Faculty Mission:

A quality education is one of the greatest advantages a young person can have in ensuring a voice in the competitive world of knowledge, technology and wisdom. This quality education needs to encompass not only the academic focus of the curriculum but the values and virtues of a society recognising the multidisciplinary intelligences that allow a certain distinctiveness as an individual. This, provided in a nurturing environment, will encourage and build confidence and ideally create independent learners that recognise learning is a life long process.

The Townsville Grammar School Educational Support Centre performs a vital role in providing additional support to students to assist in their educational development. We recognise that a number of our students have special educational needs for whom provision of effective education programs and related services are required.

There is an overwhelming acknowledgement and appreciation from the School community at having a facility on campus like the ‘Educational Support Centre’. In establishing our Middle School Precinct we have been fortunate to provide a clear focus in Educational Support for our Middle School students ensuring maximum learning opportunities during these years. Educational Support works with all faculties in the School, providing collaborative planning and scaffolding of subject/classroom programming and assessments.

The most significant changes to Special Needs were the introduction and implementation of the Educational Adjustment Programmes (EAP’s) initiative in accordance with the DDA legislation. This primarily caters for our students with diagnosed learning disabilities/impairments, however in implementing this process an increased understanding and awareness of students with special needs has filtered through the whole School; with significant adjustments being made to classroom programming and assessments.

The Head of Educational Support, Renita Baker, is committed to identifying the barriers that inhibit some students from participating in, and achieving their full potential within their educational development. Access to Educational Support is on a referral basis, from parents, administration, teachers or self-referral.

Renita Baker can be contacted on (07) 4722 4989 or by email on bak@tgs.qld.edu.au .