Since taking up the role of principal at Mercedes College in 2020, Andrew Balkwill’s mantra for staff has been around knowing their impact and knowing the students, with a strong focus on data analytics.

He believes that “data, great intuition and a fantastic educator make a really powerful combination” and he credits this with the rise in students’ academic and wellbeing results over the last few years.

That said, he regularly states “there’s no ATAR for being a good human”.

Mercedes College was established in 1954 by the Sisters of Mercy, who had a profound understanding of how education could change lives.

Balkwill credits a previous principal with formalising the values “20 or 30 years ago” on which the school operates – the ‘Mercy Keys’ of integrity, mutual respect, responsibility, compassion, loyalty and justice.

“I’m lucky in the sense that, as the principal, I stand on the shoulders of others,” Balkwill said.

Of the more than 1100 students across reception to year 12, 48 per cent are Catholic; the rest practise other religions or have no religious affiliation.

“[The Mercy keys] are an interpretation of gospel values … but they’re ultimately humanistic values,” Balkwill said.

“[We have] a contemporary, inclusive and welcoming approach. And that comes back to our Mercy heritage.

“Catherine McAuley [the order’s founder] was known to offer a cup of tea – and there’s not much that can’t be solved over a cup of tea and just talking.”

Wellbeing is integrated across the curriculum to promote resilience, build capacity and promote flourishing. Photo: supplied

The father of two said he often thought about his responsibilities as school principal in terms of what he would want for his own children.

“Our young people need to be able to think critically and creatively; they need to have resilience to respond to problems and be great problem solvers,” he said.

The school’s takeaway from teaching and learning during the COVID pandemic was that students need a human connection to explore those skills, as well as great mentors.

The need for a “balance of stretch”, also known as the Goldilocks principle, was also more acute, he said.

“Finding that ‘just right’ spot where things are not too hard or a young person will shut down, or it’s not too easy as they will also shut down.

“[To] find that sweet spot for growth and development for every child in the class is an art.

“But ultimately, that’s the really important thing in keeping a young person engaged – not in terms of entertainment, but keeping them engaged and focused on learning.”

The sprawling 6.5-hectare campus includes the historic Strathspey building and the soon to be opened new high performance sports and arts centre. Photo: supplied

He said the school also looked to nurture the qualities that are not graded, with the intention that students graduate with a drive for excellence and making the world a better place, a capacity to look out for others and to lead, and a strong sense of self.

Premier Peter Malinauskas graduated from the school and “for many years, even when he was in opposition” has gone back to talk to current students about leadership.

“We’re very proud of him as an old scholar,” Balkwill said.

Mercedes College is one of only two schools in South Australia to teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) from reception to Year 12, delivering a world class education and preparing students to be global citizens.

Balkwill credits the IB framework with a focus “beyond the straight acquisition of knowledge”, providing rigour, cross-curriculum knowledge transfer and problem solving.

But he found it disappointing that locally the framework was sometimes promoted only as a means to improve students’ grades.

“It’s a real shame because it takes away from the beauty of learning; the IB forces a breadth and depth of learning that other curriculums don’t,” he said.

“There’s a danger in allowing specialisation too early in the development of the young person, and I think that’s where the IB brings balance.

“If you look at the graduates from Mercedes College, they’re just amazing people, they really are great contributors to the wider community.”

The school excels in sports and the arts, and is just about to open its new $25 million sports and arts precinct.

It also emphasises excellence from an operations perspective and last month completed its Council of International Schools accreditation review.

It is one of only a handful of member schools and the only private school in South Australia to benchmark its standards this way.

The benefits to parents and students, Balkwill said, is that “it really challenges us to say what we mean and mean what we say”.

“It’s a guarantee that the school that you send your child to is holding itself to a really rigorous standard.”

To learn more, book a tour of the junior, middle or senior school.