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In our commitment to ensure our students are well-prepared for the future and in order to stay at the forefront of educational innovation, two significant curricular changes are being implemented for Danebank students in Years 9 and 10 (Stage 5).

The first is the addition of two extra courses (International Studies and iStem), and the second the opportunity for girls to choose up to four courses over the two years, doubling from the original two.

The result of comprehensive parent and student surveys and extensive discussions with our teachers, these changes are expected to have a significantly positive impact on the girls’ educational experience at our school.

The surveys also led to expanding our VET offerings for Years 11 and 12 (Stage 6).

Embracing Innovation

As innovators in education, Danebank understands the importance of preparing our students to become global citizens and critical thinkers. By introducing the elective International Studies and iStem courses, we aim to broaden their horizons and nurture their curiosity about the world:

• International Studies will expose our students to diverse cultures and perspectives, fostering cultural sensitivity and open-mindedness.
• iStem will equip girls with the skills required to navigate the technology-driven industries of tomorrow, ensuring they remain competitive in the ever-changing job market.

Fostering Flexibility

Recognising the uniqueness of each student, we are transitioning from two 200-hour courses to four 100-hour courses over Years 9 and 10.

This shift allows our girls to delve into more subjects that interest them, tailoring their learning experience to suit their individual strengths and passions.

In practice this means that students elect two 100-hour courses for study in Year 9 and then have the option to either choose the same subjects again for Year 10 (making this a 200-hour course) or select another two 100-hour elective courses.

Over the two years in Stage 5, students can now choose from Drama, Music, Photography and Digital Media, Visual Arts, Commerce, History Elective, International Studies, Physical Activity and Sport Studies, Design and Technology, Food Technology, Industrial Technology, Multimedia, iStem and Textiles Technology. The only exceptions are French and Japanese, the details of which are discussed with students when they choose a language.

This change will also allow students to be better equipped to make subject selections for Years 11 and 12.

Teach for the Future

These changes are rooted in Danebank’s commitment to teach for the future.

The curriculum review process has been comprehensive, ensuring that we maintain our school's strong educational foundation while embracing forward-thinking pedagogy. By providing our girls with the right tools and opportunities, we are empowering them to become adaptable, lifelong learners who can thrive in an ever-changing world.

Collaboration

We value the input of our entire school community, so these changes were made in collaboration with parents, students, and teachers.

The insights gained from surveys and discussions have been instrumental in shaping the decisions. We are grateful for the active involvement of our community, which reflects our shared commitment to providing the best possible education for our students.

In Pursuit of Educational Excellence

The journey to expand subject selections to include International Studies and iStem, along with the introduction of 100-hour courses for Years 9 and 10, marks a new chapter in Danebank’s pursuit of educational excellence.

These changes represent our dedication to fostering innovation, preparing students for the future, and providing them with the flexibility to thrive in their academic pursuits. Together, as a community of educators, parents and students, we are embracing the future and preparing our graduates to make a positive impact on the world.

Book a tour or contact our registrar [email protected] to find out more.

The Danebank Class of 2024’s HSC results and learning achievements have been outstanding. We congratulate each young woman and celebrate the culmination of her efforts and endeavours of her Danebank journey. The school's academic results continue to affirm our longstanding tradition and heritage of academic and learning excellence.

This year 101 of our Year 12 students undertook the HSC course, while five Year 11 accelerated students completed the HSC Mathematics Advanced and Extension courses. Of the 101 students, 94 completed the HSC, three Year 12 students completed the Life Skills Program and four students will complete the HSC in 2025 as they undertake the pathways program (a two-year course of study).

Congratulations to Danebank’s Dux, Abby Wong, who achieved an ATAR of 99.75.

More All Rounders

There has been an increase in Danebank All Rounders (students who achieved a result in the highest band, Band 6 or E4, in 10 or more units) this year, as well as in the percentage of HSC students at the 80+, 90+ and 95+ ATAR levels when compared to previous years.

Distinguished Achievers

A record of 68 percent of our students received a Band 6 or E4 (equivalent to Band 6 for extension subjects) result. The highest percentage for Danebank in the last 10 years, this achievement positioned the school as number 52 in the State, continuing our tradition of being the best performing independent school in Georges River and Sutherland Shire. In total, 64 Danebank students are included on the HSC Honour Roll for Distinguished Achievers, four of whom were Year 11 accelerated students.

ATARs

Our Class of 2024’s accomplishments are further highlighted by the percentage of students who secured ATARs of 80 and above:

• 15.9% achieved an ATAR above 95 (Top 5%)
• 42.5% achieved an ATAR above 90 (Top 10%)
• 75.5% achieved an ATAR of 80 or above (Top 20%)

The percentage of students who achieved an ATAR over 80 is the highest in Danebank’s academic history.

Putting these results in context, this year only 51 from a total of 57,194 students in NSW achieved an ATAR of 99.95.

Some Highlights

There were many examples of personal excellence this year.

• Two Danebank students scored an ATAR above 99, placing them in the top 1% nationally:
  • Abby Wong 99.75
  • Lara Lim 99.70
• Four students achieved All Rounders Awards, with a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4) in 10 or more units of courses.
• Top non-selective school in the Georges River and the Sutherland Shire
• 64 students are Distinguished Achievers (Band 6 in at least one subject)

We acknowledge that the HSC results are one marker of our students’ learning success, and we are proud of the well-rounded, confident and capable young women they are becoming.

We are immensely proud not only of these HSC results but especially of who each young woman is becoming. We are confident that our young women will embrace this next exciting chapter of their life journey as they continue learning, and pursue their passions and interests, ultimately making a positive impact on the world.

Our young women leave our green gates equipped with the dispositions, knowledge and skills, character, faith and resilience to embrace the future with a sense of hope and optimism.

Read the full report here.

Autumn is a beautiful time for a fair and open day (regardless of the rain) and this year the joy was certainly felt right across the Danebank grounds on Saturday 11 May. The school campus became a tapestry of laughter and friendship as families and girls made memories to last.

The preparation that goes into an event of this magnitude is incredible and the school is so grateful to our outstanding P&F Committee, our staff, students and families for their involvement in making this day spectacular.

Children marvelled at the juggling display, had their faces decorated, and enjoyed the open classrooms and exploring the grounds and stalls. The school’s soloists, bands, ensembles, choirs, dance groups and the bell ringers put on wonderful performances. Of particular note was the Roseby Class' performance, which had the whole crowd cheering along.

Families worked tirelessly on the BBQ, Asian food and souvlaki counters, while the cake stall had an array of baked goods and delicious treats to choose from.

Many girls volunteered to take families on tours, showing prospective parents Danebank through their eyes. Families commented on how wonderful their experience of tours were and how much they had learned from the girls.

The Devonshire Tea hosted by our Old Girls Association in the new opened Stage 2 Building was a beautiful way to pause and enjoy the wonderful new learning spaces on offer to our girls.

Beyond the entertainment and delicious food, our Autumn Fair also serves as a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of our community. The P&F organisers, volunteers, and participants pour their hearts and souls into crafting an event that celebrates the beauty of our school. This year's fair is a testament to their resilience and creativity as they negotiated trying weather conditions, but as the banners are taken down and the clean up finishes, behind the scenes preparation begins for 2025!

It was a joy to celebrate the HSC results of the Class of 2023 at our High Achievers Assembly on Wednesday 14 February 2024. The Year 12 cohort included 38 Distinguished Achievers, and the assembly was a superb opportunity to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and passion of our students.

The guest speaker, Alexandra Lee (Danebank graduate 2004), gave an inspiring address and offered her advice to the graduates as they began their study and careers outside Danebank.

The three student speakers, Gemma Therkildsen, Megan Harrison and Yamina Houfani, spoke of their strategies and tips for studying for the HSC, as well as acknowledging the challenges that inevitably come. They also reflected on the changing nature of their motivation and the permission they gave themselves to be flexible in their mindset.

With over 29% of the 2023 cohort achieving an ATAR above 90 (top 10% in the state), the vast majority have chosen to undertake university study.

The assembly is a noteworthy milestone for the students and families of the Senior School – it allows for an acknowledgment of exceptional student graduates but also offers the opportunity to appreciate the wonderful learning community we share.

As a Visible Wellbeing™ (VWB) partner school, we were honoured to have welcomed psychologist Professor Lea Waters, on campus in May 2022 as we continue to embed wellbeing into our community.

Professor Waters conducted a workshop with Danebank’s Junior and Senior School Leadership teams and presented on VWB to our families on navigating parenting in challenging times. We are excited to continue on our Visible Wellbeing journey together.

The key pathways to Visible Wellbeing are Strengths, Emotional Management, Attention and Awareness, Relationships, Coping, Habits and Goals: this is the SEARCH framework. Danebank’s teachers are using these pathways daily in their classrooms and interactions with students.

On Founder’s Day, Thursday 7 March, our Years 5 to 12 students and staff attended the traditional Founder’s Day Chapel, followed by the Celebration Assembly where we recognised members of the Danebank community who live our School’s motto of Ut Prosim, That I May Serve.

The 2024 award recipients are:

• Edith Roseby Ball Award for Compassion: Mrs Lynnette Knorr (Class of 1959)
• Valerie Crakanthorp Award for Initiative and Philanthropy: Grace Joukhador (Class of 2024)
• Old Girls Association Citizenship Award: Charlotte Arthur (Year 10)

It was an honour to continue this beautiful tradition as we welcomed our award recipients and their loved ones to our special event.

At the end of 2022, Danebank hosted internationally renowned cognitive scientist Professor Guy Claxton at a day-long workshop attended by around 150 representatives from more than 30 schools.

Professor Claxton’s research into ways to enhance people’s capacity to learn has led to the development of his Learning Power Approach (LPA). LPA is a research-based, teacher-friendly way to systematically strengthen students’ confidence and skill at tackling learning challenges across all phases and subjects of education.

Research shows that girls are increasingly affected by anxieties about their academic and social world - and that these anxieties can impact on their ability to meet their full potential at school and beyond. Being acutely aware of the range of complex challenges facing our students, and deeply committed to preparing them for an unknown future, the school is addressing these challenges in a two-pronged manner.

Danebank identified that student wellbeing lies at the core of educational wellbeing, and therefore, in 2021, implemented and now continues to integrate Dr Lea Waters’ Visible Wellbeing™ framework into all aspects of school life.

The second part of this approach draws on Professor Claxton’s research on how students can learn how to learn. This has provided part of the academic basis for the development of the Danebank Approach to Learning - a bespoke model of teaching and learning the school launched earlier this year.

“We want Danebank graduates to be confident, resilient, creative, resourceful and reflective learners - full of hope about the future,” says Dr Emma Burgess, Danebank Principal.

“The Danebank Approach to Learning is a comprehensive response to contemporary concerns about student learning and wellbeing, combining evidence from both the learning sciences (Professor Guy Claxton’s Learning Power) and positive psychology (Professor Lea Waters’ Visible Wellbeing framework).

“The resulting model recognises the central role that wellbeing plays in learning for girls and the possibilities that positive wellbeing for learning creates for our students to thrive in all domains of their lives. Importantly, it also recognises that our students’ ability to learn is never fixed - every single person has the ability to be a better, and more powerful learner by focussing on the skills and capacities that make up powerful learning.”

One example of the impact of Professor Claxton’s research at Danebank has been the way in which students engage in collaboration in the classroom. Working with others is a cornerstone of our society and part of almost every workplace.

The Danebank Approach to Learning recognises that knowing how to collaborate and work well with others is a discreet, learnable skill - one that we all have the capacity to improve in.

“Students from Kindergarten to Year 12 spend time thinking about what it means to collaborate well. Our students have themselves identified that doing this involves demonstrating perseverance, valuing the contributions of others and being productive in resolving differences.

“When our students know what it means to collaborate, they can do this better, and the result is more powerful and impactful learning,” Dr Burgess concludes.

Our 91st annual Speech Night was held on 4 December in the Sydney Town Hall. This was, yet again, a highlight for our community and a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and give thanks for the many blessings we have shared throughout 2024. Congratulations to all our award recipients, and also to every one of our cherished students who have grown this year at Danebank in their learning, character, faith and social development.

Special thanks to the staff and teams who make this beautiful night such an outstanding event.

Click here to view our beautiful commemorative video of the evening. This link takes you to our year-in-review video, shown at Speech Night.

Through regular Open Mornings, families are invited to discover Danebank for their daughters. More information and to book, please click here.

Stage 2 Building Official Opening and Naming

Our Stage 2 Building, has been a wonderful addition to our school. Every detail of this multi-storey space has been carefully considered and is the result of much community consultation. These new spaces host:

• The new canteen (Ground Floor) and library (Level 1)
• The Junior School reception
• Learning spaces for students in Years 5 and 6 on levels 3 and 4, as well as the new Technology (Level 3) and Japanese (Level 4) classrooms.
• Specially designed and equipped Junior School Visual Arts and Music classrooms on the ground floor, near the new canteen.
• The new staff and community space on Level 2 featuring conference and meeting rooms, a lounge, large kitchen facilities and an outdoor area for our community to meet and socialise.

We were excited to host the Official Opening of Stage 2 and the Naming of Buildings on Friday 30 August 2024. It was a wonderful evening as we celebrated and honour three Christian women who have embodied our motto, Ut Prosim, in their life of service and, in doing so, transformed the lives of others.

These buildings were named in honour of three of our previous principals.

• Carole Tisdell Learning Centre (Mrs Carole Tisdell, Principal 1975 - 1987)
• Rosalyn Bird Arts and Design Building (Miss Rosalyn Bird, Principal 1988 - 2009)
• Maryanne Davis Junior School (Mrs Maryanne Davis, Principal 2010 - 2019)