Independent Schools Victoria

Last week, ISV Chief Executive, Rachel Holthouse, met with the ISA Board in Canberra for its August meeting and strategic workshop. Everyone was able to connect and engage in dynamic conversations, as the group envisioned the future of education and the Independent sector. The group was able to forward plan and challenged themselves to think 15 years ahead.

Independent Schools Australia (ISA) today expressed disappointment to see, yet again, the AEU using the complexity of school funding as a smokescreen to launch misguided and misleading attacks on individual non-government schools and their communities. The latest data clearly shows that nationally, Independent school students receive an average of $12,160 in government funding, while public school students receive $22,510. Read more in the post below.

“Climate change is a future problem.” This is one of the many misconceptions about climate change; a misconception that pushes the burden of addressing the climate crisis onto future generations. In our recent ‘Climate change education: fit for the future’ learning event, we learnt that environmental, sustainability and climate change education have long been the three key education pillars. Now we need to focus on the socio-ecological challenges. So, what can you do as an educator? 🌡 help students develop skills to judge accuracy and reliability when it comes to misinformation ☀ focus on the climate science, rather than potential impacts that cause anxiety 🌦 use local data, models and science communications to learn about climate change. Read the illustration to find out more about what you can do to help your students understand climate change.

Daud loves to go outside and play with his friends, he’s known as being a funny kid, and dreams of being a YouTuber. Daud is also autistic, along with his brother. In school he went from having no friends; now he has more friends than he can count. This short film made by the media team at Al-Taqwa College, in collaboration with Sarra Bakri, the student services coordinator, which highlights the importance of inclusion and awareness of students with disabilities. Sarra is also working with ISV’s David Burton and Aine Maher on developing her Teacher Inquiry focus this year on how to incorporate inclusive practice for neurodivergent learners in the classroom and build community awareness.

ISV’s annual Student Art Exhibition, now in its 19th year, showcases the diverse talent of students from Victorian Independent schools.   This year’s exhibition features over 60 artworks from five ISV Member Schools, including: Carey Baptist Grammar School Hume Anglican Grammar Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School Ilim College St Andrews Christian College. The artworks have been created by students from Prep to Year 12 across 2D, 3D and digital mediums.   Visit the Docklands Gallery at 8 Wharf Street, The District, 440 Docklands Drive or view the exhibition online, here: https://lnkd.in/ga7GnJNt

Learning from a TV show that sends young people out alone, a wellbeing approach that makes a meaningful difference and three simple steps to have an innovative idea – all in the latest Top Reads. https://bit.ly/4e9uNUq

In Australia, about 30% of Australian children aged five to 14 say they do not read for pleasure. If you have a child who’s reluctant to read, what can you do? A good first step is to find out why. https://lnkd.in/gEXxGnHi

From 2025, all Victorian government schools will be required to teach reading using a phonics-based approach known as Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP). But what is it? And how can parents help their child learn to read in a way that aligns with what they are learning at school? If your school uses a phonics-based approach, and you’re looking for a helpful explainer to share with parents, ISV's Diane Bourke shares her top tips for nurturing early literacy on The Parents Website. https://lnkd.in/gYWieYbx

Yesterday, ISV Chief Executive Rachel Holthouse joined ISA Chief Executive Graham Catt, along with ISA Board members Christopher Mountford, Andrew Wrigley, Tony Crehan, and Cheryl Salter, at the National Press Club in Canberra. With a federal election looming, it’s critical to understand the policy positions of all parties. Rachel said: "It's a great opportunity to connect with other leaders in the sector to continue to collaborate and support Independent schools."

A growing list of Labor MPs privately lobbied for schools in their electorates to be exempt from a payroll tax, despite voting for it in state parliament. Chief Executive of Independent Schools Victoria, Rachel Holthouse said it was clear from the letters that Labor MPs share concerns about the government’s tax policy and again called for it to be axed. "We continue to urge the government to reconsider this tax, which doesn’t apply in any other state and which no government school is required to pay." https://bit.ly/3ADgPfk