2025 WA Education Awards finalists: Excellence in teaching and learning – secondary

Four public secondary schools have been recognised in the WA Education Awards 2025 for their excellence in teaching and learning.

Ashdale Secondary College, Aveley Secondary College, Harrisdale Senior High School and Ocean Reef Senior High School are finalists in the excellence in teaching and learning (secondary) category. 

The award acknowledges secondary schools that create outstanding learning environments to enhance student progress and achievement. 

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

Here’s more about the finalists: 

Ashdale Secondary College 

Ashdale Secondary College embraces a teaching philosophy of innovation and adaptability to prepare students for the demands of an increasingly complex world. 

STEM is a major focus at Ashdale, with more than 85% of senior school students studying at least one subject, while a specialist autism program supports diverse learning needs.  

The college, located in Darch, has also built partnerships with five local primary schools to help streamline the learning journey for students from Kindergarten through to Year 12.  

The consistency of instructional practices and shared professional learning has been instrumental in improving student outcomes. 

Investing in staff wellbeing is a priority at Ashdale Secondary College, with workload considerations sustaining high teaching standards. Aspiring leaders are also nurtured through the school’s leadership program. 

Aveley Secondary College 

High expectations, and a culture where passionate teachers go above and beyond, ensures every student at Ellenbrook’s Aveley Secondary College is well-equipped for the future. 

The college’s comprehensive coaching model is highly valued, helping staff incorporate impactful teaching strategies into lessons and promoting student self-reflection. 

Targeted teaching interventions are identified through a data-driven approach, which has significantly improved literacy and numeracy outcomes, while the special education needs team works closely with Aveley’s classroom teachers to provide targeted assistance for students with disabilities. 

The school has also cultivated industry partnerships to provide learning opportunities and meaningful education pathways for students. 

Support for teaching staff is a major focus at Aveley Secondary College.  

Miss Barker, a recent teaching graduate, said: “The consistent support and guidance I’ve received has taken me from a nervous praccie to a confident, capable and trusted teacher. 

“It’s not just the systems designed by the school, it’s the people who have taken the time to mentor, encourage and back me every step of the way.”  

Harrisdale Senior High School 

A culture of curiosity and achievement underpins a responsive approach to teaching and learning at Harrisdale Senior High School.  

The school, located in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs, recognises the unique strengths, needs and aspirations of each student to prepare them for the rapidly changing world. 

Teachers collaborate across learning areas and share expertise, while initiatives in the Education as a Second Language or Dialect (EALD) program and the school’s advanced learning model ensure staff are confident and well supported in the classroom. 

The school has formed strong connections with industry and cultural organisations to enhance learning, including partnerships with the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra and the cricket specialist program. 

Access to performance data allows school leadership teams to monitor student achievement, pinpoint learning areas for improvement and adjust curriculum delivery accordingly. 

Ocean Reef Senior High School 

A spirit of collaboration strengthens teaching and learning at Ocean Reef Senior High School in Perth’s northern suburbs. 

Relationships are nurtured within learning areas, while a focus on teaching excellence is aided by professional learning and the school’s weekly collaborative duties other than teaching (DOTT) model. 

Ocean Reef High School’s distributed leadership model offers a clear development path to promote instructional leadership at every level. 

Improved NAPLAN scores across the board have been a highlight in 2025, with the school’s whole-school approach to explicit vocabulary instruction a key contributor. 

An investment in the school’s learning support and specialist learning support – autism programs has improved classroom outcomes for students with additional needs. The school’s education assistant team was recognised nationally in 2024, winning the Australian Teacher Aide (ATA) National Education Assistant Team of the year. 

Find out more about the WA Education Awards.