The Studio School: Reimagining Education Beyond Boundaries

The Challenge

In a rapidly changing world, traditional schooling often struggles to keep pace with the complex challenges and opportunities young people are facing. Too often, artificial boundaries separate students from real-world learning: divisions between school and industry, between rigid curriculum silos, and between academic knowledge and broader life capabilities. Many students are finding that they just don’t thrive in conventional classrooms, and the risk is they are being left disengaged and underprepared for their future.

The Opportunity

All Saints’ College and its Beyond Boundaries Institute(BBI) aimed to tackle these limitations head-on, bringing together thought leaders, educators, industry experts and students to ask what education could be and to reimagine learning beyond traditional classroom walls.

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The BBI’s patron, Professor Yong Zhao, challenged the College and our Beyond Boundaries Advisory Group (BBAG) – a think tank of national and international thought leaders – to envisage a school without borders, breaking down barriers between disciplines, blurring the lines between school and industry, and equipping students for a rapidly changing world.

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To shape what this ‘school without borders’ could look like in the West Australian context, the College researched and travelled far and wide to study and learn from leading-edge educational models around the world: from High Tech High and NuVu in the US and the Studio School movement in the UK, to international schools in China, for instance, studying diverse models and gathering ideas on what it was felt would work in our context and, importantly, what wouldn’t.

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Back home, these insights were enriched by detailed market research to understand deeply the community that the new model aimed to serve. This included developing buyer personas to identify the families most likely to thrive at this school, mapping out brand architecture and core values, and exploring perceptions of ‘alternative’ models of education in the local market. Focus groups with parents and students helped uncover what families valued most in education and what factors influenced their choices when it came to schooling. These insights were critical in ultimately shaping the College’s distinctive and future-focused approach.

The Solution and The Impact

The Studio School (TSS) is a powerful example of the BBI’s contribution in this space. An Australian first - and while still allowing students to achieve their WACE and, if desired an ATAR - TSS was designed to offer an alternative model of education that breaks free from rigid structures and conventional timetables. Instead, it creates an environment where students co-design their learning around real-world projects, industry partnerships and community connections.

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Collaborative learning sits at the heart of The Studio School experience — students work in small and flexible cohorts, supported by dedicated teacher-facilitators and mentors who guide them through interest-driven, project-based learning. Each student’s pathway is highly personalised, balancing academic pursuits with opportunities to develop practical skills, entrepreneurial thinking and a strong sense of agency.

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Through strong relationships with local businesses, creative industries, not-for-profits and community organisations, TSS proudly extends learning far beyond the classroom. Students might, for instance, design and produce murals for the City of Fremantle, run food drives for St Pat’s Community Support Centre or produce their own episodes for the local Freocast podcast. These are just some examples of the tangible projects that build capabilities and connect students meaningfully to their communities– a source of rich learning and an important protective factor in their lives, where students grow their self-efficacy and experience the joy of authentic agency and the ability to positively impact their world.

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Officially launched in 2021 after many years of research and development,  and starting with a small group of inaugural students, TSS  has grown to be a vibrant micro-school and community of 120 students across Years 10 to 12.

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There is no doubt that TSS fills a critical gap in the education system and provides an environment where students who don’t always ‘fit’ a traditional classroom can thrive. Students choose flexible pathways that align with their interests and strengths while gaining hands-on, real-world experience. By prioritising student agency, curiosity, risk-taking and creativity, TSS equips young people with the skills and adaptability they need to navigate an uncertain future.

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This innovative approach, underpinned by the research and vision of many of our BBAG members, demonstrates what a ‘school without borders’ can look like in action — one that redefines success, places students at the centre and ensures learning remains relevant, authentic and future-focused. The BBI continues to champion this future-focused model through its ongoing research, exploration and collaboration.

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“TSS gives us time to focus on projects that are really important to us, and the staff encourage us to create change and find opportunities to make the community a better place.” – Andy, Year 12