What are the Gold Coast’s top performing schools and what are they charging?

Wondering where your children will get the best results at school? We’ve indexed the top performing academic schools – and not all of them are charging big fees.

Many of the Gold Coast’s best performing schools also have some of the most reasonable costs.

One is even part of the state school system.

Analysis of NAPLAN results by the Gold Coast Bulletin reveals that All Saints Anglican School in Merrimac is achieving top-drawer results without charging parents top dollar.

All Saints had the second-best results among high schools, and the sixth best among primary schools.

Headmaster Patrick Wallas said the school had “incredibly passionate and dedicated staff”. However he said that while NAPLAN results provided valuable data, he cautioned they were “a snapshot of a moment in time”.

“Their real value resides in their role as a diagnostic tool,” Mr Wallas said. “The information provided this year is particularly useful as it charts the progress of students from Years 3 -5, 5-7 and 7-9. Thus we are now able to use the data provided to see if there are general areas in a particular student cohort that need addressing – for example, did Year 3 score lower in their spelling than we expected?

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All Saints Anglican School Principal Patrick Wallas. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“And we can also track individual student progress – did a particular student not progress as much as might have expected in numeracy from Year 7 to Year 9? What factors might have contributed to this?

“... But I think we need to be wary about making value judgements based on NAPLAN results as there are so many complex factors involved in our different schools.

“We have incredibly dedicated and passionate teaching and support staff at All Saints who constantly strive to develop themselves and their craft professionally, but then so do most schools in our State.”

Fees at All Saints school range between $8378 at primary level and $10,432 for high school seniors.

Mr Wallas said he believed all Gold Coast schools were “working really hard” to keep charges to parents as low as possible.

“With educational and external costs rising, this is a real challenge,” he said.

“At All Saints we simply will not compromise the integrity and quality of our teaching and learning programs which represent our core business. Over 70% of our income is invested in our staff.

“Curriculum innovations come and go but the success of any school depends on the quality of their staff.”

Broadbeach State School.

Another very strong performer came from the state sector, with Broadbeach State School achieving results on a par with the Gold Coast’s most expensive primary schools.

A second state school, Bellevue Park State School in Ashmore, wasn’t far behind.

Broadbeach State School principal Bruce Langes said he was very proud of its hard-working students and teachers.

“As a school we are proud of our all our students and their outstanding NAPLAN

results. We congratulate them for their success and hard work the show every day,” Mr Lange said.

“I would also like to acknowledge and commend our dedicated teachers for their commitment and devotion to the needs of their students in achieving the best possible outcomes for them.

“Our successful results are a testament to the positive teaching and learning culture within our school community and the fundamental skills and knowledge passed on to students by their experienced teachers though regular classes and assessments.”

The best results overall were achieved by Somerset College in Mudgeeraba, which our analysis put at top spot among high schools and second best, after The Southport School, at primary level.

Headmaster Craig Bassingthwaighte said the school was “very proud” of its students.

“Somerset College is very proud of the achievements of our students in last year’s NAPLAN tests,” Mr Bassingthwaighte said.

“While this is a moment in time it’s a particularly good one for us. Over the past few years we have looked to improve our junior results and we are very pleased with his progress.

“In the senior results Somerset is the top ranked non-selective coeducational School in Queensland. They are an amazing bunch of students totally committed to finding out who they can be.

“We use the NAPLAN results and test preparation so that our students feel very comfortable when they come to the end of their journey and are involved in the QCE or IBDP exams.

“We can’t thank enough our wonderful teachers for their dedication and love of learning. When we all work together great things happen.”

A B Paterson College in Arundel also impressed, recording the third best results at both primary and secondary level.

Benowa State High school achieved the best results from the state sector at secondary level.

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Originally published as What are the Gold Coast’s top performing schools and what are they charging?