Partnership Case Study
Penrhos College: Study 2
At Penrhos College, a simple question — “How can we make our community kinder?” — became a powerful catalyst for student-led inquiry. Working with Year 2 and 3 students, we guided teachers and learners through a process that turned empathy into evidence, and ideas into action. The result was a model of student agency that reshaped how the school thought about voice, impact, and authentic learning.
Our PARTNER
Penrhos College
SETTING
Girls Private School
Como, WA
ENGAGEMENT
Multi-year partnership
FOCUS AREAS
Whole-staff implementation of the Culture of Excellence Program
From ‘Being Kind’ to Creating Kindness: Empowering Young Learners to Lead Meaningful Change.
Case Summary
This project shifted the focus from simply discussing kindness to actively generating it. Students identified what kindness looked and felt like, collected real data across the school, designed initiatives to improve wellbeing, and evaluated the impact of their actions. Teachers reported a remarkable increase in student ownership, confidence, and collaboration — and a renewed understanding of what genuine agency looks like in early years classrooms. What began as a learning unit became a schoolwide movement that strengthened relationships, community values, and student voice.
“This experience strengthened my understanding of how to build student agency in my classroom.”
98%
“The process improved my ability to guide authentic inquiry with young learners.”
97%
“My students demonstrated increased ownership, confidence, and collaboration.”
99%
“I now have clearer strategies for embedding kindness, empathy, and wellbeing into learning.”
96%
“This project positively influenced our classroom community and relationships.”
100%
(Percentages reflect staff who agreed or strongly agreed.)
In Their Words
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“I was stunned by how thoughtfully the students approached the idea of kindness. They gathered data, analysed patterns, and made decisions based on evidence. It was real inquiry, not a simulation.”
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“The biggest shift was ownership. The students led the conversations, the planning, and the actions. We moved from directing learning to supporting it — and the difference was extraordinary.”
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“Watching the students design their own kindness initiatives showed me how capable they are when the learning belongs to them. Their confidence and collaboration skyrocketed.”
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“This project helped our students understand that kindness is a choice we create together. They became more reflective, more aware, and more connected to their peers.”
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“The most powerful moments were when students shared their findings with the community. They realised their ideas mattered — and that they could lead change, even at seven years old.”
John Doe
Combo Interactive
“This project showed us what happens when young learners are trusted with real responsibility and meaningful work. The shift in agency — for both students and teachers — was profound. Our staff gained confidence to step back, and our learners stepped forward with purpose, curiosity, and compassion.”
Principal, Penrhos College