Doing School Differently

“We want our students to be curious, adventurous and willing to have a go.” Photo supplied.

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Contributed with thanks by Ayr State School

At Ayr State School, we do things differently — and we are proud of that.

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We are serious about learning. Reading is one of our highest priorities. We are committed to ensuring every child develops the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to become a successful reader. Our teachers continually strengthen their practice, use evidence and student data to guide teaching, and work together to make sure every student is supported to make progress.

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But we also believe that a great education is about much more than what happens behind a desk.

It is about giving children experiences they will remember.

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Recently, our 5/6 students swapped the classroom for fishing rods, campfires and an inflatable water park during an overnight camp at the Barra Fun Park. Earlier, our 3/4s camped at Billabong Sanctuary, getting up close with Australian wildlife and learning in an environment very different from their everyday classroom.

We want our students to be curious, adventurous and willing to have a go. We want them to experience their local and regional community whilst building memories alongside their friends and teachers.

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Because some of the most important learning at school doesn't come from a worksheet.

It happens when a child catches a barramundi for the first time, overcoming their nerves and trying something new. When they help a friend, sit around a campfire together or discover an animal they have only seen in a book. They realise, I can do this.

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These experiences build something that matters enormously to us at Ayr State: belonging.

We want every child to feel known, valued and connected. Camps, sporting opportunities, celebrations, excursions, house activities and the many other experiences we create throughout the year give students opportunities to form relationships and discover where they fit within our school community.

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And when children feel that they belong, they are more willing to participate, take risks, persevere and learn.

That same philosophy sits behind our approach to reading. We don't want children simply to do reading. We want them to see themselves as readers. We celebrate their growth, explicitly teach the skills they need, provide support when learning becomes difficult and keep expectations high.

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Our goal is not to create a school where every child has exactly the same experience.

It is to create a school where every child has the opportunity to succeed, to belong and to experience something extraordinary.

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That means carefully planned, evidence-informed reading instruction as well as a fishing rod, barramundi or standing beside a crocodile at Billabong Sanctuary!

That's Ayr State School.

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We learn. We belong. We have a go. And sometimes, we do school a little differently.

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