That is the philosophy behind Launceston’s Big Picture School, which provides an alternative education option for Northern Tasmanian parents of children in grades 9-12. Launceston Big Picture School is funded under the Department of Education but subscribes to the Big Picture Education approach, which values personalised learning outcomes for its students.

The school, which is located at the Inveresk precinct, near the University of Tasmania, offers alternative pathways for its student cohort.

There are about 60 students enrolled at Big Picture School, which is small by design, its principal Adrian Dean says.

“One of the main differences with Big Picture School learning styles is that each student is given one advisor to work with to come up with a personalised learning plan,” he said.

Mr Dean said parents are also brought in to collaborate on the learning plan, which depends on the individual student and is based around a student’s passions.

“When families enrol their children here, they are enrolling themselves too,” he said.

Learning plans could range from a student achieving TCE or it could mean they are engaged in vocational education and training to lead to an apprenticeship, or they might simply want a job at the end of the year.

Students work on a project throughout the year, which is something each student has to come up with.

Projects can range from a real working robot modelled on K-9 from Doctor Who, to an analytical survey on beauty standards, to a brochure that details key attributes that make a successful real estate agent.

The Big Picture learning framework is based on research that shows people learn best when they are personally motivated.

Putting students at the centre of decisions around what, how and when they learn is the key to nurturing the next generations of engaged, independent learners.

While Big Picture schools are not independent schools, or subscribe to philosophies such as Steiner, the school offers an alternative approach to education for young people in grades 9-12.

Mr Dean said the school worked with each individual student to ensure their goals are met, and had a cohort that were all on different pathways.

Some were focused on university, others on VET and others simply wanted to get into the workforce.

Launceston Big Picture School is open to all students, potential students only need to engage with one of the school’s introductory and preparatory programs, which are run three times per year.

However, Mr Dean said demand for the Big Picture School is on the increase.

The school has had to run three of the preparatory courses just at the end of this year, to keep up with demand, as well as the two held earlier in the year.

Big Picture School grade 10 student Blake Janssen said he enjoyed his learning at the school because he could “learn about things I am passionate about.:

Mr Janssen created the working K-9 robot dog from Doctor Who as part of his studies and learning about robotics, engineering and woodwork.

He said he enjoyed it because he could built it with the help of his family, with his grandfather helping him with the woodwork exterior of K-9.

Monique Ioannidiz, a grade 10 student, said she enjoyed Big Picture education because she could control her own learning experience.

Big Picture School offers classes for grade 9-12 students but there are no options for grades 7-8 or for primary school grades.

Grade 11 student Blake Chick said one of the main differences he experienced was the smaller class sizes.

Students are paired up with one “advisor” and a group of 17 other students.

Grade 10 student Rahni Pascoe said the small class sizes were of a benefit.

“You get to know everyone here, it’s like you are a family,” she said.

All the students agreed individualised learning and working on projects they cared about helped them to direct their own outcomes.

They said collaborating with their advisors helped them to decide what pathways they wanted to pursue after they finished formal schooling.

Big Picture School advisor Daniel Smith said the learning plans helped each student reach his or her potential because they were engaged in what they were doing.

He said the model was aimed at teaching the students independent learning.

“We start out a bit more like traditional teachers but as they go through the year we pull back a bit; we give them the tools to find out what they need to know,” he said.

Another integral part of the Big Picture school model, is the off-campus learning, which is done primarily through internships.

Each student is paired with a business or group that aligns with their project and the students spent two days a week on work placement.

Mr Dean said work placement was a key part of the Big Picture philosophy because it helped prepare the students for what life would be like after education.

There are three Big Picture schools in the south: Kingston High School, Sorell School and Ogilvie High School.

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