St Andrew's Cathedral School

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Our teachers win big at state award ceremony

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Nine of our outstanding educators were honoured at the annual Teachers’ Guild Awards 2024 for their continued commitment to expert and quality teaching.

These annual awards honour NSW teachers across a series of educational benchmarks and celebrate a commitment to enhancing professional knowledge, improving teaching practice, finding new ways to engage with students and developing and fostering relationships with the wider community. 

Head of School, Dr Julie McGonigle was thrilled by the news – highlighting the School’s consistent commitment to exceptional teaching.

“The fact that so many of our teachers have been honoured reflects the School’s commitment to excellence and quality, and the importance we place on developing the expertise of our dedicated staff,” she said.

The School offers a multi-faceted approach to professional development, drawing on high-quality evidence and coaching resources. Opportunities include a professional growth programme, expert teaching workshops, mentoring and a bespoke leadership programme.

The following teachers received awards: 

Award for Teachers in Early Years of Teaching: Senior School Division Finalists

Nicholas Bradhurst
Nicholas achieved his NESA Proficient Teacher accreditation in 2023 and teaches Mathematics at the School. Highly organised, he makes a real effort to connect the maths of the classroom with the real world. 

World Teachers’ Recognition Awards

Sophie Garrick
As a teacher in the Junior School, Sophie displays high expectations for all her students and is passionate about providing differentiated learning to caters to her students’ needs. She is currently working in a K-6 team to pilot recoding teaching for reflective conversations linked to teacher goal setting. 

Melinda Mestre
Melinda is Head of Science for Middle School and Senior College. Using data to inform her practice, she integrates innovative and diverse teaching practices in her classes and is committed to sharing her work widely in the professional community. She actively advocates for STEM education and raising the profile of girls in STEM.

Cathy Phipps
Cathy has a wealth of experience in teaching HSIE in both the IB Diploma and HSC. She demonstrates an innate ability to foster growth and expand understanding in her students and teaches in an engaging and motivating style. 

Kate Robertson
As Head of Music in the Junior School, Kate sets students up for a lifelong love, appreciation and understanding of music. An outstanding music educator, expert practitioner and ensemble leader, she also contributes to professional learning networks outside the School. 

Lizzie Skipsey
Lizzie Skipsey is an exceptional educator who has had a profound impact on the School, not only because of her passion for English and innovative teaching methods, but also because of her transformative leadership in service-learning initiatives. She fosters social responsibility among students and encourages meaningful community engagement. 

Szu Yu Chen
Szu Yu is an outstanding Music teacher and school accompanist, with a great versatility across genres that broadens students’ musical horizons. By inspiring students and enhancing the curriculum with innovative ideas she has significantly advanced music education at St Andrew’s Cathedral School. 

Two master’s students participating in the St Andrew’s Cathedral School intern programmes also received recognition. The tertiary intern programmes are a recent addition to our professional development, supporting pre-service teachers to connect meaningfully with the School. Ms Eliza Pascoe and Mr Lachlan Macdonald—both in the second year of a Master of Teaching —were awarded the Teacher’s Guild Scholarship for masters’ students. Eliza is a student at the University of New South Wales and is training as a primary teacher, while Lachlan, a student at Alphacrucis University College, is training as a secondary Mathematics and Computing teacher. 

Dr Kirsten Macauley, Deputy Head Quality Teaching K-12, congratulated the winners saying that,

“These and many other dedicated teachers shape our students’ futures with skill and care, adapting their methods to meet each learner’s needs. Through their steady commitment, our teachers prepare students to succeed in our complex, ever-changing world.” 

These awards reflect the vibrant learning environment at St Andrew’s Cathedral School and the importance the School places on staff professional development. Combined with our pastoral care and Christian values, the School aims to not only offer the best teaching practice, but also care for the whole student – in the knowledge that every child is ‘infinitely precious’.