Glimpses of a Principal Study Tour

How is it possible to have another awesome group of principals visiting Learning Scoop and local schools? We welcomed a group from New Zealand to Tampere, Finland in late August.

Principal Study Tour kicked off with Introduction to the Finnish Education System which is the foundation for the whole study tour experience. Other topics during the week were Pedagogical Leadership in Finnish schools, School governance and administration and participants also got to know the best practices of co-operation with parents, schools and other stakeholders such as companies. One important topic during the Principal Study Tour was how educational support is arranged in Finland.

I loved my time with Learning Scoop. I have come back to work buzzing with things to share with my colleagues.  While our systems are very different and I’m jealous of the support schools in Finland get to help their students progress and achieve, there are still things we can consider applying in our learning context. 

At the end of the study tour our wonderful visitors had some meaningful and visionary conversations as the theme of the day was School of the Future. The group also heard about KiVa program which is an evidence-based antibullying program innovated in Finland. As a cherry on the cake the principals enjoyed sunny Finnish Nature Experience led by Seventen Tours.

During the farewell lunch we heard beautiful reflection and insights about some impressive things such as self-directed students, how and what even small children can do without adults serving them, how trust is implemented in Finnish school system and society, which skills sets are linked to wellbeing and what kind of advantage it is to command multiple languages.

Thank you for a memorable week and all the best for your important daily work with the next generation – the most important asset we have!

Thank you to all facilitators and organisers. It was a truly awesome experience. I wouldn’t change a thing! Loved it! Learnt heaps!!

The Learning Scoop team were very generous with their knowledge and we were very well looked after. 
Thanks so much to all our trainers and hosts.  It was great to see such variety in schools and age groups.  I look forward to returning to Finland one day, maybe when it is snowing so that I can enjoy a small amount of the Finnish winter.