Hunter School of the Performing Arts

PERFORMING AT OUR BEST

Telephone02 4952 3355

Emailhuntperfor-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Future Focused Learning

We are very passionate about helping our students to develop the essential skills needed to live and work successfully in the 21st century.

The new Australian Curriculum and revised NSW School syllabuses have both identified several key Future Focused learning skills referred to as General Capabilities.

The General Capabilities are: Literacy, Numeracy, Information and Communication Technology, Ethical Understanding, Creative and Critical Thinking, Intercultural Understanding, Personal and Social Capability. For more information visit the General Capabilities section of the Australian Curriculum.

Quality teaching programs across our school incorporate relevant and engaging learning experiences which foster collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.

These are supported by the integrated use of technology as a personal learning tool. HSPA has been running a Bring Your Own Device program since 2014.

21st Century Learning

Seven Skills for 21st Century Careers

Critical thinking and problem solving

“The idea that a company’s senior leaders have all the answers and can solve problems by themselves has gone completely by the wayside - the person who’s close to the work has to have strong analytic skills. You have to be rigorous: test your assumptions, don’t take things at face value, don’t go in with preconceived ideas that you’re trying to prove.” Ellen Kumata, Consultant.

Collaboration across networks and leading by influence

“The biggest problem we have in the company is finding people capable of exerting leadership across the board - our mantra is that you lead by influence, rather than authority.” Mark Chandler, Cisco Systems.

Agility and adaptability

“We’ve done fundamental reorganizations every year because of changes in the business - I can guarantee the job I hire someone to do will change or may not exist in the future, so this is why adaptability and learning skills are more important than technical skills.” Clay Parker, BOC Edwards.

Initiative and entrepreneurship

“For our production and crafts staff, the hourly workers, we need self-directed people - who can find creative solutions to some very tough, challenging problems.” Mark Maddox, Unilever Foods.

Effective oral and written communication

“The biggest skill people are missing is the ability to communicate: both written and oral presentations. It’s a huge problem for us.” Annmarie Neal, Cisco Systems.

Accessing and analyzing information

“There is so much information available, almost too much - if people aren’t prepared to process the information effectively, it almost freezes them in their steps.” Mike Summers, Dell Computers.

Curiosity and imagination

“Our old idea is that work is defined by employers and that employees have to do whatever the employer wants - but actually, you would like employees to come up with an interpretation that you like, they've adding something personal, a creative element.” Michael Jung, McKinsey and Company.