Why Whitsunday

At Whitsunday Anglican School, we provide opportunities in learning and in life.

Our students build confidence, character and skills that go beyond school, in a safe and nurturing environment that allows them to thrive.

We challenge and support our students to be the very best they can be – in the classroom and beyond. From Kindergarten to Year 12, we equip our students with the capabilities and values they need to create bright futures.

Click here to view our Prospectuses and learn more about what sets Whitsunday apart:

The Whitsunday community

Welcome to Whitsunday Anglican School, a vibrant co-educational day and boarding school with a philosophy of personalised learning that drives an education of excellence.

From Kindergarten to Year 12, we provide high quality teaching, and the time and support needed, to promote each student’s individual success.

We find children learn best when they are happy, challenged and supported. Our academic results confirm that. We are a Top 25 School in Queensland and the number one performing school in the Mackay region, based on consistently high NAPLAN and ATAR results.

Our Year 12 graduates step into life ‘beyond school’ confident well equipped and ready, following a wide range of University and VET pathways of choice

At Whitsunday, we understand that a strong school community fosters positive, rewarding relationships for students, parents and staff.

Staff at Whitsunday Anglican School are highly trained in their specialist areas. They are passionate about their work and genuinely care about their students.

We also value and welcome a close working relationship with parents and their active involvement in our increasingly international school community.

In addition, we are exceptionally proud of the high standards our students set for themselves. They are motivated and encourage each other through positive attitudes, behaviour and application.

Academic and co-curricular excellence

We value academic rigour and a wide range of curricular and co-curricular pursuits including STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths), English and Literature, Technology and Innovation, Sport, Music, Drama.

Motivation and high standards

Staff and parents alike will tell you that our students are motivated to perform, with a passion for learning. They understand the expectations of our School and they willingly deliver in learning outcomes and responsible behaviour.

Creativity, innovation and progress

Our students are encouraged to ‘think for the future’ and outside the box, confidently forging creative solutions for tomorrow’s world.

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Our students are supported to learn critical emotional management and interpersonal skills that are essential for future success and wellbeing. We have partnered with Melbourne’s Swinburne University to be the first in our region to implement a leading Emotional Intelligence program for students.

Global learning programs

Students at Whitsunday Anglican School are offered life-enriching cultural and travel experiences, thanks to our Global Learning and Cultural Exchange programs. Diversity Our students are diverse in backgrounds, cultures and beliefs, reflecting the real world, enhancing our community and fostering friendships, respect, empathy and inclusion.

Anglican faith

Parents choose our school because of the strong values that are interwoven into its fabric. Our values encourage our students to ‘serve’ others, creating future citizens that actively contribute to community.

Leading regional school

Based in Mackay, adjacent to the beautiful Whitsunday region of the Great Barrier Reef, we are one of Australia’s leading regional schools. At Whitsunday Anglican School we combine the best of country hospitality with the high standards and opportunities of a premier school.

Booth House Boarding

Providing leading facilities in the Mackay region, we are the only school in the region to offer boarding for students in Years 6 to 12 at Whitsunday Anglican School. Many of our boarders come from the greater Mackay and Queensland area, and can actively participate in both boarding and home life. We offer a chartered bus home for weekends servicing surrounding areas (including Moranbah, Clermont, Nebo and Eton) and we encourage parents to visit. It’s the best of both worlds!

Boarding at Whitsunday Anglican School provides: 
• Strong boarding leadership and care
• Personalised approach to every child
• Holistic education with sport, music, drama and service opportunities
• See the best of Mackay and the Whitsundays
• Weekly boarding bus servicing our rural communities, connecting boarders with families each weekend
• Real life co-education experience

Service Learning

As part of the Whitsunday’s vision statement, the School ‘Leads with Service’ and this has always been a cornerstone that provides students with opportunities to give back to the community. We believe that learning through service engenders a worldly education of the community, including local, national and international affairs, that are often only alluded to or briefly touched on in a classroom setting.

Whitsunday Anglican School has a strong commitment to Service Learning, both within the School and the wider community. Service within the School is driven by our desire to promote and exemplify our core values. The School’s Service Learning Program not only teaches but also encourages our students to carry out well-meaning activities that will benefit others more than themselves. The program seeks to raise awareness of the needs of others and develop a culture of responsibility and care for them inspiring a sense of empathy towards all members of the community.

Global Learning

Beyond the classroom, Whitsunday Anglican School offers its students every opportunity to develop, learn new skills and give back to the community. One way in which students do this is through the School’s Global Learning Program which encompasses global exchanges and expeditions. This unique program has seen over 300 members of the School community participate in the various global experiences on offer. These Global Expeditions have included serving communities in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the personal challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and developing independence and cultural understanding in a number of countries around the world. Additionally, partnerships have been established with seven partner schools throughout the world to provide collaborative opportunities for staff and students, including Global Exchanges. Additionally, these partnerships have allowed for three visiting academics from the US and the UK to spend time at our school.

Co-Curricular Program

The School also prides itself on its extensive Co-Curricular Program which encourages students to step outside their comfort zone, develop new skills and provide balance within the School’s holistic approach to education. The activities on offer are broken down into five categories:

All students from the Preparatory Year through to Year 12 are encouraged to be involved. Students from Years 5 to 12 are expected to participate in at least one of the School’s co-curricular activities per semester. Student involvement in co-curricular activities is recorded on report cards at the end of each semester.

Outdoor Education Program

The School also has a developmental Outdoor Education Program held in September each year. This program sees the whole school undertake a week of activities intended to focus on the growth and development of students as individuals, their ability to interact with others, and their ability to function within their environment. The Outdoor Education Program is an integral component of the total curriculum offerings and is compulsory for all students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Homework Assistance and Tutorial Scheme (HATS)

Whitsunday Anglican School offers a Homework Assistance and Tutorial Scheme (Senior School) free of charge. The Homework Assistance and Tutorial Scheme has been a unique part of the School’s offerings for over a decade. Students, formally from Year 5 onwards, are encouraged to be involved in this optional internal tuition program. Teachers in the Preparatory Year to Year 4 offer selective tutoring sessions before or after school each week also.

Visit our Testimonials webpage to read what our parents and students think about Whitsunday Anglican School.

here