Principles and practice of education at Korowal

Korowal was founded in 1978 with the aim of providing a human-centred learning environment.

Education at Korowal is inspired by the following principles:

Human-centred education

• The quality of human relationships is the heart of the educational process. Committed, mutually respectful relationships between students, teachers and parents are crucial to educational happiness and success.
• The whole human being is educated in a balanced and integrated way: intellectually, creatively, socially, physically, emotionally, ethically and spiritually.
• The aim of education is to develop full human potential.
• The values of compassion, tolerance , equity, respect, empathy, commitment, resilience, and critical thinking are consciously fostered.

Human scale education

• A small school is a school on a human scale. In a small school students, teachers and parents can be known, understood and valued as individuals. The special needs and talents of every individual can be accommodated in the learning process.
• Korowal's small size and integrated structure enables it to function as a community in which teachers, parents and students of all ages know, understand and care about each other. A supportive community is the best environment for educational success and social development.
• A school on a human scale balances individual with community.

Sustainable education

• Korowal aims for social, environmental and educational sustainability.
• Educational sustainability promotes a lifelong love of learning and encourages the idea of learning as a process, not a product.
• A small community with human-centred values is socially sustainable.
• Korowal is continually assessing and developing environmentally sustainable practices.
• Peace, conciliation and love of the whole earth are actively encouraged.

Integration

• In a world where children's experience is increasingly fragmented, Korowal aims to provide an integrated and holistic educational experience from kindergarten to the HSC.
• Our curriculum is thematic and interdisciplinary.
• Creative work is integrated with academic work.
• Multiple-aged learning groups transcend the rigid social and educational separation of students into single ages.
• Relationships between students and their teachers continue for several years.

Quality

• Korowal values quality in every aspect of the teaching and learning process - in the classroom, in the physical environment, and in the relationships between all members of the school community.
• Students are encouraged to take time: time to learn, time to appreciate quality, time to be children. In this environment, every student is capable of producing quality work.

Independence

• Korowal is not formally connected with, or supported by, any religion, educational movement or larger governing body.

Democratic governance

• Korowal is democratically governed by an elected council of equal numbers of teachers and parents who aim for and achieve consensus.

Access and equity

• Korowal aims to keep its fees as low as possible, offers scholarships and provides significant discounts for the third and subsequent children in a family.
• Korowal actively supports the integration of students with special needs and believes that their inclusion enriches the whole school community.