Trail blazing Queensland independent schools that are reinventing classroom learning will share their approaches and projects at a major education summit in Brisbane on Monday (26 July).

Independent schools are using the growing body of evidence on education impact to develop pioneering and inspiring learning spaces and programs to enhance student learning in their local communities.

Seventeen large and small independent schools will draw back the curtain on their projects with about 160 school leaders and teachers at the annual Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) Big Ideas Summit.

Projects to be featured include the use of digital technologies in the curriculum, such as drones to monitor shade and shadows in Year 3 and GoPros to give Prep-Year 2 students immediate feedback on their swimming strokes, design thinking collaborations with universities and new entrepreneurial courses for students.

ISQ CEO Chris Mountford said independent schools were well-known for their pursuit of excellence and impact in all areas of education.

“This event provides a window into the cutting-edge learning environments independent schools have created and the exciting projects and programs they have developed to engage, ignite and stretch student learning,” Mr Mountford said.

“There’s nothing small about ISQ’s Big Ideas Summit which has grown in size and stature since the inaugural summit was held in 2019,” he said.

“Some of the schools presenting on Monday were audience members in previous years which confirms the importance of collaborative peer-sharing events like this to drive sector and system transformation.”

Mr Mountford said one of the positives to emerge from COVID-19 was the spotlight it put on the creativity of Australia’s school workforce to convert a century-old model of schooling into a contemporary online model delivered remotely.

“While this was a very public example of schooling transformed, independent schools are constantly looking to the future and new evidence about how students learn best, to continually evolve their teaching and learning programs for the benefit of their students, staff and communities.”

As part of the Summit participants will be streamed into three groups to examine: innovative learning spaces and digital innovation; leadership and professional learning; and innovative curriculum and teaching and learning.

In addition to school presentations, Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cunxin OA will also address how creativity has influenced his life and thinking.

The Summit’s focus on education ingenuity and creativity comes ahead of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) assessing “creative thinking” for the first time in 2022.

Media Contact

Justine Nolan
0428 612 315 | jnolan@isq.qld.edu.au