Apple Distinguished School

Discover how Canberra Primary School, an Apple Distinguished School for 2026–2028, harnesses technology to create rich learning experiences and develop future-ready, digitally responsible Canberrians.

Last updated 14 September 2026

Canberra Primary School is pleased to be recognised as an Apple Distinguished School for 2026-2028. Apple Distinguished Schools (opens in new tab) are recognized by Apple for continuous innovation in learning, teaching and the school environment.

Today
Since inception, Canberra Primary School (CPS) has been incorporating cutting-edge, ICT-based pedagogies in its curriculum to enhance teaching and learning. With a visionary leadership and leadership support, teachers’ growth mindset and ongoing teachers’ professional development, CPS continuously seeks opportunities to enable rich learning experiences for its students by providing learner-centred environment through harnessing digital technologies and leveraging Personal Learning Devices (PLDs). Click here (opens in new tab) to find out more.

Learning
A comprehensive, progressive and distinctive Applied Learning Programme – ICT & Media (ALP) (opens in new tab) which consists of two stages have been put in place since 2014. The stages are:

Foundation Stage: Start Young, Start It Right
Orientation Stage: Orientation to My Future Learning

Over time, in addition to the two stages above, a third stage known as Future Learners, Future School is introduced. Together, these three stages provide enriching learning experiences that serve as the cornerstones of the heartbeat of a Canberra’s Learner as shown in Figure 1.

Canberra Primary School’s three-stage learning experiences, centred on the Canberrian Learner and progressing from purposeful connected learning to future learning and global citizenship.

Figure 1: Heartbeat of a Canberrian

With a rapid shift towards greater focus on the use of personal learning devices (PLDs), Blended Learning (BL) and Home-based Learning (HBL), the school has also placed a strong emphasis in digital literacies. This structured approach will enhance students' positive values and habits of learning with PLDs (opens in new tab) (Figure 2), equipping them with the required crucial skills and dispositions as well as moulding them to be successful individuals who are able to harness the use of technology responsibly and effectively. Students will be developed to be future-ready and digitally responsible Canberrians who are able to leverage Apple technology to curate, create, connect, and collaborate with others productively in an increasingly networked digital environment.

Learning progression from Primary 1 to Primary 6

Figure 2: Positive Values & Habits of Learning with PLDs Success

Links (The following links can only be opened on Apple devices)

1. Start Young, Start It Right (opens in new tab)

This ibook aims to describe CPS journey in 1:1 learning and how it uses the PLDs as a technology enabler to deliver the school’s learning outcomes.

2. Orientation to Future Learning (opens in new tab)

This ibook aims to describe CPS continuing journey in 1:1 learning and its continuous efforts in seeking opportunities through the use of technology.

3. Future Learners, Future Schools (opens in new tab)

This ibook aims to describe CPS efforts in sustaining an innovative teaching and learning environment.