The Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology has outperformed institutions across Australia to secure the top spot in nearly every major academic performance category.
Local Excellence
The Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (QASMT), situated in Brisbane’s inner west, achieved leading results in 2023 and 2024. The data was released by the Australian Assessment Curriculum Assessment Authority (ACARA) on the My School website, which allows families to view how schools perform based on their specific situations. QASMT has a strong history of high achievement since it began. It was established under the Queensland government’s Smart State strategy to provide challenges for high-performing students.
The school is well known for its close relationship with the University of Queensland. This partnership was created to help students move easily into university life. Students at the Toowong campus can use university libraries and facilities, and some even finish university subjects while they are still in high school. Unlike many other state schools, the academy uses the International Baccalaureate framework instead of the standard curriculum.
Changes and Growth
The academy has grown significantly in recent years. While it originally served only senior students in Years 10 to 12, it expanded in 2019 to include Year 7 students. This shift turned the facility into a full secondary school.
To support the growing number of students, which jumped from around 600 to more than 1,200, the campus received major upgrades. These included a new STEM precinct and a Northern Learning Centre designed to look and feel like university lecture spaces.
The National Picture
While the Toowong school celebrates its success, the wider national results paint a different picture. Recent data shows that one-third of Australian students are not meeting reasonable expectations for reading and maths. About 10 per cent of students need extra help to catch up, while another 20 per cent are still developing their skills.
Education analyst Glenn Fahey from the Centre for Independent Studies expressed deep concern about these figures. He noted that students who fall behind early often struggle to catch up by the time they finish school. He suggested that the public should demand better results from the education system because the current approach is leaving too many children behind.
Expert Views on Testing
ACARA chief executive Stephen Gniel explained that the data on the My School website helps the community understand the value of each school. He pointed out that while there were small improvements in numeracy for students in Years 5, 7, and 9, there is still a gap for students in regional and remote areas. He emphasised the need for a collective effort to support disadvantaged students.
Teachers Professional Association Queensland president Scott Stanford described the results as a job well done for high-performing schools. He viewed the test as a snapshot in time that indicates whether getting back to basics in teaching is working. He added that if teachers are instructing correctly, the benefits should show in these assessments.
Published Date 08-December-2025
