31 years ago, A.B. Paterson College Founders held high expectations of providing the best possible education for their own children and those of the wider community. Dedication, courage, commitment and a strong work ethic from members of the College community, combined with high expectations upheld by the College’s founding and subsequent staff throughout the years, are the qualities and values that the A.B. Paterson College community continues to espouse, nurture and emulate.

A.B. Paterson College has forged traditions that have enabled it to enjoy a reputation in our local community as a leading school of substance, one that celebrates our Australian heritage and one that embraces traditional family values, whilst inspiring progress and embracing the innovations of 21st century education. In its relatively short history, the College has developed magnificent facilities, core traditional values, a leading teaching and learning framework, and is now integrating numerous technologies to greater assist and help students learn and connect responsibly with their world, and to provide the foundation for genuine leadership development in all its young people.

Today, academic results continue to grow from strength to strength, with the achievements of past and present College students in local, national and international arenas. Sporting and cultural successes have also burgeoned; but, most importantly, service to others continues to grow whereby, in helping to enrich the lives of others, each member of our College community is, in turn, also enriched.

“We aim to help each and every child grow and realise their potential, aid in their development of character and those essential attributes that enable young people to grow into men and women who are strong, positive, engaging, responsible and respected members of society, and who understand the value and importance of service to others,” says Principal, Ms Joanne Sheehy.

A.B. Paterson College will continue to equip its students to be the entrepreneurs of the future – highly collaborative, creative, curious and innovative risk-takers – who will serve their communities with purpose and character as contributing citizens of the 21st century.

House competitions include both sporting and artistic areas and contribute to our strong College spirit, and that sense of belonging so important in the enjoyment of school life. All students in Years 4-12 are involved in competitive sport. Teams range from novices to local and state premiership winners. Through our participation in the Associated Private Schools (APS) fixtures, students can represent the College in regular inter-school competition in a wide range of sports and in carnivals. Carnivals: swimming, athletics, cross country Team Sports: soccer, rugby, tennis, touch football, volleyball, hockey, softball, netball, cricket, basketball, Aussie Rules, handball, water polo and rowing (some sports are modified for Junior School.) Those committed to high achievement in sport have access to regional, district, state and national representation, and may also engage in a special academic and sporting excellence programme to support them in becoming professional athletes. Children from Prep -Year 3 develop sporting skills, balance and co-ordination through Physical Education lessons with specialist teachers. Prep students also enjoy a music and movement programme. There is a Prep - Year 3 "Olympics" event each year and a modified Cross Country experience. They also have Learn To Swim lessons in Terms 1 - 4. Opportunities in the Arts: Students can choose from a range of activities, though we expect all will experience public speaking and debating either through class work or in the co-curricular programme. Choirs at all levels – competition and performance opportunities Senior concert band, jazz band, rock band, intermediate and training band; various ensembles Drama club and annual musicals; one act plays Public speaking – Rostrum, Lions, Plain English and Legacy, A.B. Paterson College events (poetry competition Years 1-7; A.B. Paterson College Public Speaking Competition Years 4-12 – open to external students) Debating – Gold Coast and QDU House Competitions in choral, drama, debating and public speaking Annual Splendid Visions Art Exhibition, external art exhibitions Creative writing workshops

Academic Excellence, Growth & Development Programs

A.B. Paterson College caters for students with a wide range of abilities. The Academic Excellence, Growth and Development Faculty (AEGD) is a whole school planning and support mechanism, which is designed to provide students with a variety of interesting, engaging and differentiated programs that will ignite their curiosity, stimulate their desire to explore areas of interest, and encourage them to achieve more than they thought possible. 

Our academically excellent students are catered for through a variety of enrichment opportunities. These include – but are not limited to – an Honours Program, Accelerated English and Mathematics class in Senior School, Extended Maths and English classes in Junior School and a Future Problem Solving Class, delivered on a weekly basis in Junior School. 

We also enter our Academic Excellence students in challenging competitions, such as The World Scholar’s Cup, that require utilising contemporary and problem solving skills, developing innovative and creative ideas, as well as developing presentation skills used for Debating and Public Speaking. 

A.B. Paterson College recognises the importance of continually encouraging students to grow on an Academic Basis – to consistently develop their skills and broaden their knowledge. The AEGD Faculty works with staff and students to create programs that allow all our students to grow and achieve their true potential. 

Our College also understands the need to develop students academically who have different learning styles and strategies. Students who need support in meeting the challenges of the curriculum are identified and assisted using a multi-disciplinary model, which involves identification, tracking, and support. Working in partnership with students, parents, classroom teachers, external specialists and our Senior Leadership Team, Learning Support Teachers identify and implement a collaborative approach to supporting students with additional learning needs. Teachers provide in-class, small group and/or one-to-one teaching to help students grow and develop academically. Learning Assistants, under the guidance of the AEGD Head of Faculty and classroom teachers, provide in-class support for students.

For more information on our AEGD Faculty and Honours Society, please refer to our College website www.abpat.qld.edu.au

A.B. Paterson College is located in Arundel, which lies in the heart of the growth corridor of the Northern Gold Coast.

The College is conveniently located off the M1 (exit 62), a 45 minute drive from Brisbane and 10 minutes from the Southport CBD and beaches of the Gold Coast.

A network of bus services provides transport to the College across the Gold Coast, extending north to Dreamworld and south to the QLD/NSW border.

For further information regarding local school buses, please click here.

The nearest train station is Helensvale North.

For up to date information on scholarships offered at A.B. Paterson College, please refer to our College website https://www.abpat.qld.edu.au/how-to-enrol/scholarships

Welcome to A.B. Paterson College

At A.B. Paterson College, we strongly believe that it is the quality of the human relationships that exist within a school that defines its character, its feel and the essential teaching and learning relationships that are formed.

Schools of substance are often defined by the quality of relationships that exist between students, parents and staff. At A.B. Paterson College, we value these essential partnerships in the education of each and every child. Students take educational risks, dare to challenge themselves, and aim to succeed, when they feel supported in a caring and nurturing environment with dedicated and highly experienced teachers. This is of the utmost importance at A.B. Paterson College, as we continue our tradition of being one of Australia’s leading Colleges.

International research indicates that it is the quality of teaching within the classroom that has the greatest impact on student achievement. At A.B. Paterson College, we base our teaching and learning strategies on leading international research and the Teaching for Understanding framework, as conceptualised in Project Zero from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This framework helps students from Prep to Year 12 think creatively, and learn to apply their skills and knowledge to new and real life-related situations.  This leading approach to teaching and learning focuses on the individual student, thereby better providing for their individual needs.

Whilst proud of the very strong academic record that A.B. Paterson College has always maintained, our aim is to develop young men and women of character. The College strives to achieve this by challenging students to develop the intellectual character necessary to become passionate about the ongoing pursuit of learning; to have the skills and confidence to succeed in an increasingly complex world; and to become committed to creating positive futures for the good of all, through leadership and active participation in their communities.

The College caters for students with a diverse range of talents, interests, needs and academic abilities, through its rigorous and comprehensive academic programme, diverse co-curricular activities, and strong pastoral care system. Our College boasts leading educators, committed to on-going professional development, and highly dedicated non-teaching staff committed to the achievement of the College’s mission.

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions that a parent will ever make. Every child and young adult deserves the highest standard of education to support and encourage them to the achievement of their personal best; to develop the essential qualities that enable them to act with purpose and character; and to possess those much needed values to operate within the moral framework of an ethical community.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend our College to you as a thriving and dynamic environment, and a place of outstanding educational opportunities and offerings. While websites are useful for the dissemination of information, they do not fully enable the unique essence of a school to be understood and appreciated and so, while I encourage you to peruse our site, I invite you to visit our beautiful campus for a personal tour, and an opportunity to see how our community can help in the education and growth of your child.

Joanne Sheehy B.Ed.(Hons), M.Ed.

Principal