Ivanhoe Grammar School in Melbourne Australia has recently been awarded the Bronze Global School Award.
Why is global education important to you and your school?
Being a ‘global citizen’ has been a focus at Ivanhoe Grammar School since our foundation in 1915 and our service and leadership activities continue to define the School’s culture. In the 21st Century, these activities have evolved into international awareness, expanding the definition of good citizens to being good global citizens and having a Global awareness and understanding. We want to support students to develop a global outlook and our School has adopted many initiatives that embed this global focus into all areas of school life. In 2024, Global Education was launched as a stand-alone subject and was implemented across the school for Years 7 and 8.
Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) as a foundation, drawing from a deep well of research on global education trends as well as building on the foundation of numerous successful projects in schools around the world, Ivanhoe Grammar School has created a unique curriculum for a compulsory Global Education.
How has the Global School Alliance benefited you as a teacher and the opportunities for your school?
The benefits that we look forward to are those that connect us to other like-minded schools and educators across the world for the common goal of providing global learning for students. At Ivanhoe, we believe we have developed a unique and sustainable way to educate our young people.
What benefits do you think this award will have on the whole school community?
We are already seeing the benefits as over 600 students per week are now studying Global Education as part of their timetable. We have seen some great independent projects already.
How will you use this award to motivate students and staff?
We will continue to keep our community informed about our Global Education progress via our social and Linked In social media platforms.
We will also celebrate the work that our Global Education teachers are doing in the classroom each and every day as their reward.
What are your plans for developing your international work?
We are currently using our Global Education program as a measure in our international research on the development of Global Competency, which we believe is critical for students in the current climate. We have recently presented at the Academy of Management conference in Chicago and also will present at the upcoming International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI) which is being held at Melbourne University. Our other plans are to find a partner school that shares our vision and that we can collaborate with on Global projects with our students.
To learn more about the Global School Awards, visit: www.globalschoolalliance.com/global-school-awards/.
