More than two decades ago, the staff at Wooranna Park Primary School committed themselves to the idea that students would be more engaged in school if they were allowed to take the lead in their learning. Drawing from the practices of Reggio Emilia, a child-centered educational philosophy, the school made drastic changes to the physical space, school schedule, and curriculum.
Teachers now use dedicated co-planning time to design unique, open-ended learning projects that provoke students’ curiosity and academic understanding. The school day is seen as fluid, and teachers and students negotiate the day’s activities together every morning. Today Wooranna Park serves 350 students, the majority of whom are immigrants, and has demonstrated that the school model is accessible and beneficial for children of all backgrounds.
In 2018:
- 80 percent of grade 5 and 6 students opted to pursue a self-directed learning project on top of their schoolwork.
- All students tested performed at or above the national average for schools with comparable populations on reading, writing, and numeracy in Australia’s national assessment program (NAPLAN).
- On a student survey, 97 percent of students said teachers made sure that all students felt included, and 95 percent agreed that teachers asked questions that challenged their thinking.
