Independent school leaders across Queensland will come together on 17 June to celebrate the changes and challenges of 2020 and schooling reimagined at the Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) State Forum.

The theme of this year’s biennial State Forum is Celebrating Change and will feature a line-up of thought-provoking presentations on issues including the “human age”, millennials and a shared culture of leadership, the political school education narrative, and how to future-proof our schools, students and educational system.

Forum speakers include:

• Michael McQueen | Social researcher 
• Felicity Furey | Social entrepreneur
• Paul Kelly | Political analyst
• Professor Deborah Terry AO | Vice-Chancellor and President, UQ
• Louka Parry | Learning strategist

ISQ Executive Director David Robertson said in 2020, leaders everywhere faced a curveball of global proportions with the rapid spread of COVID-19.

“Almost overnight principals and teachers transformed their face-to-face education models to deliver education remotely,” Mr Robertson said.

“In Queensland, the home learning period only lasted up to five weeks, but it accelerated changes to school routines and practices as well as the adoption of technologies and platforms that enabled students and teachers to connect online,” he said.

“The pandemic has been a catalyst for change, not only in the way education is delivered but how schools manage the movement of people inside their gates and sustain student and community spirit and connection. “                        

Mr Robertson said despite the many challenges of the past 18 months the independent schooling sector had emerged stronger than ever, buoyed by parental confidence in the quality of education and experiences provided by schools.

“What COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus is the value of independent schools as an education choice for Queensland families. Sector enrolments grew by 4.5% between August 2019 and 2020 and indicative data shows student numbers lifted again at the start of 2021 by about 5% compared to the start of the 2020 school year,” he said.

At the forum, ISQ will launch its latest Our Schools – Our Future research paper by University of Melbourne academics Dr Natasha Ziebell and Dr Lucy Robertson. The paper will present reflections on teaching and learning in Queensland independent schools during COVID-19.

The 2021 ISQ State Forum Celebrating Change will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 17 June. Queensland independent school leadership teams and school board representatives can register for the forum here.

Media Contact

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