A place where children explore the rich possibilities of childhood, while becoming independent, and interdependent. Blue Gum’s ethos is grounded in the Australian tradition of ‘a fair go’ ‐ a strong commitment to social justice, especially the right of each child to feel valued; develop a sense of belonging; and be equipped with the essential academic and interpersonal skills for success and a meaningful life with others.
Blue Gum Community School values the remarkable capabilities of students, recognising school as a significant stage of life – full of discovery, learning and forming relationships. Guided by the NSW Curriculum and the Early Years Learning Framework, Blue Gum Community School provides a site of recognised best-practice, nationally and internationally. Our approach prioritises opportunities for students to learn with others every day through conversation, research and collaborative investigations. Our teachers design daily learning experiences and provocations for students that invite deep inquiry, questioning and reflection, as they work towards mastering new skills.
“At Blue Gum we make time for thinking, reflecting, experimenting and talking through ideas. Instead of rushing students from one activity to the next, we recognise that time spent working with a peer, or in a small group – to unravel a mystery or solve a problem – provides a rich resource enabling extended exploration to develop deep understandings. Through working together, thinking with others and navigating different points of view, the learning process becomes even richer. This highlights the central importance and significance of relationships within Blue Gum’s approach to teaching and learning, for both adults and children.”
– Jill McLachlan, School Principal
Our unique setting, approach to teaching and learning, and commitment to best-practice, sets us apart. We are a school in which teachers are deeply engaged with students every day, interested in their ideas and able to act as effective protagonists to their thinking individually and as a group. This requires adults with a commitment to walking alongside students, learning with and from them, as they co-research together, always with a willingness to approach teaching practice with creativity and openness.
At Blue Gum we resist the notion of the teacher as a passive observer or supervisor of children’s ‘free play’ or inquiries. Instead we see our teachers as crucial mentors of students, ensuring that the learning in our school is rich, challenging and transformational. We provide a curriculum of both exploratory, open-ended learning and explicit teaching of skills through carefully designed workshops. ‘Power-over’ or de-contextualised teaching techniques are not acceptable within our environment. Instead, at Blue Gum we support students daily within intentional, meaningful and continuous learning journeys, where school is a place to engage, connect and be challenged, as an influential and valued member of the community.
Blue Gum may be the place for you if:
You want to be a part of a professional team that thinks and learns together, continually bringing theory and practice into dialogue.
You are interested in exploring co-research with students of all ages, and in exploring how to make learning visible through pedagogical documentation.
You are inspired by the work of the Reggio Emilia Educational Project.
You value the environment in educational spaces and recognise the role of the teacher as a curator and host of those spaces each day.
You are committed to continual learning as a professional and as a member of a team.
