Benowa State High School, founded in 1980, is an independent high school located on the Gold Coast, Australia. Our school caters for students from Year 7 to Year 12. We have a proud tradition of being a supportive and caring community that delivers outstanding educational training and opportunities for all students.
Council of International Schools
In 2005, Benowa SHS was one of five schools identified by the Queensland Department of Education to investigate CounciI Of International Schools (CIS) accreditation. In early 2007, CIS confirmed accreditation and since then the school has maintained its CIS accreditation status with reaccreditation in 2016. In 2021, the school was successfully reaccredited again by CIS after a rigorous self-evaluation process with a commitment to continuous improvement.
What does it mean to be an accrediated CIS school?
More information is available here .
International Baccalaureate
In 2017, Benowa SHS gained accreditation to become an International Baccalaureate World School and delivers the Diploma Programme to students in Years 11 and 12. In 2021, we completed the self-study process. The IB recognised that Benowa SHS successfully ensures that the standards and practices of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme are adhered to and can continue to offer the IB Diploma Programme.
The introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) provides students with an additional pathway in their senior schooling to integrate the ideals of international understanding and responsible rigour, to the end that IB students may become critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners and informed participants in local and world affairs.
International Student Program (ISP)
BSHS is accredited by Education Queensland International (EQI) to run the international student program (ISP) for up to 75 students. At the time of writing this report, there were only 30 students in the ISP at BSHS as a result of COVID-19 and five of these students were in homestay. The ISP is led by an experienced and dedicated team in the international student office. The evaluation team noted that the school retained all staff involved in the ISP despite declining numbers of international students since the start of the pandemic.
These staff have been redeployed with the aim of reinstating them into their previous roles once international student numbers increase. The ISP adds to the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of the school community.