Building Strong Relationships Through Real Schools

On our recent Student Free Day, staff at The Gap State High School had the opportunity to work with Real Schools, an organisation that supports educators to strengthen school culture through positive, relational practice.

The focus of the keynote was on creating consistency in how we build and maintain relationships with students and ensuring that every classroom is a place of safety, respect, and belonging. Staff explored strategies for effective communication, restorative conversations, and approaches that promote responsibility and empathy.

Why this matters

When students feel understood and respected, they are more engaged, resilient, and open to learning. Real Schools draws on neuroscience and psychology to help teachers understand behaviour as a form of communication emphasising connection over correction, and learning through relationships rather than punishment.

By building consistent language and shared expectations across the school, we can strengthen the sense of trust and predictability that helps students thrive both academically and socially.

What this means for families

Parents may begin to hear students talking about restorative approaches where the focus is on understanding what happened, who was affected, and how to make things right. This helps students develop empathy, self-awareness, and accountability, skills that are just as important as academic success.

You can support this at home by encouraging your child to reflect on their choices and how they impact others. Try using questions such as:

• What happened?
• Who was affected?
• What could be done differently next time?