Leading the way in competency-based learning: a visit from the IB delegation

Carey is exceptionally proud of its groundbreaking New Metrics project partnership with the University of Melbourne’s assessment centre, Melbourne Metrics.

Since 2021, we have been working to integrate into our curriculum and assessment a set of transferable competencies that encompass the skills, attitudes and behaviours that enable learners to thrive within and beyond school, known as the Complex Competencies: Agency in Learning, Acting Ethically, Active Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Personal Development and Quality Thinking. 

The work of the partnership, and Carey’s role as a founding member and leading innovator within it, has garnered significant local and international attention. This work has prompted deep conversations about the requirements of future-focussed schooling that is ethical, trustworthy and committed to the success of all learners. Last year, we received the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL)’s National Leadership Award and Carey has hosted delegations from a range of interested educational leaders, including the Council of International Schools and the Yew Chung Yew Wah Educational Network.

Presenting Carey’s success to the IB delegation

Last term, Jonathan Walter and I were delighted to be invited by Melbourne Metrics to present Carey’s work to a visiting International Baccalaureate (IB) delegation that included the Governing Board and Executive Team. The visitors – led by Board Chair, Helen Drennen; IB Director-General, Olli-Pekka Heinonen; and IB Deputy Director-General, Marco Dondi – were interested in learning from schools who had successfully integrated competency-based learning and assessment into their programs. 

Carey’s case study, in which we presented our implementation strategy and our goal of ensuring we teach the skills for thriving at school and into the future, was received by the IB leadership with interest. Robust discussion followed our presentation, in which we explored a range of valid questions facing the New Metrics partners and the IB:

• What practical steps must schools and systems take to ensure the success of this type of learning?
• How do the New Metrics Complex Competencies align with the IB’s Learner Profile?
• What evidence is there of the value of this approach to learning?
• How can we best support teachers to design and deliver effective competency-based learning?
• What decisions and resources allowed us to grow our program from delivering pilot Australian Learner Competency Credentials (ALCC) to five IB students in 2023 to delivering ALCCs to more than 700 students in Year 6, Year 9 and Year 12 VCE and IB in 2026?
• What challenges does this work face and are they surmountable?
• How has the rapid expansion of AI increased the urgency with which we must equip young people with foundational learning competence?
• How does competency-based learning serve the young people in our care?

We will continue to explore answers to these questions and more as we work to improve the visibility and effectiveness of our competency-based curriculum at Carey. Our partnership with Melbourne Metrics and ongoing collaboration with IB innovators allows Carey to be leaders in this area, demonstrating how research and school-based practice can create sustained, scalable and meaningful change.

Rebecca Swain
Learning, Research and Innovation Co-ordinator