Developing our Watermark

Staff were introduced to the watermark concept. This is one-word that is an ever present descriptor that defines the system and what it stands for. It is a reminder of the collective passion and determination to increase all students’ growth and achievement in every classroom.

Some examples of watermarks co-constructed by teams working in Australian schools as part of the Collaborative come from: Metro Region Queensland who after implementing the 14 parameters and simplifying their system improvement plan condensed to a one page document with the imprinted watermark ‘precision’.

Staff were asked to consider what would their Watermark be for St Agnes? What one word describes the measurable and observable high expectations they collectively share for their classroom, school or system?

Table groups, consisting of a mixture of teachers and TA's from various grades, came up with the following words. Staff then were asked to consider each of these words and vote. The following words received these votes:
Purpose -7
Growth- 2
Empowering- 18
Purposeful- 7
Success- 0
Harness- 3
Navigate- 1
Significant- 1
The word 'empowering' was selected.




Staff were then questioned to go deeper with their word choice. How does empowering effect staff, parents and students?

Staff brainstormed in tables and then shared with the wider group their thoughts. These were then recorded. Empowering students meant there was student voice regarding the learning and what goes on the walls in the classroom. That there is co-construction of success criteria and learning intentions in order to build student involvement and ultimately ownership of the learning. Empowered students would utilize the the 3rd teacher for their own accountability to the learning and to check at points in time their own growth and consistency in reaching their full potential. Staff felt that empowered students could pass on / model to other students and transfer their understandings to life skills. 




Empowered staff were brainstormed as professionals who use data today to inform teaching tomorrow. Staff are capable and able to use their knowledge, upskill themselves, use the skills of others and build their own and others' confidence to deliver what students need and gain success. Through whole school agreements that are consistently enacted, empowered staff feel they are all moving in the same direction, supporting one another, to improve student life chances.


Empowering parents lead to deeper involvement and participation. It is more than just information giving/receiving and education tips. It would mean recognizing and including parents as critical partners in education and having them involved in decision making processes to ensure shared responsibility and a feeling that we all belong to the same cause and are working together as a team.

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