Big PictureEducation Australia

Viv White

• adopt a sense of responsibility in and for the group

•  attend to others and listen•  cooperate in good faith•  aim for consensus decision-making•  confront problems respectfully•  allow and give no put downs•  accept where others are at• suspend judgments•  ethically sharing- what is said on the room

stays in the room

The problem…

• Too many students are failing in our schools.• Too many teachers are discouraged.• School is struggling to remain relevant.• The cost to our community and economy is

huge

Unequal outcomes

• 14% not learning or earning - 50% in some places

• 20% fail to complete Year 12 - 50% in some places

• Complex social, educational and health issues especially in poor schools- no known solutions

Why BP?

• Provides a long term social process of change.

• Confronts the institutional barriers to change that one off or disconnected strategies can’t...eg literacy and numeracy programs, well being etc

• It is therefore very complex and long term work.

What is it?

Big Picture Education Australia

One student at a time in a community of learners

Small schools by design - a new model for high schools in Australia

A proven model of success

• 100+ Big Picture schools in the USA, The Netherlands and now Australia.

• exceptionally high student attendance rates (94%)• very low drop out rates (2%)• high rate of acceptance into college (98%)• improved literacy and numeracy scores• significant supporters like Bill and Melinda Gates ($50million over 5 years), SVA and Caledonia and the Trust.

A different type of selective school - small by design

A tested and successful international model of education.

Model now in Australian schools

Yule Brook BPI College, 2007-10

Croydon Community School 2010

Montrose Bay and Bridgewater BP Colleges in 2010

The Big Picture Principles

• Create personalized learning unique for each student - one student at a time

• Develop public schools based on learning relationships - small by design

• Support educators to serve as leaders in their schools and communities

• Engage the community in the education of young people - a community of learners

The Big Picture Learning Cycle

• Start with your interests and passions• Make it work for you: learning plan• Pursue your passions• Make it real:learning through internships• Organise and do it• Exhibit it• Reflect and assess it

Learning Goals

Academic Rigour

• Quantitative Reasoning

• Empirical Reasoning

• Social Reasoning,

• Communication

• Personal Qualities

Big Picture works with schools

• New schools - Montrose Bay, Bridgewater

• Conversions - Yule Brook College and Croydon

• Influence - Reform in 20 others

What do we do?

• Support the schools to imagine they can do the work...

• Work with school leadership to plan change• Retrain teachers and select new staff• Provide design advice for schools and

classrooms• Coach teachers and students• Work with the curriculum and assessment

plans• Conduct evaluations and research and

document the work.

Impact 2006 - 2010BP Schools- Montrose Bay, Bridgewater, Tas

BP Conversions- Yule Brook, WA, Croydon Vic

BPI Schools, Colleges and Institutes- Yea High, Shepparton GOTAFE,Myrtleford P-!2 Ogilvie High, Clarence High, Prospect High Scotsdale High,Glebe Pathways (Sydney College),Blue Gum Community School, Erindale Senior College, Canberra Senior College ,Waniassa High Manjimup High, Thornlie High, Childside Community School

Exploring Schools-Enfield High,OTTE Women’s Centre,Open Access , NZ Correspondance School, McGuire High, Corinda High,St Johns Park High,Reece High,

Impact 2006 - 2010 (cont…)

• 10,000 to 15,000 students using Big Picture• 500 to 1000 mentors directly connecting with

students in real relationships.

Australian Outcomes

• Literacy and numeracy tests improve – • Teachers stay at college• Parents increasingly involved• Participation, retention increased

Major research under way – Murdoch University

Let the young people talk

Support

Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, Queensland, Major Supporter 2009-12

Caledonia Foundation support has helped develop 20 Big Picture schools already.

Social Ventures Australia and The Trust and schools are also contributing.