Wenona's Approach to Excellence

Recently featuring in the Sydney Morning Herald's education spotlight, Principal Ms Linda Douglas, has highlighted Wenona's distinctive approach to building and maintaining an exceptional teaching team.

The article explored how leading schools attract top-tier educators and positioned Wenona as an example of best practice in staff development and retention.

"Hiring exceptional teachers isn't just a priority; it's fundamental to everything we do," said Ms Douglas. "While hiring appropriately has certainly become more challenging, the best teachers remain student-centred and passionate about learning."

Research consistently demonstrates that teacher quality is the most significant school-related factor influencing student achievement. At Wenona, this understanding drives a comprehensive approach to professional development that sets the School apart in the competitive education landscape.

The Wenona Foundation's generous Teaching Fellowships and Seeding Grants exemplify this commitment to excellence. In 2024 to 2025, Fellowship and Grant winners travelled to Europe to investigate STEM education, historic sites in Ireland and Scotland to examine contested memory and commemoration, and London to explore modern art origins. These opportunities ensure staff return with insights that directly benefit students' educational experiences.

What particularly distinguishes Wenona is its culture of collaboration. Ms Douglas said she has witnessed this firsthand during on-site professional learning sessions where both experienced and new teachers demonstrated remarkable openness to share expertise and vulnerabilities for others' learning benefit. It is a collective commitment to growth that enables innovation and best practice to flourish throughout the School.

Wenona’s commitment extends beyond international opportunities to professional development frameworks that draw on existing staff talents to create cross-faculty dialogue and formalise pedagogical expertise sharing.

Recent initiatives include strategic assessment practice masterclasses, led by teachers with significant NESA experience, which demonstrate Wenona's commitment to ensuring consistency and excellence across all learning areas.

The School also maintains strong partnerships with universities, providing numerous practical placements for pre-service educators annually. This pipeline ensures emerging educators experience Wenona's vibrant community culture before entering the profession.

Ms Douglas's recognition in the Herald reinforces the School's unwavering dedication to attracting, developing and retaining outstanding educators; a commitment to excellence in education that ensures Wenona continues to shape confident, capable young women ready to serve and shape their world.