Andy Tan - Excellence Awardee 2026
Guildford Grammar School Preparatory School teacher Andy Tan has been recognised as an Excellence Awardee in the Australian Education Awards 2026 for Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government. The national recognition celebrates outstanding educators making a significant impact in Australian schools and acknowledges Andy’s thoughtful and innovative approach to teaching at Guildford Grammar.
At the heart of Andy’s teaching is that every student brings something unique to the classroom, and that it is a teacher’s role to recognise and build upon those individual strengths. “What I value most is recognising and celebrating individual strengths — each student brings something unique to the classroom, and I strive to create an environment where those differences are seen as strengths rather than limitations,” he says. “I believe that when students feel happy, valued, and engaged, learning naturally falls into place.”
When Students Feel Valued, Learning Falls Into Place
This philosophy shapes everything Andy does, from the way he designs lessons to the way he responds to students who are finding things difficult. His classroom is one where mistakes are normalised, movement and collaboration are built into the day, and every student is given multiple ways to access and engage with their learning.
In Mathematics, Andy designs tiered tasks that allow students to work at a level where they feel confident, whether that means reinforcing core concepts or tackling more complex, multi-step problems.
He uses formative assessment — observations, questioning and work samples — alongside formal data to understand where each student is and what they need next, adjusting his teaching accordingly. “Data allows me to be responsive,” he explains. “It helps me set realistic goals with students, celebrate their progress, and ensure that each student is supported to grow with confidence.”
In literacy, Andy introduced the Ten-Minute Writing Exercise to help students overcome the fear of making mistakes and focus instead on getting their ideas down freely. “I make it a point to model that mistakes are part of the learning process,” he says, “showing students that it’s okay not to get things right the first time.” The approach has helped many students build confidence and stamina in writing, with reluctant writers becoming more willing to participate and share their work.
Andy has also introduced philosophical inquiry into the Prep School classroom through the Community of Inquiry model, following training with the Association for Philosophy in Schools WA. Through guided discussions and prompted by questions such as “What do you think and why?”, “Is there another perspective?” and “How do we know?”, students are encouraged to explore complex ideas, question assumptions and articulate their thinking with confidence and respect. “This approach has not only strengthened students’ critical and creative thinking skills, but has also improved their ability to listen respectfully, articulate their thoughts, and engage more deeply in their learning,” Andy says.
Parents have consistently recognised the impact Andy has had on their children, both academically and personally.
“When faced with the decision whether to continue at Guildford Grammar, one of the reasons that persuaded us to stay was knowing our son would again be in Andy’s class this year,” shared one current parent.
“Andy provided a safe and supportive space where our child could express himself, work through challenges in friendships and develop the confidence to be comfortable in who he is,” said another current parent.
Andy’s contribution extends well beyond his own classroom. He mentors pre-service teachers, contributes to professional learning across the School and serves on the committee for the Association for Philosophy in Schools WA. At the end of 2025, he delivered a whole-school presentation on incorporating philosophy in the primary classroom, sharing practical strategies with colleagues across the School.
Looking ahead, Andy’s goal is to embed philosophical thinking even more deeply into everyday classroom practice, not as an occasional add-on, but as a consistent and natural approach across all learning areas. It is an ambition that speaks to everything that defines him as a teacher, a genuine belief that when students are encouraged to think, question and be themselves, remarkable things happen.
We congratulate Andy on this outstanding recognition and the meaningful impact he continues to have on students, families and colleagues across the School community.