On Monday, St Edward's Primary School launched their new book 'Teacher Professional Learning' - a collection of individual research projects developed by the staff.

Describing the resource as a "gem" St Edward's Primary School principal, Dr Jake Madden, said it was teachers who were best placed to make positive change in the classroom.

"Schools are normally sitting back and waiting for the research of academics to guide them on what they're doing," Dr Madden said.

"What we're doing at St Edward's is actually being the researchers to find out what really works."

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The program started back in 2020 as part of the 'teacher as researcher' initiative, as a way for staff to build on their own skills without spending time away from the classroom.

The book contains research projects from around 30 staff members, who were given the chance to conduct their own inquiry based study in their classroom.

"Without quality teachers you don't have quality learning," Dr Madden said.

"The teachers themselves were able to be creative and choose something that was going to meet their particular needs, and ensure that we will have something that will create strong growth outcomes for students."

The resource contains research on topics such as oral language, regulating behaviour, food choices, wellbeing and data visualisation.

Dr Madden said with learning being subject to the constantly changing world, it was important for educators to be up to date.

"What teachers learnt at university a number of years ago has changed and we have to adapt and grow with that," he said.

"We are moving away from the one teacher, one class, one room, stand and deliver approach."

With St Edward's Primary School ranked in the top eight non-government primary schools in the country, Dr Madden said the resource was an insight into creating a successful educational environment - no matter your location.

"It shows that every child can have a positive and successful learning program," he said.

"Whether you're in the lowest socioeconomic field, you are entitled to, and you should have, years of growth."

To share the findings of their research projects, staff and educators across the country were invited to a two day symposium event.

Dr Madden said he hoped teachers walked away from the event with new understandings and ideas about how to improve their own practice.

"We're able to be better tomorrow than we are today," he said.

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