Destination Education takes St Mark’s Catholic College to Brazil!

The Catholic Learning Community of St Mark’s College Stanhope Gardens was chosen from schools right across Australia to be documented by Brazilian film crew Canal Futura for its ‘Destination Education - Innovative Schools’ program.

Launched in September 1997, Canal Futura is the first private television channel in Brazil which is exclusively dedicated to education.

Director Fulvio Maia said the channel runs a 13-episode season on innovative schools from all over the world and when it was doing its research in Sydney, it discovered St Mark’s College, Stanhope Gardens.

“One of the main innovative aspects of this school which particularly interested us was its agile learning environment,’’ Mr Maia said.

“This documentary looks inside these classrooms and gives a deeper understanding on how Project Based Learning is put into play in Sydney Australia. It demonstrates how Catholic education here has moved away from the traditional ideals and uses collaborative learning and presentation to achieve its learning outcomes.

“We have tried to highlight how this school works including how students have the freedom to ask questions and seek their own answers to group projects or individual work.”

The film crew spent close to a month at the College during Term 2 this year doing interviews with students, teachers, staff and parents as well as documenting and filming as many classes as they could.

“It was great to see how the school challenges students to be more open-minded. Teachers are also challenged as the dynamic of their role has changed and they don’t sit behind a desk anymore, they are free to work within the open classroom environment and guide students in their learning.”

St Mark’s Principal Dr Peter Webster highlights in the documentary that his goal is to develop a school for every student.

“Whether they want to go to university or go into a trade, whether they have learning difficulties or are gifted. I want this school to be for every student. That is my aim!’’ he said.

“Our school challenges the students to think ‘outside the box’. We have an enquiry focus and are very eclectic.

“Our school also challenges the teachers and shows how their role has evolved.”