St Andrew’s Anglican College has once again been recognised on the national stage, being named an Excellence Awardee in two categories at the 2026 Australian Education Awards: Best Use of Technology and Regional School of the Year.

College Principal Ms Karen Gorrie said the recognition affirms what the St Andrew’s community works toward every day.

“To be recognised at a national level in two separate categories is an extraordinary honour,” Ms Gorrie said.

“I'm incredibly proud, but more than anything I'm grateful, grateful to work alongside staff who give so much, and to be part of a community of students and families who make this school what it is. We are proud to be a school where innovation and excellence go hand in hand.”

Best Use of Technology: Teaching students to think in an AI world

In a rapidly changing information landscape, St Andrew’s made a bold decision: rather than treating artificial intelligence as a problem to restrict, the College embraced it as an opportunity to teach a new kind of literacy.

In 2025, the College transformed its Digital Library into a structured Digital Research Hub, a platform that integrates traditional research practices with AI literacy skills, designed specifically for the way students learn today. Students can learn not just how to find information, but how to question it. That means holding an AI-generated response to the same standard as any other source: checking it, challenging it and verifying it to construct evidence-based arguments.

“We didn’t want our students to fear AI or be naive about it. We wanted them to be the kind of thinkers who know how to interrogate any source and hold it to account,” Ms Gorrie said.

The early signs are really encouraging. Student prompt quality has improved by around 40% following targeted instruction, and the platform is now part of daily learning across Science, English and Humanities - modelling responsible innovation.

Regional School of the Year: A community that does extraordinary things

The Regional School of the Year award recognises what so many already know about St Andrew's: that it delivers an exceptional education combining outstanding academic results, innovative programs and a truly connected school community.

The Class of 2025 achieved the College's best Year 12 results since the introduction of the ATAR system. A median ATAR of 90.4, 52% of students achieving 90 or above, and every university applicant receiving an offer for their chosen degree. Another 65 students graduated with VET qualifications.

St Andrew's students also claimed State Champion honours at the Queensland Da Vinci Decathlon, a second consecutive International Championship in Tournament of Minds, and a global win in the Apple Swift Student Challenge.

"Our ATAR results are something to celebrate, but what truly defines this community is the breadth of what our students achieve. Behind every result is a student whose story is entirely their own. Strong ATAR results, VET pathways, international competition wins - what moves me is that St Andrew's can celebrate all of it. That full picture is what St Andrew's is all about and what we work toward every day," Ms Karen Gorrie

Additionally, St Andrew’s has built a community where 92% of students are involved in co-curricular life, where pastoral care is taken seriously from the very first year, and where staff genuinely know and invest in every student.

"Our regional location is not a barrier, it's a strength. It allows us to offer personalised, relationship-rich education while delivering world-class opportunities. These awards are a proud reflection of everything our community has built together." Ms Gorrie said.

These awards follow St Andrew’s being named Secondary School of the Year (non-government) at the 2024 Australian Education Awards, and in 2025 named one of Australia’s Most Innovative Schools, and a 5-Star Best School.