Our approach in a nutshell
Sophia College offers a diverse, student-centred and inclusive curriculum following the Brisbane Catholic Education Learning Framework, Queensland statutory authority (QCAA) documents, and the ACARA Australian Curriculum. Our teachers are dedicated to implementing research-based methods for learning and teaching, with the goal that every student leaves the college as a confident, responsive, informed and resilient individual, well prepared for a rapidly changing future.
Our instructional model is Explicit Inquiry — every unit balances clear, direct teaching of essential knowledge and skills with genuine opportunities for students to question, investigate and apply what they've learned.
The Explicit Inquiry lesson cycle
Engage
Hook students in and activate prior knowledge — connect the lesson to what they already know or have experienced.
Explicit teaching & modelling
Clearly teach and model the essential knowledge or skill for this lesson, with learning intentions and success criteria shared up front.
Guided inquiry
Students investigate, question and apply the new knowledge with teacher support — this is where "inquiry" and "explicit" meet.
Independent application
Students extend or apply their understanding with increasing independence.
Reflect & consolidate
Check understanding against the success criteria and consolidate learning before moving on.
Differentiation & inclusion
How teachers are expected to differentiate for diverse learners, including students with disability (linked closely to NCCD requirements).