“My classroom makes me learn better because it makes me feel calm and safe”: Students’ perspectives of their school learning environments. The 2023 Sophia Program.

The 12-month Sophia Program is a professional learning program established by Sydney Catholic Schools in collaboration with the University of Melbourne. The professional learning program is unique, in that it not only involves the acquisition of knowledge and theory of school learning environments but also action-oriented evidence-based research within a professional learning community where groups of educators work collaboratively at the school- and system-level to improve student outcomes. Twenty-four participants from five Sydney Catholic Schools participated in the 2023 program. This report provides a summary of students’ perspectives on their learning, engagement and wellbeing on the design and pedagogical interventions implemented in schools as part of the Sophia Program. The findings show the importance of actively listening to student insights and perspectives about their learning. Student voice not only assist schools in designing, implementing and using their school learning environments but engage students as agents of their own learning.