About Fahan

Fahan is a unique school for girls. It is set among magnificent grounds and
gardens overlooking the picturesque Derwent River.

The school was established in 1935. It is unique in the sense that it has a
small population, but at the same time contributes significantly to the
challenges of providing a wide variety of educational, sporting and cultural
pursuits that allows all girls the opportunity to experience success and to
be "the best they can be".

The school has as its focus and primary objective the provision of an
excellent educational experience for its students, while at the same time
allowing time for reflection and the development of personal, social and
community life skills.

The staff at Fahan are a special breed. They have the welfare of the girls
in their charge as their greatest single priority. In terms of their skills
and willingness to interact and assist the students, Fahan is richly blessed
with a highly competent and engaged group of professionals. If ever the
adage, "the strength of a school is in the strength of its staff", was to be
shown as fundamental to the operation of a school, it is certainly true at
Fahan.

Fahan is also well resourced. Modern facilities that add value to the
learning experience support the program. Most rooms are temperature
controlled to allow comfort and maximize concentration. Up-to-date
technology and computer laboratories, along with science, art and
performance facilities, assist students in their learning. Lap top computers
are not a requirement, although class sets for borrowing allow for
flexibility in the delivery of the curriculum.

Whether a child attends the Early Childhood, Primary, Middle or Senior
School sections of Fahan, they will experience friendly, empathetic and
dedicated staff working with the students' best interests prioritised, a
relevant and challenging curriculum aimed at bringing out the best in them
and a delightful environment in which to enjoy the whole educational
experience.

Never was the concept of "what you put into it, is what you get out of it"
truer than at Fahan. It is truly a great school of which to be a part.
Parents, students and staff are able to enjoy a strong sense of community in being a part of a strong and supportive family.

The Advantages of an All Girls’ Education

In a twenty-year Australian study of 270,000 students, Dr. Ken Rowe of the Australian Council for Educational Research found that both boys and girls performed between 15 and 22 percentile points higher on standardised tests when they attended separate schools. Dr Rowe’s research is supported by numerous studies carried out to investigate the advantages of single sex schools. Below are some observations that reflect the benefits to girls educated in an all girl environment:

Girls learn differently to boys – the opportunities for them in such a situation, where staff can tailor their teaching to their needs are a significant advantage
Girls fill all the roles involving student leadership – this provides wide ranging experience – they can participate, influence and lead
Girls can enjoy learning models that are better suited to their style, especially collaborative learning environments where girls set the agenda
An all girls’ environment can genuinely teach and encourage them to think big and accept that they are expected to lead and expected to undertake Mathematics, Science and IT subjects without fear of stereotyping–there are no impediments to where they can go–they can be encouraged and supported in their risk taking
Girl’s academic results in all girl environments are shown to be stronger than in other environments
In an all girls’ environment we can develop young women who can not only make a contribution to the society in which they will live, but influence it with a view to positive change
An all girls’ environment will assist them to think beyond themselves – as the largest buying and professional market in history such an environment allows them to make big decisions in keeping with their goals, without fear of lower expectations
Success and the expectation that they will experience this assists to maintain high self esteem levels
Girls can be challenged to extend themselves, to get their hands dirty, to “have a go”
An all girls’ environment can assist them in all areas of their development thus increasing self belief and sense of security
Civic leaders of tomorrow are today’s girls
Girls will achieve first place in such environments where the program is specifically aimed at engaging them
There is a greater sense of empathy for specific needs and support in an all girl environment

It has been observed that in an all girl environment there is a heightened sense of camaraderie among students and between students and teachers. The level of involvement by students in school activities, and the level of enthusiasm exhibited by the girls are also higher. When girls become the focal point, they rise to a greater level of development than might otherwise ordinarily be the case.