Too often, schools mark time. If they do make changes, such changes can often be reactive and piecemeal .
The IDEAS program, and its comprehensive measurement tool, the DISA (Diagnostic Inventory of School Alignment), allowed our College to challenge what we do, what we plan to do, and what we assume we do, through the lens of learning as a whole school. The development of our School-wide Pedagogy was a crucial step towards ensuring all functions of the College- teaching programs, extra-curricula, even buildings and facilities- are focused on improving, developing and delivering our core purpose in a manner aligned with our core purpose: learning. Perhaps the greatest marker of its success is the quality of conversations within the College and the shared learning-centred language used by staff, students and families alike.
I commend IDEAS as a highly focused, collaborative, whole school approach to meaningful and innovative improvement.