Over the years, certain themes have come to the surface again and again: a strong sense of community and belonging (Year 6), the importance of nurturing learning relationships (Year 7), and the ways students balance challenge and flourishing in an evolving educational landscape (Year 8). Together, these snapshots have revealed not just what students experience in a given year, but how their perspectives deepen and shift as they grow.

Now, with the 2025 round of interviews complete, analysis of the data well underway, and the annual article currently being drafted, a question is raised: what can readers expect? This year’s study takes us into Year 9 – a pivotal point as students complete Middle School and begin to look towards the senior years. Themes of flourishing, belonging, challenge, and responsibility continue to shape their reflections, but in ways that show fresh depth and direction.

I don’t want to give too much away before the full article is released in early 2026, but I felt I could share what the upcoming report will explore:

  • how students describe the values and relationships that sustain them,
  • how they see academic and co-curricular life fitting together, and
  • how they are approaching the opportunities and questions raised by artificial intelligence in education.

As always, the Barker Journey remains grounded in student voice. These are their words, their perspectives, and their hopes for what lies ahead.

So, stay tuned in Term 1, 2026, when the full findings will be shared. For now, we can say this much: the 2025 Barker Journey reveals a cohort not only growing in maturity but also navigating an educational landscape that is rapidly evolving—and their insights will challenge and inspire us all.

Dr Timothy Scott

Tim has held leadership roles in schools across Australia and abroad for 25 years, alongside teaching History and Modern Languages. His research focuses on intercultural learning and pedagogical translanguaging, refugee education, and student voice in improving educational practice. He is a lead researcher for the Barker Institute’s ongoing decade-long longitudinal study, The Barker Journey. Alongside his research work, Tim currently teaches History and Global Studies. His PhD examined socio-political influences on contemporary German conceptions of history and archaeology.