Editor’s Note: Schools piloting program innovation

Schools piloting program innovation

In the week School News was heading off to print, headlines covering the sector revolved around Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews’ promise to do what he can to help after one of the state’s private International Baccalaureate World Schools announced in a shock email to families that it must enter administration.

The decision has been linked to the loss of international student enrolments during pandemic border closures. Elsewhere, prestige property reporter for Sydney Morning Herald, Lucy Macken, reported that private schools have been spending the most money during NSW’s COVID house price boom, pointing out that Sydney Catholic Schools alone have splashed out on nine neighbouring properties worth $24 million. Statistics have shown a significant increase in private school enrolments since 2020, but the need for additional teaching space may not be the driving reason behind these purchases. Macken’s report, for instance, found that specific planned usages for some of these multi-million-dollar purchases included wellbeing hubs, staff spaces, uniform shops, and other non-teaching spaces. This issue, School News had the great honour of featuring Thornbury Primary School’s phenomenal achievements. In conjunction with local community partnerships, the school has successfully developed and implemented an Indigenous Studies program centering First Nations languages. On page 8, Acting Principal Megan Noy talks about how the school seeks to facilitate Koorie Language and Culture classes with learners that amplify the guidance of the Wurundjeri Council Education Team and their deep knowledge and connection to Wurundjeri Country. Students are taught by Aunty Terri Lee-Fitzpatrick and introduced to aspects of the Woiwurrung language spoken by the Wurundjeri people. Federal Labor has said it wants to fund First Nations language programs nationally, a move that would doubtless be welcomed by schools—many of whom are monitoring the development of Thornbury’s program. Elsewhere this issue, Shannon Meyerkort unpacks one of the proposed solutions to the teacher shortage being successful piloted in regional schools (page 6), and Sarah Davison catches up with Dakabin State High School in Brisbane, where Year 7 students are taking agricultural studies and a new Certificate III in Rural Operations is being introduced to Year 11s.

Rosie Clarke, Editor, SchoolNews editor@school-news.com.au

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The School News team acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which we gather, work, and publish. We want to pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future, who continue cultural, educational, and spiritual connections to Country.

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