Mr Thomas is taking part in a professional shadowing program that aims to ensure innovative classroom practice from around the world can be shared and adapted for Australian schools.

Canadian educator Jeff Caton and vice principal at Westview Centennial Secondary School in Toronto, Ontario is at Narooma High School from July 15 to 26 before Mr Thomas pays a visit to Canada in September.

Mr Thomas said the program, run by Leading Educators Around the Planet (LEAP), paired principals and other school executives in Australia, North America and the British Isles.

“It’s a unique opportunity to have an experienced but fresh pair of eyes looking at how your school operates, and to be able to reciprocate during your return visit,” Mr Thomas said.

Mr Caton said one big difference he noticed between his own school in Toronto and Narooma High School was that his school with just under 1000 students, compared to Narooma’s 450 students, was all contained in one big building due to the extreme Canadian climate that reached minus 20 degrees in winter.

“We have one large structure with three floors in one building that is about the same size as this school but all under one roof,” he said. “We do have some outdoor space including a big field out the back and a couple of open squares but this here is a beautiful campus with 100-foot trees all around.”

Mr Caton was also using his Australian visit to help him with his research project looking at the transition between elementary or primary school and secondary school and how to help students bridge that academic gap.

In Canada, students start high school in Year 9 and so were a little older, while Australian students transitioned at the earlier age of Year 7, and so there was a lot to learn.

His Australian counterpart Mr Thomas was in the process of taking him to all of Narooma High School’s feeder schools from Bodalla to Cobargo to meet with the primary school principals.

Mr Thomas said there was a range of systems in place to ease the transition from Year 6 to Year 7, including visits before high school started and also “curriculum continuum”.

He praised the primary school principals for setting up their leaving students for high school so well.

Mr Caton said he was also very grateful to be able meet with more senior administrators and even a state director from the NSW Education Department.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with those forming policy and I will probably learn more from them, than they will learn from me,” he said.

Apart from the academics, Mr Caton has already immersed himself in Aussie culture staying with Mr Thomas and his family, who have given him a tour of the region, even taking him out fishing on their boat over the weekend, and catching snapper and flathead.

Mr Thomas meanwhile said he too had already gained lots of benefit from the exchange and was looking forward to visiting Mr Caton’s school in Toronto in September.

“School leaders today aren’t just educators – they have to manage personnel, administer finance and facilities, ensure Work Health and Safety practices comply, lead the communication with their communities, and perform many other tasks.

“An expert from outside the school’s daily routine, but who has faced similar challenges themselves, is an invaluable feedback source – they can really help you stand back from the day-to-day tasks and see the bigger picture, something that’s hugely beneficial personally, for the school, and for the school community.”

The principals, deputy principals and other school executives taking part fund their own participation in the two-week visits.