Uplands is thrilled to share a brief introduction to Candice Ellis, the Head of Innovation at Uplands College and Life Sciences Teacher. A distinguished educator with a passion for shaping young minds, Candice brings a wealth of experience and innovative ideas to her role at Uplands.

Candice pursued her BSc in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics as well as Zoology at Rhodes University before embarking on a successful teaching career at St. Patrick’s College, St. Mary’s School in Waverley and, most recently, St Peter’s Girls’ Prep School. Candice specialised in Life Sciences at St Mary’s, followed by her appointment as Head of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) at St Peter’s. Coming from a family dedicated to education, including her father, the current Executive Head of St Peter’s Prep Schools, Candice is deeply rooted in the values of academic excellence and transformative learning.

Candice expresses her enthusiasm for the Uplands community, saying, “I love the children at Uplands – they are so real and authentic. The leadership team’s autonomy and genuine commitment to innovation are incredibly inspiring.” She is impressed by the supportive staff culture at Uplands and is committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

A Vision for Innovation in 2025

Candice, along with the academic team, aims to implement an academic vision with the plan of creating critical thinking minds who think creativity while being effective collaborators. The 2025 theme for the innovation team at Uplands is: CONNECTION. The staff at Uplands worked together in 2024 with the aim of defining innovation at our school. The following definition was created and is the thought process attached to all innovation at our school: Innovation at Uplands is the science of delivery. It is the engineering, exploration and evolution of the space between the pupil and the teacher, ensuring the deliberate moments of impact which last a lifetime.

In 2025 we aim to achieve our goals using a structure made up of three strands:

1. Connecting Thinking Pathways: Enhancing students’ cognitive engagement through critical and creative thinking techniques.
2. Integrating Technology and Inquiry-Based Learning: Bridging subjects, skills and content to align with modern technological advances.
3. Fostering Positive Education: Building a supportive community among students and staff through well-being initiatives.

To achieve these goals, Uplands aims, as well as hosting conferences, to attend workshops and professional development opportunities, including:

• Attendance at the TSSA Cultivating Thinking Cultures Conference and InnovateEDU STEAM Conference in Johannesburg.
• Subscription to international online workshops through TSSA for global relevance.
• Piloting Mindjoy Pro Licences in STEAM subjects to explore advanced teaching methodologies.

Key Academic Initiatives for 2025

• Collaborative Days: Grade 8 and 9 students will participate in projects similar to the 2024 initiatives that saw the Grade 8s investigating Digital Dementia and the Grade 9s doing a full Crime Scene Investigation week. These projects aim to foster teamwork, break down the subject silos and ignite a love for learning through critical thinking.
• Career Conferences: Exposing students to diverse career paths, preparing them for a dynamic future.

Candice is committed to ensuring that Uplands remains a leader in education by adapting to the evolving thinking pathways of today’s students while creating a nurturing and inspiring learning environment.

Candice Ellis