Principal’s Week is an opportunity to recognise educational leadership across the country and at Global Village Learning (GVL), we do things a little differently.
At GVL, you won’t find bells ringing, principals behind desks, or classrooms in the traditional sense. Instead, you’ll meet Peter and Pip, two visionary leaders who have co-created an environment where young people are empowered to lead their learning, explore their passions, and contribute meaningfully to their community.
Peter and Pip don’t see themselves as traditional principals — they are custodians of a learner-led, guide-supported, future-focused learning village. Rather than managing from above, they walk alongside learners and guides, helping to shape a community that nurtures creativity, connection, and real-world impact.
Since its founding, GVL has grown into a vibrant educational community with campuses in New Gisborne and soon, at the Old Castlemaine Gaol. The learning model is Montessori-inspired and centred around Developmental Learning Hubs, replacing rigid year levels with natural stages of growth: Foundations & Play (ages 4–8), Exploration & Discovery (7–12), Entrepreneurship & Social Impact (11–16), and Pathways & Futures (15–20).
Under Pip and Peter’s leadership, GVL has become a place where young people of all abilities—many of them neurodivergent—can thrive. The approach is deeply personalised, with a focus on mastery, agency, and meaningful community contribution. From building social enterprises to exploring sustainability, over 200 learners are engaged in EDventurous Projects that matter.
Rather than striving to meet conventional standards, Pip and Peter are reimagining what education can be—and their impact is already being felt. Families, educators, and communities across the region are watching closely as GVL becomes a model for learner-led education in Australia.
This Principal’s Week, we celebrate two individuals who remind us that leadership doesn’t always wear a suit or sit in an office. Sometimes, it looks like shared meals, muddy boots, thoughtful conversations, and a deep belief in the capacity of young people to change the world.
