Early Insights from Implementing a new Curriculum – What One School’s Journey Can Teach Us All

Implementing a new curriculum is a significant undertaking for educators globally. Effective implementation requires a significant investment of time and resources, so it's no surprise that educators are searching for clarity, direction, and reassurance during this process. Now more than ever, these transitions mark some of the most significant shifts in curriculum delivery—and with that comes both excitement and uncertainty.

As Victorian schools take on the challenge of implementing the new VIC Mathematics 2.0 curriculum, Mathspace hosted a webinar with Cory Duker, Middle Years Curriculum Leading Teacher at Essendon Keilor College (EKC). Cory took the bold choice to lead EKC’s whole-school rollout of the VIC 2.0 curriculum from Term 1 of 2024, a whole year early. This chat offered a unique, practical lens into what early implementation really looks like in the classroom.

Lessons from the Front Lines

Cory’s session—originally developed for the Mathematical Association of Victoria 2024 Annual Conference—shed light on both the opportunities and challenges of the curriculum rollout. For teachers and leaders wondering whether they’re on the right track, his reflections are refreshingly honest and grounded in real classroom experience.

Key themes from the session included:

• Strategic Planning: How EKC created a staged plan that gave departments room to adapt while maintaining school-wide alignment.
• Realistic Resourcing: The role that time, collaboration, and appropriate resources played in making the rollout sustainable.
• Professional Conversations: The value of building internal capacity through regular conversations about pedagogy and curriculum changes.
• Iterative Improvements: Cory shared how early hiccups were used as springboards for improvement—and how the school’s approach is still evolving.

How Mathspace Supports the Journey

Cory spoke openly about how Mathspace’s blended print and digital resources have helped bring the VIC 2.0 curriculum to life in Years 7–9.

These resources enabled teachers at EKC to:

• Confidently align their lesson planning with the new curriculum structure
• Use both digital tasks and print textbooks to differentiate instruction
• Save time on assessment and reporting with built-in analytics
• Foster independent learning habits in students

What’s more, the flexibility of Mathspace’s content allowed teachers to “pick and choose” according to their specific class needs—something that’s especially valuable in a period of transition when no one solution fits all.

Learn Globally, Apply Locally

Although this webinar focused on a Victorian school context, Cory’s practical strategies and reflective tone offer value to educators everywhere. Across Australia—and beyond—teachers are managing curriculum reform, digital transformation, and the constant balancing act of classroom life.

Whether you’re implementing VIC 2.0, another state curriculum, or simply seeking better ways to support your students, the insights from EKC serve as a reminder: Curriculum design is important, but a thoughtful implementation with actionable curriculum documentation is what makes it work.

With Mathspace’s curriculum-aligned resources, schools around the globe can build on the same foundations of flexibility, teacher agency, and practical support that helped Cory and his team get off to a strong start.

Watch the Webinar

Ready to hear the full story directly from Cory? You’ll come away with ideas to try tomorrow—and insights that will stick with you for the year ahead.

👉 Watch the full webinar here