What is ‘progressive’ education?
Progressive education is NOT alternative schooling. It is about adopting and adapting the best practices.
Progressive schooling is an approach to education that sets high expectations for both students and educators, underpinned by a commitment to designing relevant and contextual learning experiences that break free from traditional subject silos. It focuses on fostering meaningful connections between disciplines and embedding learning in real-world contexts, ensuring its relevance to students’ lives and futures.
At its heart, progressive schooling thrives on collective efficacy and the power of relationships. Success is built through engagement, collaboration, trust, and a shared vision of growth, where educators and learners work together to achieve excellence.
This approach is anchored by Living School’s unique VAST model, which prioritises:
- Values to instil strong ethics of Respect, Responsibility, and positive, productive Relationships.
- Attitudes to build the character traits essential for self-regulation, resilience, and heightened awareness.
- Skills to develop the competencies required for success in life and work.
Through explicit instruction, independent inquiry, and collaborative learning, progressive schooling nurtures character, competency, and curiosity. It moves beyond simply delivering content, focusing instead on holistic development that honours each learner’s journey. This is not an alternative model – it is a reimagining of education that aligns with the highest standards of professionalism, purpose, and care, preparing students to thrive in an interconnected and ever-changing world.
