Episode 1: Leigh Johnson - Failing Forward - Around the School Table by Xuno Suite

Big Brain Channel

In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis visits Leigh Johnson, principal of Harkaway Primary School—a small, 150-year-old school nestled in Victoria’s scenic hills. Despite its modest size and absence from the national spotlight, Harkaway has gained international recognition for its innovative, student-centred approach to education, especially around resilience and disaster preparedness. Johnson describes Harkaway’s unique charm, rooted in deep community ties and aesthetic appeal. Many families bypass other schools to enroll there, drawn by its relational culture and meaningful learning experiences. The school’s educational philosophy is anchored in a "child-centred disaster risk reduction" manifesto developed collaboratively with students and experts. Its four pillars are: involving children in learning about risks, dismantling outdated myths, connecting students with real-world experts, and empowering them to teach peers. The school’s learning environment encourages action-based education. From participating in water quality monitoring with River Detectives to co-designing a climate education game with Indonesian schools, students engage as scientists and global citizens—not just learners. Harkaway also embraces the idea of "failing successfully." Inspired by Finland’s National Day for Failure, the school celebrates mistakes as part of the learning process, helping build student resilience and normalise the iterative nature of discovery. Johnson emphasises the value of understanding individual learners and acting on that knowledge—a principle he believes any school can adopt. The episode is a compelling portrait of how a small, rural school is pioneering meaningful, globally connected education rooted in empathy, inquiry, and agency.

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