This prestigious recognition follows a rigorous selection process involving industry experts, comprehensive research, and employee feedback, with St Raphael’s standing out for its vibrant workplace culture, staff support, and commitment to professional excellence.
Chris Sweeney, Managing Editor for Special Reports at The Educator, said: “St Raphael’s School stood out and were awarded 5-Star status for their comprehensive approach, ensuring their employees are part of a supportive and rewarding culture.”
Principal Emma Fowler expressed her delight: “We are absolutely overjoyed by this recognition! At St Raphael’s, our team is the heart of our community. Every day, our staff—teachers, specialists, admin, and support—go above and beyond to create a nurturing, dynamic, and joyful environment for our students and each other. This award is a celebration of their passion, dedication, and the unique spirit that makes St Raphael’s so special.”
A Year of Awards and Academic Excellence
This latest honour caps off an extraordinary suite of achievements for St Raphael’s School, which includes the school and its staff recognised across multiple domains:
Academic growth in NAPLAN
St Raphael’s students showed remarkable progress in the latest NAPLAN results, with significant gains in reading, spelling, grammar, writing and numeracy. Notably, every student tracked from Year 3 (2023) to Year 5 (2025) demonstrated measurable growth, and the number of students requiring additional support has dropped across all domains.
Phonics and numeracy success
In 2024, 100% of St Raphael’s students exceeded the benchmark in the state-wide Phonics Screening Check, with results well above state and regional averages. Similarly, the school excelled in the new CESA Number Check, highlighting its strong focus on foundational skills.
Teaching excellence recognised
Educators, Tia Della Pace and Meeiying Lee, were honoured at the inaugural Unley Rotary Teacher Awards for “Encouragement” and “Achievement” respectively. Assistant Principal Anthony Sicari was also named one of Australia’s 50 Best Teachers in the News Corp Best Teacher campaign, underscoring the school’s culture of excellence and dedication.
Reading Revolution wins big
The school’s innovative Reading Revolution program was awarded both the Unley Council’s Community Event of the Year at the 2025 Australia Day Awards and the Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) Innovative Programme Award. The initiative, designed to combat screen time and reignite a love of reading, has been praised as a model for early literacy education.
St Raphael’s School: Celebrating every child, supporting every journey, and shaping a bright and inspired future together.
Book a tour and meet passionate educators, tour sensory-rich learning spaces, and discover why St Raphael’s School is celebrated as one of Australia’s most inspiring schools. Whether you’re a prospective family or simply curious about the school’s unique programs, this is your opportunity to see St Raphael’s School in action. We can’t wait to meet you!
For more information or to book a tour, head to St Raphael’s School’s website.
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