Scotch College’s Signature Learning Framework provides a solid foundation for student progression from year to year.
I t’s human nature to plan for the future. But as the old saying goes, ‘Tomorrow never comes’. It’s more important for students to be present each day, to ensure they’re equipped for today’s challenges before they even attempt tomorrow’s.
Scotch College’s Signature Learning Framework is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate approach to their school education. It covers academic, social and emotional progress, personal growth, community involvement and academic learning throughout the school year. “It’s age and stage-focused and appropriate for the year they’re in,” says Ieva Hampson, Scotch College Head of Mitcham Campus.
Prep: Wondering and Inquiring
The Prep semester sets the foundations for future learning, as students are encouraged to explore and ask questions about the world around them.
Reception: Curiosity and Creativity
Students begin to understand their own thinking and learning styles, with a specific focus on creativity and curiosity.
Year 1: Being and Belonging
As students form strong friendships and learn the importance of belonging and feeling valued, they’re helped to understand themselves within the context of the classroom and the broader school community. “At this age, children often want to be first at everything and be good at things. But it’s nice to realise we’re all good at different things,” says Ieva.
Year 2: Exploring and Connecting
Students are encouraged to explore new ideas, develop independence and take more responsibility for their learning. “At this age, children seek greater independence and are offered scaffolded experiences to respond to this need,” says Teaching and Learning Leader Sarah Lane.
Year 3: Identity and Purpose
This stage helps students build a sense of purpose within an inclusive environment. “It’s about understanding others and ourselves through knowledge of diversity and celebrating our differences,” says Sarah.
Year 4: Courage and Challenge
Students are encouraged to build the courage to face difficulties and learn from their experiences, promoting personal growth and perseverance.
Year 5: Influence and Action
In Year 5, students participate in The Festival of Ideas, which is a Shark Tankstyle program with a small pool of seed funds for ideas that students can action. There’s also a strong focus on sustainability in Year 5. “Students engage in a community project where they participate in the revegetation of the Brownhilll Creek, documenting the ecological changes,” says Sarah.
Year 6: Leadership and Collaboration
This final stage focuses on developing leadership and collaboration skills as students prepare to transition into Middle School. “They experience opportunities to develop skills to effectively use their voices and identify the appropriate channels to implement their initiatives,” says Sarah. “We also have a research partnership with Melbourne University that measures how our students are developing in the competencies of agency in learning, ethics and quality thinking,” says Ieva. As students leave Year 6, they’re given a certificate from Scotch College and Melbourne University to outline how their skills stack up in the real world.
Ready for today… and tomorrow!
“We’ve used this learning framework successfully for the last eight years,” says Ieva when discussing the level of student engagement with Scotch College’s Signature Learning Experiences. It’s not just about preparation for the future, but the importance of preparation for today.
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