2025 WA Education Awards finalists: Excellence in school leadership

Four public schools have been recognised in the WA Education Awards 2025 for their outstanding approach and responsibility to school leadership.

Anne Hamersley Primary School, Boyare Primary School, John Curtin College of the Arts, and Joseph Banks Secondary College are the finalists for the excellence in school leadership category. 

The award celebrates schools that take an inclusive approach to leadership and focus on collective impact to ensure all students can learn and achieve. 

The winner will be announced at an award presentation event on Monday 17 November.   

Here’s more about the finalists: 

Anne Hamersley Primary School 

At Anne Hamersley Primary School, students are achieving their potential thanks to the shared nature of the school’s leadership.  

Their well-developed coaching program gives school leaders a voice, collective ownership of priorities and strengthens collaboration. Together, staff work to implement the Quality Teaching Strategy and Teaching for Impact frameworks. 

Staff are proud of their partnerships with families, community and organisations. With these partnerships, staff work to make the school an inclusive environment that directly benefits the students and ensures resources are available to support students with disability, cultural responsiveness, and reconciliation initiatives. 

Initiatives such as Breakfast Club, mindfulness and staff wellness activities, encourages engagement within the school and is foundational to achievement for both students and staff.  

Boyare Primary School 

‘Learning together’ is the motto of staff and students at Boyare Primary School and is shown by a collaborative leadership culture and strive for continued improvement. 

Upskilling and developing current skills are a big part of the culture at the school.  

Staff are involved in weekly professional learning sessions with literacy and numeracy coaches to support the implementation of the various programs, strengthen professional relationships and foster peer-led leadership. 

The student’s voice is a big part of the school’s collaborative leadership culture with student leadership and student-centred learning occurring in classrooms every day. 

The Student Council and Year 6 Leadership Program take shared responsibility for the sustainability program and fundraising, and students across the school participate in surveys which inform school planning. 

John Curtin College of the Arts 

At John Curtin College of the Arts, there is a strong focus on student leadership that provides them opportunities to be trusted with genuine responsibility.  

The Mia Maali (Home of the Black Swan) student cultural leadership group addresses real community needs, provides a space for connection and belonging, organises cultural events and advises on policy that effects all at the school.  

With a commitment to continuous professional growth and support for students, staff take part in the Teachers Leading Teachers initiative, leading each other in professional learning that directly improves student outcomes. 

Through clubs, student house leadership and involvement on the WA Student Council, students don’t just participate in the community, they lead and improve it. 

Joseph Banks Secondary College 

Relationships are the foundation of the leadership approach at Joseph Banks Secondary College, with engagement encouraged between students, staff, families and community organisations. 

Opportunities are provided for students to engage with real-world learning through industry partnerships such as BHP, Edith Cowan University, and CyberWest, and their world-class facilities including the new Western Australian Space Science Education Centre (WASSEC) which has been recognised at the Australian Education Awards. 

Students are encouraged to share their voice, with opportunities to contribute to policy reviews, lead initiatives such as the Skittle Committee which champions LGBTIQA+ inclusion, and school events like Harmony Week and NAIDOC Week. 

Staff have developed teaching and learning resources for every teacher at the school to access. They are also provided mentoring opportunities which encourages staff collaboration. 

Find out more about the WA Education Awards.