Image courtesy of West Wallsend High
<h4>We often hear education leaders heralding that every student is different, or that no two students learn in the same way. This means meeting the needs of every student can be difficult within the traditional classroom framework.</h4>
<p>To counter this, <a href="https://westwalls-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Wallsend High School</a> in New South Wales has introduced a dynamic range of learning and teaching options to make sure every student is catered for. With a combination of differentiation and extension, and a strong emphasis on personal achievement and wellbeing, every student is given a pathway to success.</p>
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<p>Relieving Principal Michael Chandler explained. “We’re a low SES school, and our diverse learning programmes benefit both staff and students. The focus is on promoting personalised growth, academic success, and wellbeing.”</p>
<p>Mr Chandler was a student of WWHS himself, starting at the school in 1988.</p>
<p>“We celebrate each student’s success, and this encourages a culture where effort and achievement are recognised. We want all students to feel proud of their goal setting and achievement, and to work to achieve their own personal learning goals, instead of comparing themselves to other students.”</p>
<h4><strong>Programmes to suit all students</strong></h4>
<p>WWHS actively pursues a culture of individual growth and success. Rather than a one-size fits all teaching model, a variety of programmes and learning options are offered. “These programmes ensure that all students, regardless of their socio-economic background, have access to tailored academic, emotional, and wellbeing support,” Mr Chandler said. The learning framework is for a holistic education, with success measured for each individual student. Good physical and mental wellbeing, as well as continual improvement, are as valued as academic results.</p>
<figure id="attachment_30566" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30566" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class=" wp-image-30566" src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SN36-EDU-Profile-1-Principal-HS-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="314" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30566" class="wp-caption-text">Relieving Principal Michael Chandler | Image courtesy of West Wallsend High</figcaption></figure>
<p>The learning programmes reflect the school motto, We Learn for Life. Mr Chandler said the motto reminds students that learning extends beyond the classroom and prepares them for success in all aspects of life. “The motto reinforces to students that education isn’t just about academic achievement, but about developing the skills, values, and mindset necessary to thrive in their future careers, relationships and communities.”</p>
<p>Three flagship programmes offered at WWHS are SPARK, IGNITE and HORIZON. Each programme is designed to provide tailored support and foster student growth across various domains. “By focusing on personalised learning, wellbeing, and ongoing support, these programmes create an equitable learning environment that helps bridge gaps and empowers students to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances,” Mr Chandler said.</p>
<p>Part of the High Performance Gifted Education (HPGE) programme, SPARK nurtures individual talents across the four domains—academic, physical, creative and social-emotional—providing opportunities for personal growth and mentorship that may not be readily available outside of school. Students in the SPARK programme receive personalised mentorship with tailored teaching practices to support learning and wellbeing needs, and customised learning experiences to foster success. SPARK students also receive individualised case management for personal and academic support throughout the year.</p>
<p>The HORIZON programme supports students in Year 7 and Year 8 for a smooth transition into high school. With a philosophy of “less faces and less spaces” and consistent teacher-student relationships, the programme helps to build strong relationships between students, teachers and parents.</p>
<p>“HORIZON helps students develop resilience, improve literacy and numeracy, and acquire strong organisational and self-regulation skills,” Mr Chandler said.</p>
<p>In their final year at WWHS, Year 12 students enter the IGNITE programme. IGNITE offers resources and mentorship for Year 12 students, helping them overcome barriers to success, and preparing them for post-school opportunities. Each Year 12 student has an individual IGNITE profile, which is updated bi-weekly. The profile includes the student’s ultimate goal, mentor’s name and contact information, strengths and subjects of study, and regular progress updates on attendance and effort.</p>
<p>IGNITE profiles are not tucked away in a drawer and forgotten about as the year goes on. Rather, they are displayed prominently and regularly monitored. “Each Year 12 IGNITE profile is displayed in the principal’s office,” Mr Chandler said. “We use a traffic light system to track student progress.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_30565" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30565" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class=" wp-image-30565" src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SN36-EDU-Profile-3-The-IGNITE-Wall-1024x718.jpg" alt="" width="522" height="366" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30565" class="wp-caption-text">The IGNITE wall | Image courtesy of West Wallsend High</figcaption></figure>
<p>The success of each of these learning programmes relies on buy-in from staff, and the WWHS team is more than happy to get involved. “Our staff are deeply committed to helping students succeed. Many teachers are driven by a passion for making a tangible difference in students’ lives, and the opportunity to build strong, meaningful relationships with students, and witness their growth and success is highly rewarding.”</p>
<p>And since the introduction of the IGNITE programme, there has been plenty of success to celebrate. In 2019, before the introduction of the IGNITE programme, only 15 percent of WWHS students achieved university matriculation. By 2024, that number had risen to 57 percent, demonstrating a significant improvement in university entry rates. To further support its graduates, the school has implemented a student scholarship application process.</p>
<p>“In 2024, our students secured over $200,000 in scholarships, including notable awards such as the University of Newcastle Ma and Morley Scholarship ($60,000), which we have successfully won for three consecutive years,” Mr Chandler said.</p>
<p>Other achievements include four students receiving $6000 scholarships from Youth Off the Streets, a $36,000 NSW Teacher Scholarship for one student, and a prestigious scholarship from UNSW, covering both degree costs and accommodation. “These accomplishments reflect the growing success of our students and the positive impact of the IGNITE programme. It’s a great indicator that IGNITE is benefiting our students, and our staff should be really proud,” Mr Chandler said.</p>
<h4><strong>ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Programme</strong></h4>
<p>Recently, WWHS was selected as one of 18 Australian schools, and 36 schools in total, to participate in the <a href="https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/education/program/asean-bridge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Programme</a>. Schools were chosen through a competitive selection process and join a prestigious network of more than 1200 schools that have participated in BRIDGE programmes across the Asia-Pacific region since 2008.</p>
<p>The BRIDGE programme includes monthly professional learning sessions, reciprocal visits from Southeast Asian teachers to Australia and Australian teachers to Southeast Asia, as well as student forums.</p>
<p>Following a successful visit from Chinese students and teachers in 2024, Mr Chandler said students were eager for more opportunities to engage with different cultures from around the globe. “We know we have a vibrant and welcoming school culture, with staff and students keen to share their knowledge and experiences. This seemed like a great opportunity to showcase our school to the world, while also learning about experiences that exist beyond West Wallsend.”</p>
<p>WWHS’s partner school is Virathavone School in Laos. The schools share a learning ethos, and both use differentiation and extension to meet the individual needs of students.</p>
<p>Mr Chandler said WWHS is looking forward to discussing strategies each school has implemented to increase student connection and engagement. “We envisage this partnership will empower our staff to embrace new strategies and inspire our whole school community to embrace all that Laotion culture has to offer. We hope that the cross-curricular partnerships we form will strengthen our practices and support a new generation of global thinkers.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_30567" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30567" style="width: 521px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class=" wp-image-30567" src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SN36-EDU-Profile-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="521" height="347" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30567" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of West Wallsend High</figcaption></figure>
<h4><strong>Supporting staff to thrive</strong></h4>
<p>WWHS understands that the needs of teachers, as well as students, must be looked after. Staff wellbeing is intrinsically linked to student wellbeing, and only well supported teachers can encourage students to excel.</p>
<p>Monday afternoons at WWHS prioritise professional learning. The school has a dedicated suite of professional learning designed to support the professional growth of all staff. Providing dedicated time in the school timetable for staff meetings helps teachers maintain a work-life balance, and means sufficient time is available to collaborate professionally to support student learning. This small measure is one example of the caring community at WWHS that extends to staff, students and parents.</p>
<p>To further support staff development, WWHS is part of the Sugarloaf Community of Schools, with Edgeworth Heights, West Wallsend, Barnsley, and Wakefield Public Schools. Through professional collaboration and sharing innovative practices, the schools enhance teaching and leadership capabilities of all staff.</p>
<p>“The passion of our staff and our commitment to operating as a professional and unified team is one of our greatest strengths,” Mr Chandler said. “We’re all proud of our reputation as a caring community. Our staff maintain the highest integrity, and truly want every child to succeed.</p>
<p>“West Wallsend High is a special community, and we all feel privileged to be a part of it.”</p>

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