Children today are growing up in a very different world. Nearly one in four children have a phone by the time they’re eight and children eight and younger are spending two and a half hours a day on screens. While research shows that achievement gaps in Grades 3 to 6 are starting to close post-pandemic, the road to recovery isn’t over yet.
That’s why schools need to think ahead. What students need now are skills that will help them adapt and thrive no matter what comes their way. The Future of Education and Skills: Education 2030 report identifies key competencies — curiosity, imagination, resilience, and self-regulation — as essential for navigating such complexity. Students also need to feel at home in their communities, online spaces, and even in their relationship with nature.
UNESCO’s “Happy Schools” initiative echoes this call for a more holistic approach to education. With its four pillars, it urges educators to spark curiosity, build confidence through meaningful learning, and foster belonging through connection. Because when students feel seen, supported, and inspired, they will continue learning long after they’ve left the classroom.
A Curriculum for the future
Surrounded by nature, the Tanglin Gippsland Campus is the ideal place for students to to learn beyond the classroom. Source: Tanglin Trust School
To better prepare students for the challenges ahead, Tanglin Trust School has launched the Highlands Programme: a five-week residential learning experience for Year 9 students. Based at Tanglin Gippsland, the newly established 15-acre campus in the foothills of Mount Baw Baw, Australia, the programme combines academic learning with outdoor education, fieldwork, and residential living.
This journey begins at a crucial moment in their school life. Year 9 is when students transition from Middle to Upper Senior School, a time where personal growth, independent study, and resilience are increasingly important. With this in mind, Tanglin has built the programme around its Middle School values of curiosity, confidence, and community.
Students follow a unique timetable that combines academic work with hands-on activities. They take part in daily chores, expedition planning, and more, developing independence, teamwork, and resilience along the way.
Learning through challenge
Outdoor education and hiking expeditions are a cornerstone of the Highlands Programme, and help build preparation, perseverance, and resilience. Source: Tanglin Trust School
“For those new to this experience, simply taking part in the programme is an achievement in itself,” says Mark Cutchie, Founding Head of Campus. “For others, it’s a chance to push their physical and mental boundaries. These moments of challenge help build grit, perseverance, and a clearer sense of personal capability.”
Each student’s journey is unique. Some find disconnecting from their devices most difficult. Others struggle with the unstructured rhythm of community living and outdoor education. But for all, the experience is transformational.
“When I first heard about the programme, I was intrigued but unsure,” shares Casharell K, a competitive swimmer in Year 9. “I was nervous about missing training, but I walked away with something even more valuable — adaptability, teamwork, and the ability to thrive in unfamiliar environments.”
A typical day begins with the Highlands Harriers student running club, followed by breakfast and morning chores. Students work together in the kitchen, serve meals, and help clean up afterwards. Then they head to morning lessons in light-filled classrooms, while afternoons are dedicated to outdoor activities such as hiking, sports, or simply spending screen-free time with friends.
Outdoor education is a cornerstone of the programme. Students learn outdoor skills as they prepare for a series of increasingly challenging expeditions designed to test both physical and mental resilience.
“One of the most defining parts of our time on the Highlands Programme was the hiking and camping expeditions. We carried everything we needed on our backs, cooking meals over small stoves and sleeping under the stars. Though physically demanding, the experience was profoundly rewarding and inspiring.” Mehr T.
Experiential learning in action
Outside of classes, students have free time to explore interests, join activities, and build independence. Source: Tanglin Trust School
However, the Highlands Programme is far more than an outdoor camp. It is a deliberate extension of Tanglin’s curriculum, placing experiential learning at its core. “This is not just about time spent outdoors,” says Mr. Cutchie. “It’s about creating meaningful learning connections. What students do here in Gippsland should inform what they bring back to Singapore — and vice versa.”
Casharell K, for example, didn’t expect a geography class in a river to teach her so much about herself. “I discovered that I am a visual learner and that’s something I’ve carried back to the classroom and the pool,” she says.
The lack of digital distractions also changed how students connected. “With no internet or phones, we had to connect through games and teamwork. That was a learning process in itself,” says Casharell K.
Community, Connection, and a lasting Impact
Although far from a traditional classroom, the learning never ceases—it simply takes a different form with the natural surroundings providing rich opportunities for fieldwork. Source: Tanglin Trust School
Beyond turning to each other for support, students take on shared responsibilities across the Gippsland campus too. Together, they cook, clean, assist the staff, and spend their evenings in the central common room, home to a cosy log fire, a small library, board games, and various group activities. It’s a fully functioning community built on shared effort, respect, and trust.
Some moments stay with students forever. “Among my most memorable memories is the programme’s first bonfire,” shares William T. “We gathered in the dark, huddled in silence, when suddenly — whoosh! — a tower of branches lit up in bright red flames. It was magical.”
The four-night five-day trek is another highlight. It marks not only the completion of the Highlands journey but also the growth students have achieved along the way. Upon returning to Singapore, students who have embodied the programme’s core values are celebrated at a special awards ceremony. Whether it’s an inquisitive student, someone who supported their peers, or embraced the slower pace of life without a device in hand, each effort is recognised.
Through shared living, meals, and a routine of daily chores, the residential programme fosters a sense of community among students. Source: Tanglin Trust School
While five weeks may seem a brief chapter in a Year 9 student’s life, the Highlands Programme is designed to leave a lasting imprint “Reflecting on my time in Gippsland, I realise how profoundly it has shaped me. It taught me to slow down, appreciate the world around me, and face challenges with a positive and open mindset. I returned home more confident, more capable, and more aware of the importance of real human connection. If I were to summarise the experience in three words, they would be: eye-opening, unforgettable, and inspiring.” Mehr T.
By giving students the chance to step away of modern teenage life, the Highlands Programme helps them cultivate a mindset ready to face a complex and ever-changing world. With experiential learning at its core, it inspires a spirit of adventure that lingers long after students return home.
As Mr. Cutchie explains, “When I say an adventurous spirit, I don’t mean everyone needs to scale Everest or skydive over the Arctic. For some people it will be those things, but for many it won’t. An adventurous spirit is a mindset, it’s about approaching life with curiosity, courage, and openness. It’s about having the guts to try something new, the perseverance to keep pushing when things get tough, and the resilience to try again when you fail. It’s about saying yes to opportunities.”
In the end, the Highlands Programme offers an unforgettable experience, one that sparks a shift in perspective and stays with students as they grow up and take on the world.
