Teacher professional learning

Teachers from schools near the Sydney Metro alignment are invited to register their interest to participate in Sydney Metro’s professional learning program in partnership with Western Sydney University. 

In 2018, Sydney Metro and Western Sydney University partnered to establish a teacher professional learning program for schools near Sydney Metro. 

The professional learning was developed and delivered by Professor Catherine Attard and Dr Nathan Berger from the Centre for Education Research at Western Sydney University. The purpose of the program is to develop capacity of teachers to develop and deliver learning experiencing using an inquiry-based approach and the Sydney Metro project as context.  

In 2020, the program was Highly Commended in the NSW Awards for Planning Excellent for Cutting Edge Research and Teaching.  

To date, more than 140 teachers from 55 schools and 5,000 students near Sydney Metro’s rail alignment participated in the program which connects schools with industry experts. Sydney Metro is expanding the program to invite more teachers from schools near its railway to get involved. 

Professor Catherine Attard from Western Sydney University said that the scale of the Sydney Metro project means that every curriculum area is represented, and students have direct experience of the transformation that infrastructure projects bring to their local communities. 

Professor Catherine Attard and Dr Nathan Berger from Western Sydney University developed and delivered the professional learning program and have published two research reports, in 2019 and 2022,  and journal article. The data indicate high levels of student interest and engagement, which demonstrated the positive impact inquiry-based learning and authentic context had on teaching and learning.  

Students from primary to high school were overwhelmingly positive of the experience and appreciated the opportunity to engage with industry experts. Students reported that they were able to grow important transferable skills such as collaboration, communication, and technological proficiency.  

Teachers from schools near the Sydney Metro alignment are invited to register their interest to participate in inquiry-based learning professional development.