By Paul Rees, Principal of Our Lady of the Rosary School Kenmore
Parents often ask what great teaching looks like in a primary school classroom.
Is it explicit instruction? Inquiry learning? Collaboration? Learning through play?
The answer is all of the above.
Too often, education is framed as a choice between different approaches to learning. In reality, effective teaching is about knowing which approach students need and when.
At Our Lady of the Rosary, we believe students need strong academic foundations. Explicit teaching helps children develop essential literacy and numeracy skills, building the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed.
But knowledge alone is not enough.
Students also need opportunities to question, investigate, collaborate and solve problems. Through inquiry, group learning and purposeful play, children learn how to communicate, negotiate, think critically and work with others. They learn not simply to participate, but to contribute.
This is where education becomes about more than academic success. It becomes about character.
One example is our SolarBuddy partnership with our local Rotarians. Students learn about sustainability and global citizenship while building solar lights for communities with limited access to reliable electricity. Last year, our students helped support communities in the Torres Strait Islands through this initiative.
Experiences like these help students understand that learning should lead to action. They discover that they can use their knowledge, talents and compassion to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Ultimately, strong teaching is about developing young people with both the skills to succeed and the heart to serve. Young people who can think critically, solve problems, work with others and lead with purpose.
That's what great teaching looks like, and that's what we strive for every day at OLR.
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Photo © Brisbane Catholic Education, Our Lady of the Rosary School Kenmore (2026)