Category: Finding the Right School

Innovating for a brighter future: Independent schools use design thinking to realise students’ highest potential

A new pilot program developed by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW) in conjunction with UK-based consultancy Innovation Unit is utilising “design thinking” to actively cultivate the leaders of tomorrow.

Recognising the needs of an evolving workplace and job market, the AISNSW seeks to develop “new approaches to learning that identify and realise the highest potential in all students”.

Launched in March of this year, the ELEVATE project aligns schools with industry to equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in the 21st Century.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an enthusiastic supporter of the project saying: “The skills we need cannot be developed in isolation by schools. Effective partnerships between schools, business and government must be formed to identify and produce our future visionary and strategic leaders and industry innovators who will ensure Australia’s economic prosperity.”

Design thinking stresses collaboration and testing of prototype solutions prior to implementation.

In practice, this means that “ELEVATE will assist our leading educators, drawing on the best examples from around the world, to collaborate and design classroom learning approaches that respond and adapt to the needs of students, that challenge and engage them, so they can make the most of the opportunities that will come their way in the future,” explains AISNSW executive director Geoff Newcombe.

At Knox Grammar boys’ school on Sydney’s upper North Shore, ELEVATE is an essential part of its Quality Teaching platform providing “evidence, ideas and resources for our teachers to further improve their ability to extend and support all of our students.”

Meanwhile, at North Sydney girls school Wenona, design thinking is incorporated into the curriculum as part of the school’s Science, Technology, Maths and Engineering (STEM) learning program.

Wenona conducts Design Thinking days during which students solve technical problems using a five-step method of Empathise (develop a deep understanding of the challenge); Define (clearly articulate the problem you want to solve); Ideate (brainstorm potential solutions then select and develop a solution); Prototype (design a prototype to test your solution); and Test (engage in a continuous short-cycle innovation process to continually improve your design).

“Design Thinking projects allow engineering to be applied to real-world situations in a variety of curricular areas,” says Wenona’s head of STEM Studies Andy Draper.

“Many jobs of the future are expected to be in STEM fields,” Mr Draper says. “A familiarity and active involvement with STEM, developed by a range of interesting and exciting enrichment and extension activities, is helping to make a difference in students’ sense of involvement and their success in these areas.”

Wenona principal Dr Briony Scott concurs, “Wenona is breaking new ground in this area and we’re excited by the direction this is setting for our school.”

To learn more about these and other leading-edge initiatives being undertaken by independent schools, visit the North Shore Schools Expo. Staff and students from the state’s top schools will be available to answer your questions and provide detailed information about their establishments. This is an excellent opportunity to find the right school to maximise your child’s potential.

North Shore Schools Expo
When: Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7
Time: 10 am to 4 pm, both days
Where: The Concourse Chatswood, 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Admission: Free

Read more:

Design thinking: new way to spark potential – Tim Dodd, Australian Financial Review, April 4, 2016
http://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/resources.farm1.mycms.me/ics-nsw-edu-au/Resources/NewsImages/Tongarra/Elevate%20AFR%2004Apr16.pdf

ELEVATE media release – AISNSW and the ACCI, March 23, 2016
https://www.aisnsw.edu.au/Publications/News/Documents/Elevate%20launch%2023Mar16%20-%20media%20release.pdf

Quality Teaching – Knox Grammar School website http://www.knox.nsw.edu.au/about/knox-initiatives/quality-teaching

Putting the E in STEM – Powerpoint presentation by Andy Draper, Head of STEM Studies, Wenona School
https://www.aisnsw.edu.au/Services/Partnerships_in_Education/STEM/Documents/2015_Leadership/3Ab_Putting_the_E_in_STEM.pdf

STEM learning – Wenona School website
http://www.wenona.nsw.edu.au/teachinglearning/stemlearning.cfm

Coming soon: The Southern Sydney Schools’ Expo

There are close to 300 independent schools in the Sydney metropolitan area with the greatest numbers found in the South and Southwest regions of the city. With so many schools to choose from, finding the right one for your child can be a complex undertaking.

Fortunately for families in the St George and Sutherland shires, these precincts are well-served by a wide range of excellent schools catering to students of every level of talent and ability.

To help families discover more about academic options in the area, the Southern Sydney Schools’ Expo will be held on Sunday, May 22, at the Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach.

The Expo offers parents and children the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from some of Sydney’s top schools.

Expo participants include day and boarding schools, faith-based, single-sex and co-ed schools from preschool through to year 12, in one convenient location. Instead of hours of research and travelling to different schools, parents can get all the information they need in a single outing.

To get the most out of the Expo, it’s important for families to know what they’re looking for in a school.

Australian parenting website Raising Children suggests that parents take these issues into account when researching schools:

  • What do you want a school to do for your child?
  • Does your child have special language, education or other needs?
  • What’s your child’s preferred or best learning style?
  • Is location a factor in your school choice?
  • Does the school need to be within walking distance?
  • Or does your child have special transportation needs?
  • What costs are involved?
  • Is religion an important factor?
  • What are your child’s views and feelings about the school?

At the Expo, parents are encouraged to engage with school representatives and explore their offerings in detail.

Teachers and administrators are happy to answer all your questions to help you make the best decision for your child.

This is a wonderful opportunity not to be missed.

Where: The Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach, Corner Grand Parade and Princess St, Brighton Le Sands
When: Sunday, May 22, 2016
Time: 10 am to 4pm
Cost: Free
Parking: Free parking is available onsite

For more information contact Dorothy Willoughby on 0412 233 742

Read more:

School selection: practical steps – Raising Children Network with the Centre for Adolescent Health, October 26, 2015
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/choosing_school_checklist.html

Announcing the inaugural Inner West Independent Schools Expo

Families in the Inner West have a new, local, forum to discover more about the range of excellent independent schools servicing their area.

For the first time, the Independent Schools Expo is hosting a dedicated Inner West event at the Le Montage function centre in Lilyfield on Sunday, May 1.

Choosing the right school can be a difficult decision for parents. With so many educational options on offer, gathering enough information to make an informed choice is a complex and time-consuming task.

At the Inner West Independent Schools Expo, parents can meet face-to-face with staff and students from some of Sydney’s leading private schools – in one convenient location. Days of research can be accomplished in just a few hours.

Expense, location, academic standards and facilities are all important factors when selecting a school; but equally vital to a child’s happiness and success is a school’s culture.

Many parents look to independent schooling to foster traditional values in children, such as self-discipline, integrity and respect for themselves and others. A good education is expected to produce confident, grounded adults well-prepared for life after graduation with the skills to achieve their full potential.

But schools are not a one-size-fits-all proposition. To determine the best fit for your child, it is important to consider a number of questions. What is the school’s focus? In what areas does it excel? Can it accommodate your child’s strengths and needs? Is its social atmosphere suited to your child’s temperament?

As well as the right educational environment, parents will want to find a school that is in harmony with their own family values and beliefs.

Above all, parents want their children to enjoy school. To feel a sense of belonging and social ease among like-minded friends in a safe and caring school community.

At the Expo, families are encouraged to engage with school representatives and explore their offerings in detail to find the best match between school and child.

Participating schools include boarding and day schools, single sex, co-ed, faith-based and secular options from preschool to Year 12.

Every child is unique. Here is your opportunity to find the school to which your child is uniquely suited.

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