Lindfield Learning Village has celebrated a historic milestone, with its first ‘home grown’ cohort of secondary students currently sitting their HSC exams.

HSC students Maya, Hannah, Pip, Zy and Kevin are marking the end of a remarkable educational journey with a sense of relief that exams will soon be over.

Affectionately known as the 'OGs', the cohort has been a part of the school's evolution since its inception in 2019.

The students are actively involved in shaping their educational experience, contributing to the development of Lindfield Learning Village’s (LLV) unique learning environment.

“We participated in the formation of the school. We contributed to school rules, decided on uniform policies, and established technology zones,” Maya said.

Hannah agreed: “The teachers were always asking for our feedback and reflections on everything we did.”

The approach helped foster a sense of ownership and responsibility among the students, enabling them to thrive academically and personally.

It’s also evident in the students' readiness to face the future, along with a deep respect for their teachers.

"We’ve had a much more genuine connection with our teachers, which has allowed us to feel like we’re viewed as people, not just students,” Maya said.

“I will definitely miss the teachers. I’ve made some really close connections with a lot of them and they have had a big impact on our emotional growth,” Hannah said.

Kevin noted the sense of community has motivated the entire cohort to work towards their future, while for Zy, the community made the school feel homely.

“The space, especially for Stage 6, felt homely. The community in that space was great," Zy said

To new students set to join ‘the Village’ next year, the graduates advised them to take the initiative and pursue what excites them.

“Keep an open mind. LLV teaches you how to learn rather than just teaching you, and you can apply that to areas of life as well,” Kevin said.

The next ‘home grown’ cohort, those who started in Kindergarten in 2019, will sit their HSC exams in 2031.