Mornington Peninsula Learning Guarantee

Mornington Peninsula Learning Guarantee

The Mornington Peninsula Foundation’s work in education began in direct response to the needs of local schools. Principals and teachers told us they wanted support to:

• Build stronger oral language in Foundation students.
• Lift literacy levels across all ages.
• Improve classroom behaviour management to create optimal conditions for learning.

Out of this shared commitment, the Mornington Peninsula Learning Guarantee (MPLG) was born.

A collaborative approach

The MPLG brings together two secondary and seven primary schools who are working closely as a cluster. Schools that once worked in isolation are now collaborating — sharing learnings, resources, and strategies to better meet the needs of children, young people, and families.

Building strong foundations in learning

All MPLG schools take part in professional learning and coaching funded by MPF in:

• The Science of Learning – drawing on research from psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and education to understand how students learn best and how teaching can be optimised.
• Classroom Mastery – equipping teachers with routines that create calm, safe, and productive classrooms.

Every school is supported to adopt these approaches at a pace that fits their context, ensuring change is both sustainable and effective.

Outstanding outcomes

Strong leadership from principals and lead teachers has been critical to the success of this work. Their willingness to embrace new knowledge and approaches has shifted both school culture and community perception.

In 2025, MPF strengthened this commitment by funding a new role — Primary Schools Improvement Coordinator — to support implementation across all primary schools in the cluster. Teachers now share practice, resources, and insights across schools, creating a powerful network for improvement.

The results speak for themselves:

• Literacy data is showing transformational gains.
• Enrolments and attendance are improving.
• Other schools on the Peninsula are taking notice, seeking to replicate these successes.

Beyond the classroom

Improving student outcomes goes hand in hand with supporting families and wellbeing. Alongside schools, MPF invests in:

• Family support agencies working closely with schools and communities.
• Western Port Community Engagement and Student Support worker (funded by MPF), providing tailored support for students and families.
• Music and mental health program in both Western Port and the Southern Peninsula.

Programs like Elevate at Western Port Secondary College and a new attendance initiative at Rosebud Secondary College are helping address the nation-wide challenge of school attendance.

A community of learning

The MPLG demonstrates what is possible when philanthropy, schools, families, and communities come together. By investing in collaboration and continuous improvement, we are helping to create a stronger, more integrated education community on the Mornington Peninsula that supports every student.