Formative Assessment and Feedback Innovator Programme
One home for the Western Australia programme across 2026: the story so far, upcoming events and the Community of Practice.
What the programme sets out to do
Four goals, mirrored from AISWA’s published programme, shape everything the collaboration works towards across 2026.
“Growing teacher expertise in formative assessment is essential for responsive, high impact teaching. Nurture enhances this work by giving teachers a practical way to gather evidence of learning, provide targeted feedback, and support students to take the next step with clarity and confidence.”
Embedding formative assessment across Australian schools: Free Webinar
Professor Dylan Wiliam, AISWA and an independent school leader on what actually changes teacher practice, the non-negotiables for embedding formative assessment across a school or a system, and how Western Australian independent schools are putting this into practice.
See understanding in the moment
Lightweight check-ins let every student show where they are in seconds and add a reason why, giving teachers a read on the room they can act on before the lesson moves on. They are carefully planned checks for understanding, minute by minute and day by day.
What did the 1967 referendum change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Nurture insights
40% of the answers are correct. Adapt support, then re-check. Add a scaffold such as a checklist, worked example or cue, and pair participants for peer work. Ask the question again before moving on.
Feedback that closes the loop
Structured, AI-enabled assessment that reduces teacher workload and delivers personalised feedback at scale, closing the loop so students act on their feedback before the grade is revealed.
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Professional learning with Dylan Wiliam
The Nurture Professional Development Programme, designed with Professor Dylan Wiliam and built on his five key strategies for formative assessment: evidence-based professional learning every teacher on the programme can work through at their own pace.
Built with Microsoft
Microsoft is a long-standing Nurture partner. Nurture is built to run inside the tools Western Australian schools already use, and the two organisations work together on the professional learning that sits around them.
The Innovator Programme: the story so far
How the collaboration between AISWA and Nurture has unfolded across 2026 so far, and where it heads next.
November 2025
The programme is announced
AISWA announces a 2026 Innovator Programme with Nurture for a group of Independent Schools. David Neville presents a demonstration and information session on 20 November for schools considering taking part.
February 2026
First whole-staff session at All Saints’ College
Jim Shackleton hosts the first whole-staff session at All Saints' College, focused on formative assessment and feedback practice, built around Professor Dylan Wiliam's research and the insights he shares through the programme's professional learning.
March 2026
School leaders meet at John XXIII College
AISWA's Curriculum and Pedagogy team brings school leaders together at John XXIII College to explore formative assessment, feedback, and where AI sits in strengthening teaching practice. Jim Shackleton (All Saints' College) and Owen Neal (Seton Catholic College, an early adopter of Nurture outside the AISWA cohort) share their schools' journeys so far. The through-line from the room: pedagogy before AI.
Term 2 2026
A second staff session on learner agency
All Saints' College opens Term 2 with a second staff session on learner agency: why formative assessment still matters, what feedback looks like when it moves learning forward, and how to get better evidence of student thinking. Dylan Wiliam's challenge that students must own their learning, and that teachers activate rather than assume that ownership, kept the staffroom conversation going well past the session.
From 11 May 2026
The first schools get started
School kick-offs begin, starting with John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School and rolling out across the participating group through Term 2. AISWA join the school sessions directly: the association is a participant throughout, not just a channel.
13 May 2026
Dylan Wiliam, Jim Shackleton and Phil Collins on embedding formative assessment
Jim Shackleton joins Professor Dylan Wiliam and Phil Collins (AISWA) to look at what actually changes teacher practice, the non-negotiables for embedding formative assessment across a school or system, and how WA Independent Schools are putting this into practice.
July 2026
Professional learning and Nurture Signal open to the programme
The first course of the Nurture Professional Development Programme, designed with Professor Dylan Wiliam, opens to every teacher on the programme. Nurture Signal also becomes available across participating schools: a live classroom tool where lightweight check-ins let every student show where they are in seconds and add a reason why, giving teachers a read on the room they can act on before the lesson moves on.
Upcoming events
The Community of Practice key dates for the rest of 2026, agreed with AISWA, and where the programme is being presented.
- Community of Practice
Community of Practice Launch (online)
The opening session for participating schools: introductions, time to meet the other schools on the programme, and an overview of Nurture Learn and Nurture Signal.
Wednesday 26 August 2026 · 3.30 PM (AWST) · Online
- Term 3
School check-ins
One-to-one sessions with each participating school for support and implementation discussions.
Across Term 3 2026 · In school
- Community of Practice
Community of Practice Event (face to face)
Professional learning, networking and the chance to feed back on how formative assessment is landing in classrooms.
Late Term 3 2026 · Face to face · Date to be confirmed
- Conference
ACEL National Conference 2026
Nurture and AISWA present on the Innovator Programme at the ACEL National Conference in Perth, alongside education leaders from across Australia.
Presenting Wednesday 30 September 2026 · Rendezvous Hotel, Perth
- Community of Practice
End of Year Showcase (online)
Participating schools share what they have learned across the year, and the group looks at where the collaboration goes in 2027.
Monday 9 November 2026 · 3.30 PM (AWST) · Online
Join the Community of Practice
Open to every teacher and leader at a participating school.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Contact us →
What is the Innovator Programme?
A year-long programme for independent schools in Western Australia, co-designed by AISWA and Nurture with input from Professor Dylan Wiliam and in collaboration with Microsoft. It runs with a selected group of AISWA member schools across 2026, built around high-impact formative assessment and feedback.
What is Nurture?
Nurture is a formative assessment and feedback platform for schools. Nurture Signal makes engagement and understanding visible in the moment during lessons, Nurture Assessments supports rich, structured formative assessment and feedback, and the Nurture Professional Development Programme, designed with Professor Dylan Wiliam, gives teachers evidence-based professional learning they can work through at their own pace.
What is AISWA’s role?
AISWA co-designed the programme and takes part throughout: the association joins school sessions directly and pairs its system-wide expertise in professional learning and school improvement with Nurture’s technology.
What is the Community of Practice?
It brings together teachers and leaders around the Innovator Programme to share what is working, shape what we build next and learn from each other. Sign up once and you will automatically receive an invite to every session.
Is it safe for students to answer honestly?
Yes. It is designed to support psychological safety, including the option for anonymous participation, so students can be honest about where they are without it feeling like a test.
How can my school get involved?
Expressions of interest for AISWA member schools run through AISWA. You can also join the Community of Practice above to follow the programme, or get in touch with the Nurture team.
Bring Nurture to your classrooms.
Chat to us about how we can help you embed formative assessment and feedback across your school.