At Drysdale Primary School, students engage in a rich, holistic, and flexible inquiry curriculum designed to build on their existing knowledge, deepen their understanding, and inspire their natural curiosity.

Through exploring real-life issues, students develop critical inquiry skills that not only help them make sense of the world around them but also prepare them to navigate future challenges with confidence and creativity.

A core focus of our inquiry curriculum is helping students understand their role in society and how they can make a positive impact—both locally and globally. We believe that students learn best when they feel engaged and connected to their learning experiences. That’s why Drysdale Primary embraces the E5/Kath Murdoch Approach to Inquiry Learning, which fosters learners who think critically and creatively, actively seek knowledge, and take meaningful action to apply what they have learned. While students drive their learning and inquiry, explicit teaching remains essential to ensure mastery of key skills and understandings. This approach is used across all subjects within the Victorian Curriculum, except for English, Mathematics, and specialist subjects.

Guiding Principles of Inquiry Learning at Drysdale Primary:

• Students are most motivated when their curiosity is sparked by investigating ideas or solving problems that matter to them. Inquiry learning nurtures this natural passion and engagement.
• Inquiry learning supports the development of the whole child by building transferable skills such as critical thinking, planning, self-management, organisation, communication, and collaboration.
• It fosters student agency, encouraging learners to take increasing responsibility for their own learning by actively gathering, analysing, and applying information.
• Inquiry teaching prepares students for lifelong learning by connecting their education to real-world contexts and equipping them with essential skills for the future.

Through this dynamic inquiry curriculum, Drysdale Primary School cultivates thoughtful, capable, and engaged learners ready to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.