New Ambitions and Innovation

A very warm welcome to our new families, particularly those joining us in Year 7. As your children begin their secondary schooling journey, you will often hear us reference our ‘Future Facing’ approach. 

Education in 2026 is no longer just about the mastery of content. To truly thrive, our students need a balance of three distinct pillars: 

1. Academic Outcomes: The deep subject knowledge required for excellence. 
2. Wellbeing: The development of the 'Self' and emotional resilience. 
3. Complex Competencies: The 'Capabilities' or human skills that allow students to apply their knowledge in the real world. 

The Shift: Why Capabilities? 

We are living through a period of unprecedented change. With the rapid integration of Generative AI into every industry, the ‘value add’ of a human being has shifted. While AI can process data and draft text in seconds, it cannot replicate high-level empathy, ethical judgment, or collaborative leadership. 

By focusing on Capabilities, we are ensuring our students aren't just ‘exam-ready,’ but ‘future-ready.’ We are teaching our students the human skills that AI cannot automate; the ability to ask questions that drive curiosity, to pivot when a solution fails, and to work effectively within a team. 

Our Partnership with the University of Melbourne 

Our assessment of these capabilities is rigorous and intentional. Our long-standing partnership with the University of Melbourne’s ‘New Metrics’ project is one of research, and allows us to move beyond traditional ‘A–E’ grades and include a comprehensive report on your child’s capabilities. We utilise validated ‘learning progressions’ to track how a student grows in sophistication over time, and work with them to reflect on the capability development and inform learning goals. 

We remain proud to be part of this first-mover group of schools across Australia reimagining what success looks like. 

Scaling Up: What to Expect in 2026 

Last year, we successfully launched our 'generational' approach with Year 7, where students were assessed across all subjects in Communication and Quality Thinking. 

This year, we are excited to scale this initiative. We are now tracking progress for both Year 7 and Year 8 across four key domains: 

• Personal Development: Self-regulation and agency in learning. 
• Quality Thinking: Critical, creative, and ethical reasoning. 
• Communication: Expressing complex ideas effectively across different media. 
• Collaboration: Working productively with others to achieve shared goals. 

Reporting and TASS 

We believe that what we value, we must measure. In Term 4, you and your child will receive an end of year aggregated Assessment Report for these capabilities via the TASS Parent Portal. This will sit alongside your child’s traditional Academic Reports, providing a holistic 360-degree view of their growth as a learner and a person. 

We look forward to sharing more about this journey with you as 2026 unfolds. 

Warm regards 

Jo Kirby 

Assistant Principal New Ambitions & Innovation