Life cannot be compartmentalised into separate boxes, so why should learning be? Our curriculum addresses this by taking a thematic, interdisciplinary approach to the way we learn.

For students, this could mean learning mathematics and physics by building a bridge over the river that passes through our campus. Or learning biology by exploring marine biodiversity, understanding our impact on it and developing solutions towards conserving and regenerating it.

We understand that each student learns differently, and our thematic units are designed to foster a deep love for learning in them. We have seen students thrive when programmes are designed to value their individual passions and they are empowered to lead their own learning journeys.

Green School advocates for interdisciplinary learning because it creates meaningful learning and broadens the notions of knowledge by applying ideas or topics in a variety of contexts. This type of learning removes artificial boundaries between school subject areas. We believe that focused instruction on learning subjects (e.g., literacy, mathematics, and science) is important but incomplete without direct experience and application.

Understanding the environment is fundamental to the Green School experience and is explored throughout our Green School Skills. Our thematic learning enables students to ‘Think in Systems’ and identifies the connection between social and environmental justice, supporting students to gain an understanding of their voice, power and role in creating change.

Environmental learning is threaded through courses and projects and is experienced day to day in where we learn, how we learn and what we consume. This awareness shapes sustainability mindsets as a springboard for activism, real projects that make a real difference and for instilling leadership in young adults.

Underpinning this is a strong foundation of scientific learning and the Green School Values, nurtured in all our learners. From climate change to marine ecology, from the circular economy to botany, our environmental science courses are flagship offerings delivered by educators with deep expertise, with a deep commitment to nature and a values-based approach to life as our guide.

Each individual Middle School learner builds social and emotional skills through weekly classes focused on age-appropriate themes. The purpose of the program is to empower learners to become stewards of their own health and wellbeing. Relationships are integral to this process – relationships with themselves, their peers, their parents, their teachers, and with the world around them. Our mindfulness programme also plays an integral role in this self development process. Mindfulness teaches important strategies that help students focus their attention, improve self-regulation skills, build resilience, and develop a positive mindset whilst at school and in life. Mindfulness as a practice is a feature of each day across the whole of Green School.

We know that students learn more from how they are taught than what they are taught. That is why we employ a project-based approach and let students experience their learning in a more hands-on way. Students in Middle School are empowered to start leading their own learning journeys and select their own project. They can have the freedom to explore an issue and its solutions.

Quest is a self-motivated passion project that is a culmination of the middle school years for learners at Green Schools globally. It encourages students to delve deep within to learn and uncover their inner selves. Linking their passions with world problems to effect change in their world enables them to understand that they already are a Change Maker. Throughout this process, learners will further develop their skills for time management, organisation, taking initiative, and how to activate their self-motivation. The Quest project originates from a point of personal interest and aims to extend itself around the themes of sustainability, social justice, or well-being. The themes which Quest centres itself around are important to us as a learning community and are inherent in their alignment with our iRESPECT values and philosophy.

Past Quest-ers say that Quest allows you to achieve things you never believed you could. You get to ask important questions, seek answers, contribute to your community, build, create and explore what you are most passionate about. You are capable of setting and achieving ambitious goals. Your confidence increases as you become more aware of your own potential. Having confidence in oneself and the ability to ask ‘How can I make this happen?’ and identifying opportunities within challenges provides you with the bravery to take on difficulties and new chances.