Fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking

At St Albans Primary, Inquiry-Based Learning is at the heart of our teaching approach. Aligned with the Australian Curriculum, our inquiry model empowers students from Foundation to Year 6 to become curious, capable, and confident learners.

What Is Inquiry Learning?

Inquiry-Based Learning is a student-centred approach where children explore real-world topics by asking questions, investigating answers, and constructing meaning. It encourages active engagement, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of concepts across the curriculum.

Our approach is guided by the Australian Curriculum’s general capabilities, such as critical and creative thinking, ethical understanding, and intercultural understanding, as well as cross-curriculum priorities like sustainability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.

How It Looks in the Classroom

Junior Primary (Foundation – Year 2):

In the early years, students are guided through rich, hands-on experiences that help them develop foundational skills in questioning, observation, and communication. Teachers pose open-ended questions and model the inquiry cycle in ways that are developmentally appropriate and fun. Topics may include exploring living things, families and communities, weather, or how things move.

Upper Primary (Years 3 – 6):

As students grow, so does their ability to lead their own learning. Upper primary learners begin to plan investigations, gather and analyse information, make connections, and present their findings with increasing independence. Units may explore topics such as sustainability, Australian history, global citizenship, or digital technologies.

The Inquiry Cycle

Our inquiry units follow a consistent structure based on best practice and educational research:

• Tuning In – sparking curiosity and identifying what students already know

• Finding Out – researching, observing, and asking further questions

• Sorting Out – analysing and making sense of information

• Going Further – expanding knowledge and exploring new angles

• Taking Action – applying learning in real-world or creative ways

• Reflecting – considering growth, challenges, and future questions

Why Inquiry Matters

Inquiry learning helps students to:

• Build confidence and take ownership of their learning

• Think critically, ask meaningful questions, and solve problems

• Work collaboratively and value different perspectives

• See connections between subjects and the world around them

• Develop lifelong learning habits and a love for discovery

Real Learning, Real Impact

Whether it’s a Foundation student investigating the needs of living things or a Year 6 class developing sustainability projects for the school, our students learn through purposeful, authentic experiences that make learning meaningful and lasting.

At St Albans Primary School, we don't just prepare students for tests, we prepare them for life.