Learning at St Columba's

Fostering Student Agency – A Focus at St Columba’s

At St Columba’s, we are committed to growing student agency, an essential part of teaching and learning in both the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) frameworks. Student agency is about students having a voice in their learning, making choices, and taking ownership of their progress.

It is a big part of helping our learners become confident, independent, and motivated, qualities that support them at school and beyond.

What Does This Look Like at School?

While we are still on this journey, developing our shared understanding as a staff and learning community, here is what we are aiming to consolidate and to build across all classrooms in the coming terms:

• Students co-constructing learning goals and success criteria with their teachers.
• Making choices about how they share their learning (e.g. presentations, digital tools, performances).
• Reflecting on their progress and identifying their next steps.
• Initiating and leading action based on issues or ideas they care about.
• Participating actively in student leadership, school events, and collaborative problem-solving.

Over time, student agency will become increasingly visible in our Units of Inquiry, classroom routines, and in how teachers support students in taking responsibility for their learning. This shift is also supported by ongoing schoolwide professional development, ensuring our staff have the tools and strategies to build student agency in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.

What Could This Look Like at Home?

Here are a few ways you can encourage agency at home:

• Invite your child to set small, achievable goals (e.g. in reading, sports, interests, or daily routines)
• Offer simple choices (e.g. how to organise home learning time or when they will do their nightly reading)
• Ask open-ended questions like: “What do you think?” or “How would you solve that?”
• Encourage them to reflect: “What went well?” and “What would you do differently next time?”
• Involve them in family decisions or problem-solving conversations

We look forward to sharing more about our progress as we continue to develop a school culture that empowers all students to be capable, curious, and active learners.

If you would like to learn more or discuss what student agency means for your child, please don't hesitate to reach out. We would be happy to talk with you.

Nicole Spence

PYP Coordinator