CHOOSING the right school for your child is one of the most important responsibilities as a parent or caregiver. Education isn’t just a pathway to a successful career, it’s a foundation for a life full of growth, learning, and the ability to navigate an increasingly complex world.
Education is not a simple task; it’s a dynamic field with many different, research-backed approaches aiming to engage students and foster their development. Over time, various teaching methods have emerged, each emphasising a unique way to help students learn, grow, and succeed. The search for the most effective way to educate has been ongoing since the Industrial Revolution, and it is far from over.
St Anne’s College Kialla opened in 2019 with a clear vision: to offer an inquiry-based approach to learning. This model places students at the center of their education, encouraging them to explore complex problems and questions. The college’s focus on collaboration, critical thinking, and independent learning has been a key feature of its growth, with its first Foundation and Year 7 students leading the way.
Divided into three key learning stages, The School of Wonder (F-4), The School of Innovation (Y5-9), and The School of Possibilities (Y10-12), St Anne’s College sought to foster curiosity and creativity in students. However, as with any educational institution, change is inevitable. In 2025, St Anne’s is set to implement a major shift in its approach to education.
Next year, the college will adopt a new teaching model called Magnify Sandhurst, developed by Catholic Education Sandhurst. This new approach has been in development for over a year and represents a significant change in the way education will be delivered at St Anne’s. The program has been created by a steering committee of Catholic education leaders, principals, and teachers across the Diocese, all aiming to create a more structured learning environment.
Under this new model, the college will shift to a more traditional school structure, with separate cohorts for Foundation to Year 6 and Years 7 to 12. This change proposes to bring greater consistency to teaching and learning across the school, helping to clarify expectations for both students and teachers. According to the new principal, Mr Anthony Butts, this shift aims to provide a more predictable and effective educational experience for all students.
“The teaching will be more specific and explicit, and it will provide the consistency that’s been proven to work. Children thrive on routine, and they will benefit from hearing consistent language and using the same strategies across their learning,” Mr Butts explained. This shift will also introduce a consistent approach to behaviour management, making it clear what is expected of students and giving teachers the tools to focus more on teaching rather than managing behaviour.
One of the key goals of the Magnify Sandhurst approach is to ease the workload of teachers, allowing them to focus more on how they teach rather than what they teach. By following a well-structured, sequential curriculum, teachers will all be on the same page, working together to deliver the best possible education. This will also make it easier for teachers to step in for one another, ensuring that learning continues without disruption if a teacher is absent.
The new approach follows a similar model that has already been successfully implemented in other Catholic schools across the country, leading to improved standardised test results. While Mr Butts acknowledges the importance of standardised testing, he emphasised that the main focus is on creating the best learning environment, which will naturally lead to better outcomes.
“Standardised tests are important because they reflect where a school stands in terms of teaching quality, but they are just one outcome of a high-quality curriculum,” he said.
Looking ahead, the college is also excited about the opening of a new robotics lab, which will complement the existing flexible learning spaces. These spaces, which were originally intended to support student-led inquiry, will continue to foster collaboration and engagement in line with the college’s new approach.
As St Anne’s College enters its seventh year, it is poised for a major transformation. With the support of Catholic Education Sandhurst, a dedicated staff, and a renewed focus on a structured, explicit curriculum, the college is set to continue its journey of growth, guided by a commitment to providing students with the best possible learning experience.
