In August 2024, Mrs Anne Johnstone, Ravenswood School for Girls Principal, was announced the winner of the prestigious Australian School Principal of the Year at the 2024 Australian Education Awards.
On the same night, she was also named the School Principal of the Year (Non-Government).
‘I am so proud of our Ravenswood school community and am inspired every day by our students, staff and families,’ Mrs Johnstone said after receiving her Australian School Principal of the Year trophy at the awards’ gala dinner at The Star Event Centre in Pyrmont. ‘It’s an honour to receive this award and I share this accolade with them, and my family.
‘It truly is the greatest privilege to work with our extraordinary staff, supported by our School Council, to help students fulfil their potential and flourish in their education and in all aspects of their lives. Education is a wonderful calling and a most meaningful opportunity to make a positive contribution to the world! I’m incredibly humbled and grateful.’
Mrs Johnstone has been widely recognised for her exceptional educational leadership and contributions as Principal, including in the introduction, design and implementation of innovative Positive Education programs and initiatives.
Past accolades include her recognition as The Educator magazine’s Most Influential Educator in 2023 and 2024, and her appearance on The Educator’s Hot List three times in three years (in 2022, 2023 and 2024). In 2022, she also received an Excellence Award in The Educator Australian Education Awards for School Principal of the Year (Non-Government).
Alongside Mrs Anne Johnstone’s achievements, the 2024 Australian Education Awards conferred on Ravenswood School for Girls several additional honours, including the Best Use of Technology Award, an Excellence Award for Best Student Wellbeing Program (the third time in four years) and an Excellence Award for Boarding School of the Year (for the second time in three years).
Highlighting the School’s embrace and adaptation of sixth-generation virtual reality (VR) technology, the Australian Education Awards judges gave Ravenswood the nod for the tech award for its innovative use of technology in teaching and learning.
Ms Elizabeth Westley, Director of ICT, says: ‘The integration of VR technology at Ravenswood has provided opportunities for immersive, interactive learning activities that significantly enhance student engagement and motivation. From virtual historical field trips to being a ‘bee’ inside a beehive, VR offers students opportunities to explore new worlds, old worlds and perspectives in previously unimaginable ways.’
The technology provides Ravenswood teachers with the tools to plan and implement state-of-the-art immersive, engaging learning and assessment experiences in the classroom for students in the Junior and Senior schools, enhancing overall educational outcomes.
Ravenswood crowned for innovative education
Knox Ravenswood Cadet Unit
