Partnership Case Study
Melrose High School: Study 2
The Symbolism Study invited Melrose students to explore meaning-making through visual storytelling, design, and interpretation. The project emerged from a desire to deepen students’ analytical thinking and give them a creative, authentic avenue for expressing ideas. Teachers sought a process that would stretch students intellectually while empowering them to shape their own direction.
Our PARTNER
Melrose High School
SETTING
Urban School
Pearce, Canberra
ENGAGEMENT
Multi-year partnership
FOCUS AREAS
Whole-staff implementation of the Culture of Excellence Program
From Surface-Level Analysis to Insightful, Purposeful Interpretation
Case Summary
Students investigated symbolism across media, then created original pieces that conveyed layered meaning and intentional design choices. The structured inquiry process helped them slow down, think more deeply, and articulate their ideas with greater clarity. Teachers noticed a substantial increase in student confidence, expressive capability, and reflective thinking.
The learning design helped students take greater ownership of their work.
98%
The project structure provided clarity and practical frameworks for teachers.
96%
Students demonstrated deeper creative and critical thinking throughout the project.
98%
The work strengthened relationships and collaboration across the school.
97%
Overall, this was a positive and valuable learning experience for our school community.
100%
(Percentages reflect staff who agreed or strongly agreed.)
In Their Words
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“The shift toward student ownership has been incredible — learners were far more invested because the work felt meaningful and genuinely theirs.”
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“These projects pushed my students to think, question, and create with a level of courage and clarity I hadn’t seen before.”
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“The framework helped me guide rather than direct. I felt myself becoming a better facilitator, not just a better teacher.”
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“Students’ creativity surprised me every single day. They produced work far beyond what I would have expected at the start.”
John Doe
Combo Interactive -
“This experience helped reconnect our team with why we teach — seeing students step up with agency was energising for all of us.”
John Doe
Combo Interactive
“This work helped our teachers step back so students could step forward. The level of engagement, ownership, and creative confidence our learners demonstrated has been extraordinary — and it has strengthened our whole school culture.”
Simon Vaughan, Principal, Melrose High School