Jason Smith said yesterday.

Tamborine Mountain State School (Primary) has been recognised with its highest accolade at the National Education Awards as Primary School of the Year. Picture Mike Batterham

“We challenge the norm — we say it’s OK to fail, it’s OK to make mistakes because you learn from them. We don’t have homework at school and always look for ways of learning outside the classroom that are different.’’

The school of nearly 600 students was one of 300 nominees in the awards run by The Educator Magazine and Key Media, and one of eight finalists in its category of government primary schools.

Twenty-six independent judges sifted through nominations to reward institutions for inspiring and innovative ways they are going above and beyond to ensure that young people leave school as happy, inspired and capable citizens.

Principal Jason Smith with students (Last names withheld) Mae, Kyan, Zac, Aaliyah and Emily. Picture Mike Batterham

“We celebrate the arts and physical education, have high performing industry teachers who are out there in the community leading in choirs and bands, and participating in high profile events,” Mr Smith said.

“We’ve got the best people working for us and being an independent public school, it allows flexibility and freedom to think outside the box. In a nutshell that’s what it is … we just aren’t the norm.”

Mr Smith said hearing the MC at the ceremony in Sydney call his school out as the winner, was a surreal feeling.

“I was videotaping the schools (finalists) being announced, and when our school was named as winner it took a few seconds to register,” he said.

“It was a bit euphoric, but reaffirming of the great work our team and the wider community have been doing.”

P&C president Haydn Simmons spoke highly of the school’s inclusive, positive and productive approach.

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“The school has put in place a dedicated science teacher, so the kids don’t have one teacher for each subject, they rotate around the school. That in a primary school is very forward thinking and unique,’’ Mr Simmons said.

Parents were also pleased with the way learning was shaped to suit individual kids.

“An example where it was confirmed to me recently (was) a parent was having a hard time in another community and they had come to this school. The child was troubled and wasn’t doing too well, so the mother thought it was best to repeat a year,’’ he said.

“About four weeks into the year, he (Mr Smith) was able to look at the data and tailored a learning program to get the student into grade 6. His confidence went through the roof.

“That’s just an example of how out of 600 kids, he shapes it to suit the needs of every one and keeps their vigour really high.”