Message from the Principal  

The Changing Nature of Schools?

Schools play a crucial role in the academic development of young people and traditionally the key role of schools has been to promote learning. However, a new discussion paper (Sahlberg et al., 2023) * suggests that the core purpose of schools is shifting, pointing to five key principles that will enhance student wellbeing, learning and fulfilment.

The paper – authored by Professor Pasi Sahlberg, Professor Sharon Goldfeld, Associate Professor Jon Quach, Caitlin Senior and Cecilia Sinclair – argues Australian schools should focus equally on wellbeing and health, in addition to learning.

The authors claim, ‘The purpose of our reinvention journey is not to add to that heavy load of duties that teachers and principals have in our schools. Quite the opposite. We are encouraging more effective and smarter solutions to enhance everyone’s wellbeing, learning and happiness in school.’ 

In the paper, Professor Sahlberg and colleagues discuss 5 key principles ‘to improve the wellbeing, health and learning outcomes of every child in every community’: 

1. A whole child and whole school approach 
2. Co-designed, evidence-based and flexible learning and wellbeing approaches
3. Health and wellbeing as essential 21st century skills
4. Building an engaging culture of health, wellbeing and learning in school
5. Relationships and partnerships between services, families and schools in every community

The paper says shifting the core purpose of school ‘from primarily focusing on academic intelligence’ would ‘enable schools to be multi-opportunity communities designed to build a healthy foundation for lifelong success.’ They suggest a multi-opportunity community that delivers many opportunities for children, of which learning is one aspect.

The paper explores the case for each key principle and what successful approaches could look like in practice. Relationships and partnerships between services, families and schools reiterates that schools should be able to be thought of as community hubs that collaborate effectively to meet student needs. 

Health and wellbeing as essential 21st Century skills involves seeing the learning of digital, socio-emotional, nutritional, mental and physical health and wellbeing skills as an important outcome of school education. 

The authors suggest that wellbeing and health is something that students should learn at school, just like they are expected to learn knowledge and skills in various subjects. They suggest this will shift the focus away from current reactive models of wellbeing towards a more preventive and active model that would support children to develop lifelong attitudes, knowledge, and life skills for a safe, sustainable, and healthy life.

The positive news for me as Principal at Calrossy is that we are already on the path of this journey. As a P – 12 school we have a commitment to support students in learning and wellbeing at each specific stage of schooling. This approach is already built into our proactive focus to promote resilience, confidence and engagement in a broad range of activities.

Our Strategic Plan reflects this focus to produce students who are ‘creators of hope and change that matters.’ Our three strategic focus areas are ‘Living with Purpose’, ‘Learning in Partnership’ and ‘Growing our People’, and these incorporate the mentioned five principles. 

In addition to classroom learning, we possess a commitment to age appropriate social and emotional learning, holistic wellbeing, growth of character, a commitment to serve others, partnership with parents/community and the development of an understanding of God as revealed in the Bible.

Calrossy is already focused in doing many little things that enable schools to be fully holistic, looking to support the growth of students.

We are already working at what the report suggests in ‘developing mindsets among school staff that everyone, regardless of what subjects teachers teach or what their roles in running the school are, to share responsibility for the development of all children.’

There is more to do in this space but I am pleased to observe that since COVID, we are increasingly committed to building a school culture that is collective and inclusive, to the benefit of everybody.

Our ultimate goal is not just ‘brains on sticks’ but developing school graduates who learn effectively, function as well-rounded adults who understand their place in the world, working with those around them, solving problems, relating cohesively with others and who are capable of looking after their own health and wellbeing, contributing positively to our community.

*The Health, Wellbeing and Learning Project - https://www.rch.org.au/ccch/reinventing-schools/

 “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” Luke 2: 52

“I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1: 2

David Smith

Principal- Calrossy Anglican School