Peter, as the Board Chair of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) Flexi Schools,
brings an impressive wealth of experience spanning over 40 years in charity governance, underpinned by a genuine passion for serving the community. His prior role as Director and Chairperson at Common Ground Queensland reflects his dedication to serving the community, particularly focusing on families grappling with chronic homelessness.
In addition, Peter has held senior leadership roles at LifeFlight and the Anglican Church of
Southern Queensland and has contributed his expertise to the boards of several organisations, including Mater Hospitals, Holy Cross Services, and Mercy Family Services. Motivated by Flexis’ mission to connect disenfranchised young people with education, Peter see’s this work as vital to changing lives, one individual at a time.
Why is flexible education so important in Australia?
In a society where no two people are the same, particularly among the youth who are
developing and changing constantly, it is crucial to consider these differences within the
educational landscape. While more traditional, mainstream schools work for some young
people, others need a different approach – and every person deserves access to high-quality education that enables them to flourish.
This is where flexible education becomes pivotal. Flexi Schools offer a second chance for those young individuals who have disengaged from mainstream schooling, presenting an alternative that aligns more closely with their unique learning styles. At our Flexi Schools, the foundation is built on an unconditional positive regard for every young person - exclusion is not an option. Instead, power is shared, ensuring that everyone has a voice and agency in the decision-making processes that affect their education.
While this approach is fundamentally different to mainstream education, the experiences of our schools show how valuable it can be. Young people are not only re-engaging with their education but also acquiring the essential skills necessary to navigate life's challenges. This solid platform of learning sets young people up to navigate relationships, life and work dynamics throughout the future.
Moreover, education remains our most viable pathway out of disadvantage. Society as a whole benefits when young people are given the tools to grow, flourish, and no one is left behind. We are better served by making the effort to engage disenfranchised youth through wrap-around, life-long learning systems. Flexible education provides this and more.
What lessons from flexible education could be applied to mainstream schooling?
While certain elements of flexible education, such as small class sizes and flexible curriculum might present challenges for mainstream institutions, several components of flexible education could significantly enhance how young people are supported more
broadly within the education system.
For instance, at Flexi Schools, the majority of our staff receive training in Collaborative Problem Solving. We approach young people with the assumption that they want to learn and that they want to behave well.
Our educators delve into the specific skills gaps that may hinder a young person's ability
to engage appropriately and explore the situational triggers that can lead to challenging
behaviour. Trauma-aware learning is also critical to how we support and engage young
people. Our staff understand how trauma can impact young people and their capacity
to learn, and create learning experiences with this in mind. By identifying these areas
for development, we create opportunities to motivate and engage students on their
educational journeys.
These two approaches alone fundamentally change the dynamic between educators and young people, and create a solid basis of trust that enables more productive learning experiences.
Our schools operate under a shared vision of ‘common ground’ rather than adhering
to a traditional ‘power over’ model where educators wield absolute control and students
are expected merely to comply. Instead of rigid school rules, young people and adults agree upon four guiding principles: Honesty, Participation, Respect, Safe and Legal - which shape every aspect of the educational experience. For instance, before embarking on any excursion or event, educators collaborate with students to identify their goals and the best strategies to achieve them, always considering these principles.
Introducing principles rather than enforcing strict rules encourages a learning environment that is democratic, relational, safe and inclusive.Through years of experience and research at our schools, we have seen this practice form a strong learning foundation for the young people who walk through our doors. Mainstream schools could greatly benefit from adopting similar principles, particularly in their efforts to prevent and reduce the number of disengaged students.
How is flexible education helping to build pathways post-school?
Establishing clear pathways for young people after they leave school begins with setting high expectations. Flexible education excels in this regard. When you believe that
young people want to learn, that they want to succeed in school and in life, your approach to engaging that young person shifts. Rather than excluding young people from the potential of post-school opportunities, the focus moves to what young people want to achieve and how to make that reality.
At Flexi Schools, we employ an equal number of youth workers alongside teachers in many of our schools. Our educators and support staff work with young people on their individual goals and ambitions, and develop a plan to make those happen. Our curriculum is diverse, encompassing a range of offerings from work experience to White Card certification, Pre-Apprenticeship courses, and VET Hospitality programs. We also offer life skills programs where our young people are taught resume and cover letter development, interview skills and financial literacy to prepare them for life outside
of our school gates.
By constructing these pathways, we enable a greater number of intelligent, resilient,
and talented young people from diverse backgrounds to access opportunities in the
workforce and tertiary education. This is a goal worth striving for. Flexible education doesn’t limit ambition. Whether young people want to attend university, enter the workforce or begin a trade, flexible education can support them in getting there.
Flexible education is not merely an alternative approach; it is a crucial component in reshaping the educational landscape, ensuring that every young person is given the opportunity to succeed. With leaders like Peter at the helm, championing the cause, we are creating a future where no young person is left behind, fostering an inclusive and dynamic society for all.
Written by Peter Pearce, Edmund Rice Flexible Schools Board Chair.
07 3741 1111
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