Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's always heartening to hear about excellence in innovation in our schools. In Shortland, I'm proud to say, we have some of the best.

Hunter Sports High in Gateshead made history a few months ago after being named government secondary school of the year, and overall—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 09:32 to 09:44

As I was saying, it's always heartening to hear about excellence and innovation in our schools, and in Shortland I'm proud to say we have some of the best. Hunter Sports High School in Gateshead made history a few months ago after being named government secondary school of the year and overall Australian school of the year in the Australian Education Awards. Not only is this an amazing achievement; it is the second year in a row it's won both categories. Just think about that—it's the second year in a row that it has been the best school in Australia. To be awarded Australian school of the year once is a big deal, but to be awarded it back to back is phenomenal.

I'd like to recognise and congratulate Principal Rachel Byrne, her staff, students and the wonderful community for cementing Hunter Sports High as a prime example of excellence in public education. It is setting the standard for education right across the country. These awards truly reflect the passion, expertise and commitment of the entire school community in providing an outstanding learning environment.

Hunter Sports High prides itself on inspiring a love of lifelong learning in its 950 students from years 7 to 12. It delivers a learning environment that balances academic excellence and sporting achievement. Twenty-two per cent of its students identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, ensuring rich cultural experiences are part of the diverse fabric of the school community. Especially, as the school represents a region that includes Windale and Gateshead and other communities like that, this is a phenomenal achievement of which I am so proud.

Just five minutes away is Mount Hutton Public School, a K-6 primary school with around 170 students, of which 23 per cent identify as First Nations. Around 40 per cent of the cohort have at least one disability, often more. This is a school that is leading the way on how to embed the explicit instruction teaching model. This approach helps students process new information more effectively to prevent cognitive overload.

The successes being enjoyed by the leadership team at Mount Hutton Public School have been recognised by the Australian Education Research Organisation and feature in a new video on the AERO website. With its teachers using a consistent and collaborative approach to teaching, Mount Hutton has seen positive changes throughout the school. There's no doubt that improving teaching practices and boosting teachers' confidence in their methods improves student outcomes.

I couldn't be prouder of these two schools in my electorate. They are leading the way in delivering high-quality, best-practice education, and I am so proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government that is delivering, for the first time, full and fair funding for public schools right across Australia, including for those on our home turf in Shortland.