This year at Senior Campus we are aiming to become a fully authorised International Baccalaureate school, authorised to deliver the Middle Year Program (MYP) for Years 7-9. After becoming a fully authorised Primary Years Program School in 2022, this is the next step in our plan to transform education at Woodleigh and become a truly internationally-minded school that encourages students to inquire and to think critically and creatively. The IB values strongly align with the philosophy and culture of Woodleigh School and provide a framework through which we can work towards our vision of enabling every student to learn to thrive.

As part of our vision, we aim to move away from previously held models of learning where knowledge was something to be delivered by experts without critical evaluation or transfer and students are then assessed through their ability to accurately reproduce knowledge in timed tests. At Woodleigh we believe that knowledge is not absolute, is constructed over time, is democratic and interdisciplinary. We educate our students to inquire, research and question. Assessment should be varied and allow students to demonstrate their learning in different ways from research and be evaluated against criteria, therefore helping our students to become lifelong learners who are intrinsically motivated.

To be an authentic, honest and credible researcher requires schools to have procedures and practices that are transparent, fair and consistent in regard to academic honesty. This becomes even more relevant in a time when we see the rise of artificial intelligence and information is more accessible than ever before. Whilst some fear AI and the changes it will bring to society, educators need to look for opportunities about how we use AI to create deeper learning opportunities for students and efficiencies for staff.

At Woodleigh we are developing an Academic Honesty policy as part of our IB authorisation and surrounding this we aim to promote an understanding and practice of academic honesty with our students. The skills of understanding the quality of sources of information, knowing how to use these sources and demonstrating that understanding in an ongoing formative manner. Knowing how to acknowledge the work of others through citations and knowing how to continue citing work within text are all critical skills that support the inquiry cycle of learning at Woodleigh.

The MYP is a holistic framework that embeds the development of character and complex capabilities within the framework. As teachers we plan our learning around the development of skills, knowledge and understanding and we also plan for learning that includes the development of the IB learner profile. The profile aims to develop learners who are:

· Inquirers

· Knowledgeable

· Thinkers

· Communicators

· Principled

· Open-minded

· Caring

· Risk-Takers

· Balanced

· Reflective

When students learn about academic honesty they are also learning what it means to be a Principled Learner. According to the IB, Principled Learners act with honesty and integrity, and with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. They take responsibility for their actions and their consequences.

Academic Honesty also helps our students to develop their skills regarding their own self-management, communication and research. All critical skills for life and further education.

This is an exciting time for our school and also for our students as we move towards authorisation and enhance the learning experiences for our students. I look forward to sharing these and other standards and practices with our school community throughout the authorisation process and beyond.