We exist to grow great people and we aspire to prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities that a rapidly changing, globally connected society will present them.
We know that every student has their own strengths. We believe it's our role to ensure they find and harness their passions giving them the confidence to both flourish in their strengths and tackle areas they find a challenge. We encourage them to pursue excellence in all endeavours. We want them to live fulfilling lives based on our values and personal integrity. We aim to ensure every student achieves their best potential so they are ready-not just for the completion of their final exams but for life!
Through our unique Diamond Education Model, we offer learning environments across our 2 campuses and 50 acres that allow us to honour everything we know about providing a great education. We offer co-education from Early Learning through to Year 6 in our dedicated Junior school and single-gender-based education on dedicated campuses for our senior girls and boys.
We provide a diverse, inspiring environment in which young people of all abilities can develop their interests and extend their learning. Central to our ethos of growing great people is our focus on character development in the belief that an education of the head that neglects an education of the heart is no education at all!
The St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar framework stresses participation and the quest for excellence in the 4 As of Academics, Athleticism, Artistry and Adventure as an antidote to schools that preach just the learning of the ABC’s and focus on ATAR’s. This framework emphasizes the growth and education of the whole child, focusing on the adult they will one day become to equip them with the reusitive values, resilience, sense of self and identity required to lead a fulfilling and honorable life in multiple roles.
These complementary elements enhance different skills and traits as central to a child’s development, while also reinforcing and enhancing others. It is this process that ensures we’re able, in partnership with families, to develop well-adjusted young people, those as comfortable of the streets of Beijing and Berlin as they are in Berwick-true global leaders. dedicated to enriching the lives of others in ways both large and small.
Students are the heart of our school and we never lose sight of this, always putting students and their outcomes at the forefront of every decision we make. We know we need to be what they need us to be – a teacher, a role model, a confidant, a crutch, a shoulder, a mentor, a cheerleader, a challenger, a leader and an advocate to name a few. By being what each student needs us to be ensure’s they find their spark and achieve their best potential.
Diamond Education Model
We offer an education model that provides the best of all worlds. Co-education in our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program through ELC and Junior School. Single gender education on dedicated campuses in senior years with cross campus socio-emotional learning opportunities e.g. House events, debating, performing arts and camps.
A Senior College experience for VCE that brings genders together for learning experiences and activities, which allows the school to offer the widest range of VCE subjects, while also preparing students for the next step in their life
Excellence, Growth and Belonging
To grow great people we need to educate the heart as much as the mind.
As an open entry, we aim to engage and reach every student to ensure that they have a strong sense of belonging to our community. That they are regularly challenged to ensure their personal growth and that they strive for excellence in everything that they do.
Excellence
We challenge our students to achieve their best potential and pursue excellence in all endeavours within a high-quality and balanced educational experience.
Growth
We inspire our learners to find their strengths and grow in their voice and agency through a
scope and sequence of opportunity, choice and challenge, appropriate to their age and stage.
Belonging
The essence of an education at SMBG is the strength that comes from belonging and connection with something larger than oneself. Our aim is to ensure all community members feel safe, valued, nurtured and connected, with a strong sense of belonging to place and people, so you always feel welcome.
4 As
We deliver Excellence, Growth and Belonging through the lens of our 4 As Academics, Artistry, Athleticism and Adventure to provide a holistic education that ensures every student finds and explores their passion which we strive to develop and nurture.
The nature of education and curiosity means that no A stands on its own but is intrinsically linked with the other As. Leadership is not only found walking on the trails of the high country, but can equally be found in the performing arts, the debating team, the sports field or the nuances of global citizenship.
As long as a student pursues excellence and exercises their best effort then every outcome should be celebrated. Learning achieved by participating in something, is just as impressive as a student who is elite at that particular activity.
Wellbeing
Providing a Child Safe Environment and excellent Wellbeing programs is central to our ethos of knowing every child.
While day to day Wellbeing is provided in the Junior School via Classroom Teachers and in the Senior School via Mentors and Heads of Houses, it is every staff member’s responsibility to ensure the student’s Wellbeing and Child Safe Standards are legislated.
Wellbeing is not a program. It is the connected understanding of a student’s academic, social and academic needs and progress. Without a connected understanding it is difficult to provide the support that every child needs to feel safe, known, grow and have a sense of belonging.
