While most teachers and students were on holidays, Barker staff, students, and leaders were working during the week of the 13-17th of July. This was due to the implementation of 2020 Reimagined – an initiative from the school leadership of Barker designed to maximise positive, in-person, learning during a COVID-19 impacted year.

Head of School, Phillip Heath AM, received praise from counterparts during an EdSmart webinar which drew together school leaders to discuss how their approaches to educational leadership during a crisis.

In this webinar five outstanding school heads/principals, featuring Mr Heath, shared honestly about the challenges of 2020. There were many common themes involving strategic decision making in the context of a deep care and concern for students, families, staff, and the wider community.

You can watch a recording of the webinar on the EdSmart website, https://blog.edsmart.com/principals-webinar

Dr Matthew Hill

Dr Matthew Hill is the Director of The Barker Institute with a focus on professional learning, research, and innovation in the school.  He teaches Physics and the new Science Extension course at the School which introduces students to scientific academic research. Matthew's doctorate reflects his passion for science education focussing on Representational Fluency amongst physics students at school and university. He has published in leadership, education, and science journals and been involved in course development and teaching at The University of Sydney and The University of Western Sydney. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Divinity at Ridley College in Melbourne.