Kambala Institute of Teaching Excellence 

Action Research: Leveraging Student Voice to Inform Our Practice

Enabling authentic student voice and participation provides opportunities to genuinely engage with and listen to students, respect their contributions, and ensure they influence decisions about matters that affect them. – Donna Cross

In 2023, we launched our pilot Kambala and Ruyton Action Research Collective, founded on a shared commitment to staying current in our approach to the all-girls classroom. The process and purpose of this undertaking was highly “contextual to a particular site” (Dr. David Smith, 2023), with our teachers identifying two key areas to explore that were relevant to our specific contexts: unleashing potential for all students and rethinking female leadership.

On Monday, 28 October, Greta Beaumont (Head of English), Samantha Nahum (History teacher), and Hattie Wilson (Co-Lead Mathematics 7-10) presented the findings from this year-long endeavour to Ruyton staff as part of the school’s Celebration of Learning afternoon. Their presentations demonstrated an insightful understanding of girls' education and offered complex evaluations based on their research. It was clear that student voice was central to their process, with the research allowing them to learn more about how our students perceive themselves as learners.

We look forward to hosting Ruyton School in Week 6, when the groups will present their findings to Kambala staff.

Ms Lauren Walsh

Acting Director of KITE