Intentionally untraditional
to The Knox School
The Knox School learns, creates and plays on the lands of Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, land which has never been ceded.
We thank them for caring for this land for over 40,000 years and recognise and pay our deepest respect to elders past and present. This was and always will be Aboriginal land.
From the Principal
Nikki Kirkup
At The Knox School, we understand that choosing the right learning environment for your child is one of the most significant decisions you will make for your children, not only financially, but emotionally. It is a decision about who your child will become in an ever-changing world.
Welcome to TKS, where knowledge, skills, and character define what comes next. Here, questions spark discovery, challenges fuel growth, and the ordinary is transformed. Every idea, every project, every day is a chance to push boundaries and redefine the limits of possibility.
Our students aren’t waiting for tomorrow; they’re already shaping it.
At TKS, we challenge the status quo. We think differently, learn differently, and teach differently. We believe that education isn’t a transaction; it’s a partnership, a launchpad, a long game. We ask bold questions, encourage students to read between the lines, think critically, and see opportunity where others see limitations.
We are the opposite of ordinary. Our approach to education is engaging, adaptive, and forward-thinking, designed to inspire curiosity and nurture potential. We are a school that never sits still, we are agile and responsive, continually evolving to meet the needs of our community and the changing world in which we live.
From Early Learning to Senior School, on our campus in Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs, our students are known as individuals, challenged, and empowered to go beyond what they thought possible. Small classes. Big thinking. Real relationships. Educators who lead, not follow.
We don’t mass-produce our learners; we nurture unique individuals. We recognise our learners as human beings, not human doings.
Personalised learning isn’t just a slogan here at TKS; it’s what we do. We create the conditions for our learners to find their unique superpower, to write and live out their hero’s journey ensuring they not only fulfil their potential, but make a difference in the world, leaving a legacy far greater than themselves.
Every student has a pathway, not a template. Through this approach, students are empowered to take risks, learn from mistakes, and build overall resilience. Growth begins with challenge, and today’s setbacks become tomorrow’s successes.
Yes, knowledge matters. But that’s only the start. We build thinkers, communicators, collaborators, and creators - skills that don’t expire. We go deeper: Achievement, Care, Empathy, Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. Not wall words - but lived values.
At The Knox School, our approach is shaped by our Three Learning Journeys – Knowledge, Skills and Character. All of equal importance. All working in synergy. All targeted explicitly. Together, they form a connected framework that underpins every student’s experience. Through this, we equip every student with the capabilities required to lead meaningful and extraordinary lives.
TKS students graduate not just qualified and quantified, but world-ready global citizens. Ready to contribute, ready to lead, ready to act. They join our alumni, The Falconians, not as spectators of the world, but as shapers of it.
We prepare our students to navigate complexity, embrace challenge, and own their future.
Not someday. Now.
Intentionally untraditional, our approach champions brave thinking, purposeful growth, and learning that truly matterspreparing students not just for what lies ahead, but for whatever comes next.
The Knox School is beautifully positioned to promote the learning and wellbeing of every student so they can flourish in a complex and changing world, to become thoughtful architects and advocates of their own future.
It is my privilege to lead this dynamic and future-focused community. I look forward to welcoming you to our campus and beginning this important partnership together.
Ms Nikki Kirkup Principal and Chief Executive
Intentionally untraditional
Across all programs, The Knox School challenges the traditional model of education. It’s what we’re all about.
Our learning experiences are designed to be bold, purposeful and deeply connected to the real world. Whether through inquiry-based projects, international journeys, or enrichment pathways, every student at TKS is empowered with agency to explore, create and lead.
That’s the difference with an untraditional education. We do things because they work, not because they’re conventional.
We empower and equip students with the knowledge, skills and character needed to live extraordinary lives. Our mission is simple.
Vision
At The Knox School, we’re what you call ‘Intentionally untraditional’. It means that our community of learners gets to experience school as it should be, not as it used to be.
They learn from the past, not like the past. We find this helps foster character, encourages curiosity, and empowers our students to enact purposeful change –both in their own lives, and in the wider community.
We see education as more than an event, or a series of test scores. Education is a journey: the preparation for a rich and wonderful life. And while results are still important, you can’t boil that journey down to a number. We measure it in other ways, too, like fulfilment, and independence, and adventure.
That’s the virtue of an untraditional education.
Values
Our values were chosen by our community. We live them every single day.
→ Achievement
We accomplish our best in everything we do.
→ Care & Empathy
We provide the emotional frameworks that help students thrive.
→ Respect
We value each other, and have regard for the worth of others.
→ Responsibility
We’re accountable for our actions.
→ Resilience
We love a challenge, and we’re not afraid to move outside our comfort zone.
Culture
The Knox School offers a values-based, innovative community, committed to holistic excellence in a dynamic and inclusive environment.
While our learners today are mostly local students, they collectively represent 55 nationalities and speak 43 individual languages. It’s a good reminder that learning is a global and interconnected endeavour. Nobody learns in a vacuum. And the more we can give our students access to worlds and perspectives outside their own, the better their outcomes will be.
Our TKS Community
The Knox School is more than a place of learning. It’s a connected and caring community where every student, family and staff member feels like they belong.
Our strength lies in the relationships we build, between teachers and students, families and the School, and across generations of alumni who remain a big part of our story. From the Early Learning Centre through to Year 12, our single-campus environment allows friendships to flourish and transitions to feel seamless. Students grow up knowing that they’re supported and valued. That they’re connected to something unique. Families are welcomed as partners in their child’s education, contributing to a culture built on trust, respect and shared purpose.
Our community spirit extends well beyond the classroom, too. Whether through School events, service initiatives or alumni engagement, The Knox School encourages connection and contribution. Together, we’re creating an environment where everyone, every single child, is inspired to learn, lead and thrive.
Our History
The Knox School has proudly served the eastern suburbs of Melbourne since its founding in 1982. Established as an independent, co-educational school, it began with a simple mission: to offer a contemporary education that values the whole child.
It’s one reason why, from our very earliest days, we’ve been known for innovation, care and community, not just great academic results. What began as a small school with a big heart has evolved into a vibrant learning environment, spanning Early Learning to Year 12, and all conveniently positioned on the one campus.
Over the decades, the School has grown in size and reputation, embracing technology, global awareness and progressive teaching practices while (at the same time) remaining true to our founding values: achievement, care and empathy, respect, responsibility and resilience.
Today, The Knox School stands as a place of opportunity and belonging. A community that continues to look forward, preparing students to lead meaningful lives and contribute to a better world.
Facilities & Campus Environment
Facilities:
Take a walk around The Knox School and you’ll find light-filled classrooms, purpose-built STEM labs, a buzzing arts and music precinct, and spaces where students can tinker, rehearse, collaborate and play. Our state-of-the-art facilities include a sports centre with two full-size basketball courts, a library, a 400-seat auditorium, and even a community café.
From Early Learning through to Senior School, everything is designed to feel welcoming, modern and genuinely useful. It’s a campus that invites curiosity, celebrates passions, and gives students room to grow their own way.
→ Multimedia recording and podcast studio.
→ 400-seat auditorium and art gallery.
→ Extensive ovals and tennis courts.
→ Fully equipped weights and cardio gym.
→ Two indoor basketball courts.
→ Gymnasium and reformer Pilates studio.
→ Modern science labs and robotics studios.
→ Futures Hub with learning studios, communication lab and a co-working space.
→ Community Café with a multipurpose event space.
→ Hospitality Centre with full size commercial kitchen.
Campus Environment
Learning is growth, and growth requires the right environment. It’s why we put so much emphasis on culture and community at The Knox School. How and where we learn matters just as much as what we learn. At The Knox School, every student is known to all staff within the School, from administration to the teachers. It’s a modern, state-of-the-art campus that still has that small, connected community feel.
Each sub-school has its designated play areas, along with shared facilities where students interact and learn together. Junior and Senior Schools interact regularly through peer support groups, leadership programs and whole school initiatives.
The end result is that no-one gets left behind. We learn together, and thrive together, and we share in each other’s success.
Three learning journeys at TKS
It’s important to remember that education isn’t a single event, although it can often be framed that way in a system where success is frequently measured by an ATAR score.
At The Knox School, we see education as a journey on three levels. Not separate, but interlinked and working together.
Knowledge:
Skills:
Practising creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking.
Character:
Attributes
None of these journeys are more or less important than the others. It’s how they work together that shapes a child’s learning experience, and the child themselves. We want our TKS graduates to be confident, happy, resilient and entrepreneurial. And we believe these journeys are the best way to help them get there. Every learner’s journey might look slightly different. It means their achievement will be uniquely theirs. Every step is personalised to their strengths, and their interests, so every child can achieve their personal best.
It’s an approach we’ve honed and developed for more than 40 years. And we find it leads not only to exceptional academic results, but also exceptional people.
Journeys
Character:
Development of character and contribution
Personality, values and attributes, engaging with the world
Skills:
Practising skills to apply knowledge
Creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking
Knowledge:
Development of the intellectual mind
Academic skills, knowledge and understanding
TKS Graduate
Empowered by an entrepreneurial and resilient mindset.
Embodying the key skills and attributes for a thriving adult life.
Personalised Learning
Student development is right at the heart of our vision. It means we provide an education relevant to the needs of contemporary learners and their overall holistic development.
For learning to address the diverse needs of individuals, learners need the opportunity to have input into what aligns with their interests. They need a say in their own education. It’s why we’ve transitioned from a teacher-centric model to a student-centred model; one that supports the development of the skills and competencies relevant to the 21st century. Educators in this new system are there to guide and inspire, but we believe learning works best when it’s held the hands of the individual learner. That’s how students find agency – and the confidence to thrive. There’s no cookie-cutter curriculum at TKS. Every child gets the education that suits them best.
Assess
Every learner has their own strengths, challenges and passions. At The Knox School, we take the time to assess not just where a student sits academically, but also who they are as a person. From the very beginning, we build a clear picture of each child, giving our teachers the insight they need to support individual growth.
Understand
True learning happens when teachers really understand their students. Our staff look beyond the surface, recognising how each child learns best, and what motivates them. What sparks that curiosity. This deep understanding allows us to tailor learning experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence.
Adjust
No two journeys are the same, which is why our curriculum is built on flexibility. When a student is ready for greater challenges, we open those doors for them. When they need extra support, we’re there to provide it. Our teachers continually adjust their approach, so that every child can develop, and thrive, at their own pace.
Empathy
Education is as much about heart as it is about head. At The Knox School, empathy underpins every single subject. By listening, caring and walking alongside our students, we create a learning environment where they feel valued, safe and ready to take risks in their learning.
Connect
Connection is the foundation of belonging. We build strong, respectful relationships between students, teachers and families, so that every child feels part of a supportive community. These connections give students the confidence to explore and grow together.
Known
Above all, our students are known. Not as a number or a grade, but as individuals with unique stories, talents and dreams. At The Knox School, being known means being seen, and being celebrated. It’s a vital part of learning that prepares each child for an extraordinary future.
Passionate teachers
Great learning begins with great teachers. Our educators are lifelong learners themselves, curious, creative and incredibly passionate. They bring energy and purpose to every lesson, inspiring students to ask better questions and think beyond the expected. Our teachers create classrooms that are alive with possibility, a space where learning feels relevant, personal and full of joy.
Unique Programs
At The Knox School, learning starts in the classroom, but it doesn’t end there.
Our programs are designed to connect academic knowledge with real-world application, empowering students to think critically, act ethically and lead with curiosity and compassion.
Knoxpeditions
Launched in 2023, Knoxpeditions are firmly grounded in curriculum, service, project-based learning and design thinking. They’re about connecting classroom learning with real-world experience. Students collaborate with community partners and industry professionals to design high-quality products and solutions that make a real difference.
Recent projects have included the Year 6 Indigenous Garden Project, where students reimagined a shared space that honours Country, and focused on sustainability, innovation and design.
Knoxpeditions embody the belief that education is most powerful when it connects learning with life, helping students develop character, and see exactly how their knowledge can create positive change.
The CUBE
The CUBE program in Year 9 is a great example of The Knox School’s commitment to student-led, authentic learning.
This transdisciplinary elective, which is closely aligned with the Knoxpeditions framework, fosters agency, as well as essential skills like communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. Students work with real clients to design solutions, products or services that make a real impact, gaining recognition far beyond the School community.
Each semester, students choose from a range of transdisciplinary electives that combine project-based learning, design thinking and experiential education. Reflective practice is embedded through The GRObric, a self-assessment tool that helps students track their growth in creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. Students also attain Melbourne Metrics credentials from the University of Melbourne.
The CUBE projects include Behind Those Eyes, where students capture the stories of aged-care residents through photography and biography writing, and Live Streaming, where students use recording equipment to capture the sounds of a healthy natural waterway. This hands-on, real-world learning shows how education can become personal, and purposeful, when it’s connected to community.
The CUBE is more than an elective. It’s an experience that builds empathy, innovation and a sense of responsibility. It encourages students to become creators of positive change, fully prepared to navigate and shape a rapidly evolving world.
TKS Flight Deck Podcast
Launched in 2024, this student-led podcast provides students with agency to explore ideas that matter to them, and then share that learning with the community. Every aspect of the podcast, from concept development to production, is done by students, with guests sourced locally, nationally and internationally. Previous guests have included international thought leader Professor Yong Zhao and highly acclaimed local theatre director Anna O’Byrne.
Music and the Arts
Creativity flourishes through our renowned Music and Performing Arts programs. Events such as Music Camp bring together students from Years 7 to 12 for intensive ensemble rehearsals and collaboration, preparing them for performances at major festivals and School events. These experiences foster teamwork, discipline and confidence while allowing students to express themselves artistically.
Camps and Journeys
Experiential learning is an essential part of life at The Knox School. Our Camps and Journeys help students build resilience, teamwork and confidence by getting them out of the classroom, and out into the world.
Camp Toolangi for Years 3 and 4 focuses on teamwork, problemsolving and outdoor exploration. Similarly, our Canberra Experience immerses Year 6 students in Australia’s government, history and culture, reinforcing classroom learning in civics and citizenship, and exploring concepts like democracy and power.
Camps for Year 7 and 8 students are tailored to meet the needs of young adolescents, with age-appropriate activities aiding skill development and social-emotional learning.
Year 9 Camp offers the unforgettable opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the culture of the First Nations people in Arnhem Land. Students engage with the Yolngu people, learning first-hand about their rich history, their language, and the importance of community.
The Year 10 Constellation Series redefines traditional camps by offering four unique pathways: Cambodia, Singapore, Budj Bim and Melbourne. Each journey combines academic learning with service, cultural understanding and real-world problem-solving. Aligning with the Knoxpeditons framework, students work alongside community clients, engaging in projects and earning credentials that recognise the skills they develop along the way.
The Year 11 Students’ Retreat is a future-facing experience that explores options beyond the final year at TKS. Visits and overnight stays at tertiary institutions gives insight into the life of a tertiary school student.
Together, these journeys cultivate independence, empathy and a global perspective – essential qualities for lifelong learning and leadership.
Flexible Learning
The Flexible Learning Program provides students from Year 4 to Year 12 with dedicated time to explore personal areas of interest and take ownership of their learning. Through guided planning, reflection and self-direction, students learn how to manage projects, direct their learning, pursue their own interests, attain micro credentials, or refine skills at their own speed.
We’re constantly refining this process to make sure students have meaningful opportunities to pursue curiosity-driven learning.
Enrichment & The Summit Experience
At The Knox School, enrichment is about extending learning for every student, no matter where they sit academically. Our Summit Experience provides a structured pathway for gifted and high-potential learners, designed to challenge, inspire and support them as they grow.
Through a combination of classroom differentiation, mentoring and targeted withdrawal programs, Enrichment opportunities are highly personalised, allowing students to pursue areas that reflect their individual interests, strengths and passions. Students work with teachers and organisational experts to deepen their knowledge in specific areas. Enrichment opportunities span disciplines and include:
→ Australian Maths Competition
→ Science Talent Quest
→ Da Vinci Decathlon
→ Ethics Olympiad
→ Tournament of Minds
→ Debating and Writing Competitions
→ STEM Racing - supported by F1
→ Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge
→ Community Problem Solving
→ Monash and Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Programs
The Summit Experience fosters intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence and a love of discovery. Students are encouraged to think boldly, collaborate with peers and pursue passions that extend beyond traditional classroom subjects.
The sky’s the limit here.
Wellbeing & Academic Care
At The Knox School, wellbeing and academic care go hand in hand. Students and their families are genuinely known, supported and encouraged, from Day One to graduation, thanks to a close-knit community.
From pastoral care and counselling to personalised academic pathways, career guidance and programs that extend or assist, every learner is understood as an individual. With passionate teachers who inspire curiosity and confidence, students feel safe, seen and ready to thrive, both in the classroom, and beyond.
Passionate teachers
Our teachers are at the centre of The Knox School experience. They bring expertise, warmth and a level of care that is deeply personal, creating an environment where every student is known and understood.
We see our teachers as mentors, guiding students through the curriculum while building confidence and encouraging a genuine curiosity and desire to explore. We’re committed to fostering a mindset and culture of lifelong learning, one that equips students with the adaptability and skills they’ll need in a rapidly changing world.
More than educators, they challenge thinking, nurture character and open up new ways of seeing. Their influence shapes not just how students learn, but how they grow, building the confidence and capability to step into what comes next.
Homeroom/Mentor/Academic Care Program
Every student at The Knox School is under the care of a Homeroom teacher in Junior School or a Mentor or Academic Coach in Senior School. They are the first point of contact for both students and parents. They provide support and encouragement, as well as mentorship and guidance.
Assisted & Accelerated Learning
Each student’s learning journey at TKS is personalised and tailored to them: to their strengths and their interests, their challenges and their dreams. We offer assisted and accelerated learning development, for students who want to push themselves, as well as a dedicated Enrichment program, for gifted and talented students.
Counselling & Pastoral care
Our counselling and pastoral care programs help develop a student’s emotional, physical, intellectual and moral side. Pastoral Care is important in all stages of school transition, helping students develop a positive self-image, better resilience, and a feeling of belonging. We also offer individual counselling, group support and specialist program development to enhance student wellbeing.
Career guidance
A full-time Careers Practitioner with more than 20 years’ experience supports and guides students, together with their parents, to finding their chosen career path. Every journey is different and students embrace the opportunity to discover areas of study and alternative pathways to achieving success beyond the gates of TKS.
TKS House System
The House system is an integral feature of our practice, particularly for competitions, festivals, and student leadership opportunities. It fosters connections across different year levels and helps students feel a sense of belonging within a smaller community. Each House develops its own unique spirit and identity. House events take place across a range of areas, including sports, performing arts, creative arts, and more.
TKS Learning Ecosystem
We believe it is our obligation and our responsibility to make fundamental changes to the system of education that we operate within globally today.
To move beyond the silos of traditional content and towards the development of global skills, competencies and holistic character. To fail to do so, is to fail our current students, our children and those of the future.
School Structure
At The Knox School, every stage of learning is carefully designed to nurture the whole child. From their first day in Early Learning through to graduation in Senior School, students grow within one connected community, and on a single campus.
This seamless structure allows for a smooth transition between each stage of schooling, making sure every child feels secure, known and supported along the journey. Our educators work to create a continuous learning pathway that builds confidence, curiosity and character. Each stage builds upon the last, preparing students not only for academic success, but for a life of purpose and fulfilment.
Early Learning Centre (ELC)
Curiosity begins here
Our Early Learning Centre offers programs for children aged three to five through our 3-Year-Old Kindergarten Program and Pre-Prep 4 Program, providing a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can explore, create and grow at their own pace.
Each day is structured around literacy, numeracy and social learning, balanced with time for play, imagination and discovery. Children are supported to develop their confidence and independence through small group and one-on-one sessions.
Specialist classes in Music, Art, Physical Education and Library give our youngest learners the opportunity to discover new interests and talents. Within a safe and engaging space, guided by caring educators, children build the most important thing a school can give you: a lifelong love of learning.
Junior School Prep to Year 6
Building strong foundations
The Junior School is a place of exploration, belonging and growth. Here, students build solid foundations in literacy and numeracy within a holistic learning environment; one that also celebrates curiosity, creativity and problem solving. Our approach is deeply personalised, too. Teachers know every student by name, and understand how they learn best, encouraging them to take risks, embrace challenges and collaborate with others. Learning extends beyond the classroom, with opportunities for inquiry-based projects and experiences that connect students to the world around them.
We also place a big importance on wellbeing, character and contribution. Through a strong sense of belonging and connection, students develop resilience and empathy as they begin to understand themselves as learners, and as members of a community. Partnerships with families are central to this journey. Together, with staff and parents sharing the same purpose, we create an environment where every child feels valued, supported and inspired to achieve their personal best, whatever that might be.
Senior School Year 7 to 12
Inspiring confident, independent learners
The Senior School is where students are encouraged to shape their own path, and prepare for life beyond the classroom. Year 7 provides a dynamic and supportive transition into secondary education, while the years that follow challenge students to think critically, act ethically and pursue excellence in everything they do. In other words, it’s about much more than achieving a great ATAR score.
Our academic program is both rigorous and flexible, offering a broad range of subjects and pathways to fit each student’s strengths, interests and goals. Personalised learning and mentoring mean that every student is empowered to reach their potential, with teachers guiding them to develop study skills, selfmanagement and a strong sense of purpose.
The Knox School Graduate
A graduate of The Knox School is prepared to step into the world with confidence, curiosity and compassion.
They’re lifelong learners who can think critically and creatively, ready to solve problems and embrace new opportunities. Resilient in the face of challenge and adaptable to change, they take responsibility for their actions and lead with integrity.
TKS graduates communicate with clarity, listen with empathy and work well with others, building strong connections wherever they go. Guided by fairness and respect, they engage with diverse perspectives and contribute meaningfully to their communities, both locally and around the world.
A graduate of The Knox School leaves not only with strong academic foundations but also with the skills and character to navigate an unpredictable world. We firmly believe it’s the best education money can buy.
Graduate qualities:
→ Curious Learners
They approach problems with creativity, and they’re not afraid to say “I don’t know”.
→ Resilient Leaders
They persevere through challenges, adapt to change and take responsibility for their actions.
→ Empathetic Citizens
They show care, respect and understanding for others, always eager to contribute to the wider community.
→ Confident Communicators
They know how to put their ideas into words, and their words into action.
→ Ethical Thinkers
They make decisions based on integrity and empathy, and they encourage others to do the same.
→ Global Contributors
They’re prepared to take their place in a changing world, and help guide that change for the better.
Creating tomorrow’s leaders
Beyond academics, students are encouraged to grow as leaders and active citizens. From formal leadership roles to programs that develop confidence, communication and teamwork, our young people learn to lead with integrity and courage.
Most importantly, graduates of The Knox School leave as independent thinkers. That is, resilient adults who can think for themselves. Ready to take on future challenges with confidence, empathy and a clear sense of direction.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship isn’t just starting a business. It is a way of thinking: A mindset of curiosity, creativity and courage. It’s about identifying opportunities, solving real-world problems, and turning those ideas into action.
Our approach
Our Entrepreneurial Framework provides students across all year levels with opportunities to explore innovation in meaningful, handson ways. Through access to short courses, credentials, mentoring, internships, pop-up spaces to host their own enterprises, and virtual learning communities, students learn how to design, test and grow their ideas. From concept all the way to creation.
The opening of the Futures Hub takes this a step further. Purposebuilt to foster innovation, the Hub is a collaborative space where students can prototype, pitch and refine projects that have real-world impact. Here, learning becomes active and applied. It’s a place where imagination meets initiative.
Structure
Entrepreneurship at TKS is underpinned by our belief that mastery, good character and proactive engagement are essential for success. It’s not enough to have a good idea, you need to know how to shepherd it into life. Through project-based learning, design thinking and experiential education, students develop practical skills in leadership, communication, financial literacy and problem-solving. More importantly, they cultivate the confidence to take risks. To try new things. To fail spectacularly, and to persevere. The very qualities that define today’s changemakers.
By embedding entrepreneurial learning into everyday education, The Knox School empowers students to think differently, act boldly and use their knowledge to make a meaningful contribution to the world around them.
STEM
STEM at TKS is about more than Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It’s about nurturing a mindset of curiosity and not being afraid to try something, even if it doesn’t work.
Our approach
From the early years through to Senior School, students are encouraged to explore the world through inquiry and experimentation, to question how and why things are the way they are, and to see challenges as opportunities (rather than obstacles).
Learning in STEM is hands-on and connected to real-world contexts. Whether designing prototypes, coding digital games, working with robotics, VR/AR, or other emerging technologies like AI, students learn to collaborate, problem-solve and innovate. It’s these soft skills, as much as the technical expertise, that will help them thrive in an unpredictable future.
Partnerships with industry and national initiatives such as the It Takes a Spark STEM conference, which The Knox School hosts annually and the Mission Space program inspiring students to think big, work beyond the classroom, and see themselves as changemakers. In Senior School, the STEM Racing co-curricular program allows students to apply the principles of STEM while learning about Formula 1 Racing.
At every stage, STEM at The Knox School empowers learners to move from consumers of technology to become those who shape it.
Structure
STEM learning is integrated across all year levels, combining classroom inquiry with dedicated time for design, technology and scientific exploration.
In the Junior School, students begin by developing the foundations of computational and design thinking. They explore how technology can be used creatively to solve problems and express ideas, from simple coding and robotics to environmental projects that connect science and sustainability.
As students’ progress into the Senior years, they take part in more complex, interdisciplinary projects. They investigate real-world problems, design and test solutions, and present their findings using a combination of digital tools, engineering processes, scientific reasoning and a focus upon sustainability.
Throughout each stage, the structure of the STEM program ensures that learning builds progressively, from exploration and play to experimentation and application, innovation and leadership. By graduation, every student at The Knox School has developed the confidence and capability to lead with curiosity, think critically, and design a better future.
Sport
Developing teamwork, resilience, character and a lifelong love of physical activity.
Our approach
Sport is great fun, but it’s also a learning opportunity. Teamwork, resilience, developing a lifelong love of physical activity – these things matter just as much as kicking the winning goal after the siren. We believe participation in sport builds confidence, character and wellbeing, and whether students are representing the School, trying a new skill, or striving for a personal best, sport can open doors inside themselves they didn’t even know were there. Through encouragement and challenge, victory and loss, we help every student recognise their potential, both on and off the field.
Structure
Our Sport program is woven into the curriculum, from Early Learning through to Senior School. Students participate in structured Physical Education lessons that promote skill development, health and fitness, and from Year 3 onwards they can represent the School in interschool sport across a variety of disciplines.
The Knox School is a part of the Eastern Independent Schools Melbourne (EISM) Sporting Association, meaning sports are integrated into the weekly curriculum, meaning no weekend school-sports. Families can focus on quality family time or continue with local community sports on weekends.
Training sessions and competition also feed into the house events, such as Athletics and Swimming Carnivals, making sure that every student experiences the excitement of teamwork and achievement. Senior students are encouraged to explore leadership opportunities through coaching and mentoring roles, too. Big or small, whatever their sporting ambition, we can help them get there.
The Falcon Squad
For students who excel in sports, The Falcon Squad is The Knox School’s advanced athlete development program for aspirational sporting students in Years 9 to 12. The program provides insightful theory and experiences from a high-performance perspective to students who meet high-performance selection criteria in the chosen sport. The Falcon Squad aims to develop well-rounded studentathletes that show potential, discipline and a commitment to personal growth.
Music
Music is an essential part of life at The Knox School, helping to nurture creativity, discipline and self-expression.
Our approach
Music is an essential part of life at The Knox School. It helps nurture creativity, discipline and self-expression, and we believe that every child has the ability to make and enjoy music – no matter their level of experience.
Our program is designed to ignite that passion. Through performance, composition and listening, students gain an appreciation for music as both an art form and a means of communication. Whether they want to join a string quartet, play in the school orchestra, or simply challenge themselves with a new skill, our teachers are there, ready to help.
Structure
Our comprehensive Music program begins in Early Learning and continues through to VCE. Classroom Music is complemented by an extensive instrumental and ensemble program, giving students the opportunity to learn a range of instruments, join choirs, bands and orchestras, and perform regularly throughout the year.
Signature events such as the Seasonal Concerts, Rock Out, Jazz Night, Presentation Night and Music Camp allow students to refine their skills and perform as part of a vibrant and supportive musical community.
Performing Arts
Celebrating imagination, courage, individual expression, and the power of storytelling.
Our approach
Performing Arts at The Knox School celebrates imagination, courage, and the power of storytelling. Through Drama and Dance, students learn to express ideas, but also to develop confidence in their own bodies and their own voices. They learn to feel comfortable in front of a crowd. We value the creative process as much as the final performance, encouraging students to take risks, explore diverse perspectives, and find their unique artistic style. Trust us, as a parent, there are few things better than watching your child find the confidence to shine.
Structure
From the early years through to Senior School, students experience the Performing Arts through classroom programs, specialist instruction, House Arts and co-curricular opportunities. Productions, showcases and festivals provide great experiences for students to collaborate, perform and grow. Senior students may also choose to specialise through elective studies in Drama and Theatre Studies, supported by expert staff who guide them in performance and stagecraft. Each year, our School Productions are a big community highlight, bringing together students from across year levels to share their passion and talent on stage.
