This session is designed for experienced innovative school leaders looking for what’s next, through to those leaders at all levels who may be just starting off on their change journey and looking to know what is possible.
The 30 minute session, led by someone who has actually implemented significant school transformation for over a decade, starts by examining the common assumptions around traditional education and then looks at practical examples of innovations that have emerged from challenging these norms.
When Peter was appointed Principal of Templestowe College in 2009, it was a “broken” school with just 286 local students and 23 Year 7s and was twice threatened with closure. Within eight years, TC students had the option of three starting times, no year levels, no bells, no detentions nor compulsory uniforms. Each student had a five-year individualised learning plan where they develop their academic program from over 150 electives, students sat on staff selection panels, provide feedback to teachers every 5 weeks, ran more than 80 of their own businesses and TC employed over 100 students to help run the school.
Taken as a package these innovations became known as the Take Control educational model.
In 2018 Peter Hutton along with Adaptive Cultures expert David Runge, founded the Future Schools Alliance (FSA), an Alliance of innovative educational leaders collaborating to evolve and transform their school communities so that all learners are enabled to explore their holistic potential. Each school’s journey is unique but common to all alliance members is a desire to explore transformation; a change in the form, nature, appearance, feel or purpose of their educational setting. Participants will leave with an appreciation of what a truly student empowered school can look, feel and sound like and how they can work collaboratively with other innovative schools through the Future Schools Alliance to achieve their unique aspirational vision for the future.
