More Than a Score

What if not knowing your path is not a problem to fix, but the very thing that builds a creative and resilient life? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Manny Kechayas, musician, former teacher, self-taught video producer, and co-creator of the highly successful Australian children's entertainment group act Pevan & Sarah. Manny spent most of school waiting for a lightbulb moment that never came. He was the quiet kid who flew under the radar, poured himself into drumming, and left school with a score he was embarrassed by and no obvious next step. What followed was anything but a straight line. Manny auditioned into the Victorian College of the Arts, taught instrumental and classroom music, completed a Masters, and slowly built a children's music business almost by accident, beginning with songs his partner Sarah needed for her own classroom. After years of underpaid gigs, including a now infamous concert played to nobody, the breakthrough came from a graph showing classrooms watching their videos during school hours. They launched the subscription platform Cub Club just before the pandemic, and the work they had quietly prepared took off while the rest of the live arts industry fell silent. This conversation explores non-linear career paths, creativity, self-directed learning, and what success looks like in a world without a playbook. Manny makes a surprising case that restriction is the spark of creativity rather than the enemy of it, and offers parents a clear, practical message about letting young people be bored, giving them agency, and not being afraid to let them fail. For parents, it is reassurance that a child without a clear plan is not a child who is behind. For students, it is proof that the slow, winding road can lead somewhere genuinely good. And for anyone navigating a changing job market and the rise of AI, Manny offers a grounded perspective on the human skills that will always matter. • Why Manny left school with a low score and no clear career path, and how he sees it now • What it means to wait for a lightbulb moment that never comes, and why that is okay • How restriction and limits can fuel creativity rather than block it • Why boredom is the beginning of invention, not a problem for parents to solve • The case for letting young people make low-stakes mistakes while the cost is small • How Manny taught himself music production and video editing from scratch • The story behind Pevan & Sarah and the Cub Club learning platform • How they found their audience by reading their own analytics • What success looks like when the job you do did not exist a generation ago • Why interpersonal skills and resilience outlast any single test result • A reassuring message for parents whose child does not yet have a plan More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

What happens when your child does everything right and still hits a wall? For any parent of a driven, high-achieving young person, Sarah Kechayas' (co-founder of Pevan & Sarah) story is both honest and reassuring. This is part one of a two-part conversation. Sarah is a musician, performer and co-founder, with her partner Manny Kechayas, of the much-loved children's kids entertainment group Pevan & Sarah. (Now found on ABC iView!). Sarah left a specialist music school as a high achiever who had cleaned up at her Year 12 awards and been told all her life that she could be whatever she wanted. Then she auditioned for every major performing arts course in the country and got into none of them. At seventeen, having done everything she'd been told would lead to her dream, it felt like a rude awakening. But Sarah didn't stop. She took a music certificate at the Adelaide Conservatorium, kept performing, kept making connections, and eventually completed a Bachelor of Music, only to discover how little a degree alone guarantees in the arts. From there, her path wound through instrumental teaching, running children's parties, integration aide work, special needs teaching, and years in the classroom. None of it looked linear, but all of it tied together: teaching, music and the work with kids combined into Pevan & Sarah, a national brand and company she and Manny took full-time in 2021, and which now reaches children right across the country. We talk about the teachers who championed her, the rejection that taught her what awards never could, the trap of measuring yourself against a single path, and her honest reflections on ambition that never quite feels satisfied. Her advice for any young person who feels behind is simple: keep your passion, but diversify, take the blinkers off, and stay open to possibilities you can't yet see. If your child is comparing themselves to a tidier path, this conversation is a reminder that no score or rejection defines where they can end up. This is part one, so after you listen to this, tune into Part two, where the conversation continues with her co-founder Manny Kechayas. What You'll Discover: • Why doing everything right still doesn't guarantee the outcome you planned (and why that's not a failure). • What a wall of audition rejections taught Sarah that awards and accolades never could. • How a "long and messy" path through teaching, music and work with kids quietly built the foundation for a national brand. • Why a Bachelor of Music, or any degree, is a starting point rather than a guarantee, and how that realisation reshaped her thinking. • How Sarah and Manny knew it was time to take Pevan & Sarah full-time, and the leap of faith behind it. • Sarah's honest reflection on ambition that never feels satisfied, and what she's learning about pausing to celebrate. • Practical advice for any young person who feels behind: keep the passion, diversify your toolkit, and take the blinkers off. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

What if success has less to do with having a perfect plan and more to do with understanding your strengths? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Steve Younane: a business leader, CEO, musician, father, and someone whose pathway from school to leadership was far from predictable. Growing up as one of seven children in a family that deeply valued education, Steve felt the pressure that comes with looking up to high-achieving siblings and wondering whether you could ever measure up. At school, he wasn't driven by academic excellence. He openly shares how he struggled to focus, often felt distracted, and saw studying primarily as a way to get a score that would help him move on to the next stage. What he didn't realise at the time was that many of the strengths that would shape his future were already emerging. Through music, sport, leadership opportunities, and building relationships, Steve was developing skills that couldn't always be measured by tests or report cards. From forming a school band and leading teams to eventually leading major organisations and global brands, Steve's story is a powerful reminder that success rarely follows a straight line. This conversation explores comparison, confidence, self-awareness, leadership, and the importance of recognising that people contribute in different ways. For parents, it's a reminder that a child's future isn't determined by how motivated they are by school alone. For young people, it's reassurance that not having everything figured out doesn't mean you're falling behind. And for anyone navigating uncertainty, Steve offers a thoughtful perspective on finding your strengths, backing yourself, and building a meaningful life and career. What You'll Discover • What it was like growing up as one of seven children in a high-achieving family • Why Steve often felt distracted and disconnected from traditional study • The pressure of comparing yourself to siblings and peers • How music became one of the first places he discovered confidence and purpose • Why leadership often appears before we recognise it ourselves • The surprising lessons Steve learned from forming a band and leading teams • How strengths developed outside the classroom shaped his future success • The role self-awareness has played throughout his career and leadership journey • Why different people bring different strengths to teams • What Steve wishes young people understood about success and career pathways Recorded at Sabre Sound Studio A special thanks to the team at Sabre Sound Studio for hosting this conversation and providing a fantastic space for meaningful conversations like this one. If you're looking for a professional podcast, audio, or creative recording space, be sure to check them out. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your teenager is unsure what comes next, this episode is reassurance that confidence usually comes after action, not before. It is for parents supporting a young person through big decisions. What if the right path only becomes clear once you stop chasing it? Athan Didaskalou, founder of the Australian luggage brand July, talks honestly about his uneasy relationship with school, the uncertainty he felt early on, and how curiosity and hands-on experience mattered more than perfect results. His story is a reminder that there is no single right pathway after school, that skills are built through experience rather than qualifications alone, and that one result never defines future potential. For any parent supporting exploration without pressure, or any young person rethinking their direction, this conversation offers a grounded, generous perspective. Success is built over time. In this episode, you’ll discover and learn: • Navigating uncertainty after school with no clear plan • Why confidence comes after action, not before • Building skills through experience rather than qualifications • How parents can support exploration without pressure • Why success looks different at every life stage Because school is only one chapter, and success is built over time. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child is told off for the very things that make them, well them, this is for you. The traits flagged at school are often the foundations of a thriving life later. What if the qualities that make your child different at school are exactly the ones that help them thrive in life? Sarah Pound, known as Wholesome by Sarah, is a nutritionist, author, educator and mum of three whose report cards often said she talked too much. That trait became the foundation of a career built on communication, connection, storytelling and community. Sarah reflects on the adults who believed in her, the times she was told she could not do something, and the many pivots that shaped her path. It is honest reassurance for parents raising children whose strengths do not always fit a classroom. 🎧 What You'll Discover In this episode: • Why Sarah never worried too much about being the "perfect student" • How being told she talked too much eventually became a professional strength • The role friendships, connection, and community played during her school years • What happened when she was told she wouldn't be able to manage a Year 12 subject early • How proving people wrong became a powerful source of motivation • Why different learners don't always thrive in traditional classroom environments • The impact of supportive parents who encouraged effort without applying pressure • Sarah's journey through multiple careers, pivots, and reinventions • What building Wholesome by Sarah has taught her about backing herself • Why success isn't about following the expected path • A reassuring message for parents raising children with different strengths and personalities • How to recognise and nurture qualities that may not always be rewarded at school In the words of Sarah: it's a cracker of an episode! Know someone with an interesting or unique pathway? Tell us about it via an email to [email protected] or DM on Insta at @morethanascorepod. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child does not love the classroom or does not have a clear plan, they are far more normal than they feel. This episode is for parents of a young person who shines outside school. What if success is less about getting it right the first time and more about staying open to opportunity? Stephanie Pahl is an athlete, captain, coach, and fitness professional whose confidence and identity came through sport, teamwork, and belonging rather than academic accolades. Since school, her path has wound through university course changes, coaching, high-performance sport, and the fitness industry. It is a conversation about accepting change, trying different things, and understanding that progress does not need to be perfectly planned. For parents, it is a reminder that success is not one size fits all, and not loving school does not mean your child is behind. What you'll discover: • When school doesn't reflect your child's strongest qualities • How sport, teamwork and belonging build a young person's identity • Why not loving school doesn't define your child's future • Changing university course and finding a new direction • Building adaptability and resilience through change • Shifting the measure of success from results to fulfilment More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child quietly compares themselves to high-achieving siblings or peers, this honest conversation will help. Note: It briefly discusses suicide, so please choose what feels right for you. What happens when the thing you worked so hard to achieve makes you question what success even means? Melissa Lozanovski is an educator, leader, former founding principal, and mum. At school, she compared herself to academically high-achieving siblings and carried quiet pressure to measure up. She entered teaching young, led early, and built a new school from the ground up, while privately navigating grief, burnout, and a health scare that forced harder questions about what matters. Her framework of becoming, belonging, and lifelong learning offers parents a hopeful way to think about success beyond grades, titles, and recognition, and why every child's path unfolds differently. 🎧 What You’ll Discover In this episode: • How comparison with siblings and peers shapes a child's confidence • Why one adult believing in a young person changes everything • The emotional weight that can sit behind outward success • Protecting wellbeing while chasing achievement • Why belonging and emotional safety matter for growth • Thinking about success beyond grades and titles Know someone with a unique story or path? Share it with us at [email protected]! If this conversation brings anything up for you, support is available: • Lifeline Australia (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14 • Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au or 1300 22 46 36 • Kids Helpline (for people aged 5–25): https://kidshelpline.com.au or 1800 55 1800 More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you are watching your teenager leave school without a clear direction, this episode is a reassurance that they are not behind. It is for any parent worried about the missing plan. What if success was never about the perfect plan, but learning to adapt when the plan changes? Ben Amos is a teacher turned entrepreneur and digital storyteller who built his career by staying curious and figuring things out as he went. The path he first wanted did not work out, teaching became the fallback, and that backup became the foundation of a career spanning education, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Ben reframes failure as feedback, draws a line between passively hoping and actively creating opportunities, and shows why adaptability can matter more than certainty. If your child has not figured it all out yet, this will help you breathe. 🎧 What You’ll Discover In this episode: • Why a school score doesn't define your child's future • How a fallback plan can become a launching pad • Helping teenagers handle real responsibility • Why adaptability matters more than certainty after school • Reframing failure as feedback, not a final verdict • Supporting a child who has no clear plan yet More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child has ever been labelled at school, this episode is for you. Being called lazy was never the real story. It is a reassurance for any parent advocating for a child who learns differently. Called lazy, placed on the lowest table, and told she would not succeed. The truth was very different. Myfanwy (Van) Fitzpatrick struggled at school not because she lacked ability, but because her dyslexia and dyspraxia went undiagnosed. She absorbed those early labels into her identity for years. Then, despite being written off, she completed multiple university degrees, became a teacher and moved into counselling. This is a conversation about how labels shape a child, the hidden impact of undiagnosed learning differences, and the critical role parents play in advocating when the system gets it wrong. Intelligence is not the grade you get. What you'll discover: • What to do when your child is called lazy at school • Signs of undiagnosed dyslexia and dyspraxia in school • How early labels shape a child's identity and confidence • The turning point of finally being diagnosed and understood • How to advocate for a child who learns differently • Why intelligence is not the grade you get More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your teenager left school without a clear sense of what success looks like, they are more normal than they feel. This is for parents who want to support without forcing a path. What does it look like to navigate school, life, and identity when the path is not clear? If your teenager left school without a clear sense of what success looks like for them, they are far more normal than they feel. For Jasper Nettlefold, school often felt like a minefield, something to get through rather than connect with. He left without a clear plan and without a strong sense of what he wanted. If that sounds familiar, either for you or your child, this conversation will land. What followed for Jasper was not a perfectly mapped journey. It was a series of experiences through sport, different jobs, travel, and relationships that gradually built his confidence, perspective, and sense of who he was. Success, in his story, was not handed to him at the end of school. It was shaped slowly through the choices he made, the people he surrounded himself with, and his willingness to keep moving even when he was unsure where it was all heading. We explore what it feels like when school does not quite fit, why not having a plan after school is far more common than most families assume, and how everyday jobs and experiences can quietly build identity and confidence. Jasper is open about the role of mentors and relationships, and about how comparison to others can hold a young person back from finding their own definition of success. For parents, there is a clear and gentle message: you can support your child without forcing a path. For students and anyone who did not follow a straight line, this is reassurance that taking a different route does not mean falling behind. You do not need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep moving forward and trust that it will come together. What you'll discover: • When school doesn't fit and feels like something to get through • Why having no plan after school is more common than you think • How everyday jobs and experiences build confidence and identity • The role of mentors and relationships in finding direction • Supporting your child without forcing a path • Why taking a different route is not falling behind More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you have ever worried that your child does not fit the traditional mould, this is a hopeful, practical listen for parents and educators alike. What happens when school does not quite fit, but life beyond it opens something bigger? Lael Stone is a speaker, educator, author, and school founder who reflects on leaving school without being defined by her score, traveling overseas alone at seventeen, and starting businesses before she had it all figured out. This is a conversation about what becomes possible when young people are given permission to explore, and adults choose connection over judgment. Lael offers practical insight on how young people actually ask for help, why vulnerability matters, and what it takes to become a safe adult in a young person's world. • Why a school score never has to define your child • Helping a young person who feels not smart at school • Travel and real-world experience as a different education • What stops teenagers asking for help, and how to lower the barrier • How to become a safe adult in a young person's world • Building learning around connection and emotional safety Know someone who'd be perfect for the pod? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you are watching your child step off the traditional track, this is reassurance. For Sam, leaving school in Year 11 was the start, not the setback. What happens if you leave school early and do not follow the expected path? Sam Gawenda left in Year 11, became a bricklayer, moved into mortgage broking, built and sold a business, and is now starting a new chapter. His pathway is a clear reminder that success is rarely linear. But the conversation goes deeper than careers: it is about doing hard, uncomfortable things even when fear is present, and the role of mentors and environment in shaping who we become. He also explores rites of passage and what is missing for many young people today. No single score or decision defines your future. 🎧 What You’ll Discover: • Why leaving school early in Year 11 didn't limit success • The non-linear path from a trade to building a business • Why doing hard, uncomfortable things drives growth • How environment and mentors shape a young person • Modelling courage and resilience as a parent • Focusing on vision rather than the exact process Know someone else with a unique or interesting path? Share it with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child is measuring their worth by a number, this episode offers a better measure. It is for parents who want to understand what actually shapes a meaningful life. Blaise Witnish got an ATAR she was proud of, but that is not what made her successful. A CEO and global team leader, she boarded in Year 12 after financial hardship, found her strengths through drama and stand-up comedy, and built a twenty-year career from the ground up. What stands out is what she learned about people, strengths, resilience, and connection. She explains why understanding your child's strengths is a game-changer, introduces the eight-to-one rule for building confidence, and makes the case that communication is a future-proof skill. Scores can open doors, but they do not define the life you build. What you'll discover: • Why understanding your child's strengths is a game changer • The eight to one rule and how it builds confidence in young people • How hardship and change build real resilience • Why communication and connection are future-proof skills • What an ATAR really does and does not mean • Strengths tools to explore: Clifton Strengths and VIA Character Strengths 🔗 Explore Your Strengths (As Mentioned in This Episode) If this episode sparked your thinking about strengths and self-awareness, here are a few great tools to explore: • Gallup CliftonStrengths - a widely used tool that helps identify your top strengths and how to apply them in life and work. • VIA Character Strengths Survey - free, research-based survey that highlights your core character strengths. • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - personality framework that helps you understand preferences in how you think, work, and relate to others. These tools are discussed in the episode as potential helpful starting points for people, parents and educators to better understand themselves and each other. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your young person does not yet have a direction, this shows how a real creative career is built. It is for parents and students unsure about the next step. Not everyone leaves school with a clear plan, and not everyone needs to. Hayden Bevis is the founder of Poster Boy, but his path there was anything but straight: optical mechanic, trivia host, early YouTube experiments, then a creative business grounded in storytelling. He challenges three quiet assumptions, that you must be creative to do creative work, that careers should be linear, and that success starts with certainty. He makes a strong case that communication, expressing ideas across mediums, may be one of the most important skills for young people today. Creativity is something you do, not something you are. What you'll discover: • Building a creative career without a clear plan • Why creativity is something you do, not something you are • Turning making things for fun into paid work • Learning through feedback, rejection and iteration • Why communication may be the most important skill for young people • Backing yourself instead of waiting for permission More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child finds the academic side of school hard, this lands. Not academic was never the problem, just a sign their strengths are elsewhere. What if being not academic was never the problem, just a sign that your strengths are somewhere else? Ellie Pascazio is a makeup artist and small business owner who found school hard academically but loved people, energy and making others feel good, and never saw that as a weakness. After school she moved into beauty therapy and, during COVID, started her own business from a corner at home. It grew by word of mouth into a thriving career across weddings and events. People skills can become a young person's greatest asset, and the strengths that do not show up in a classroom can build a real career. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: • What it really feels like to be not academic at school • The strengths that don't show up in a classroom • How people skills can become a young person's greatest asset • Starting a small business from scratch and growing by word of mouth • Why kindness is a strength, not a weakness • Building a life around what actually matters to you You don’t have to be the smartest in the room to succeed. You just have to know what matters to you...and build from there. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you are trying to help your child work hard without overwhelming them, this conversation will help you breathe. It is for parents navigating pressure and expectation. What if success was never just about getting through school, getting the degree and starting work? Val Gnanakone moved from Singapore to Australia as a young person and grew up where education was essential, not optional. He worked hard, got through, got the degree, and built a career. What makes his story worth hearing is his honest reflection on what that path gave him, what it cost, and how his definition of success has evolved toward contribution and feeling comfortable in himself. For parents, there is a gentle message about supporting a child to work hard without overloading them. One path does not have to define a whole life. What you’ll discover: • Navigating cultural and family expectations around education • The pressure and the benefits of a disciplined pathway • Helping a child work hard without overwhelming them • Why contribution and self-understanding matter more over time • How a definition of success evolves with age • Why every young person's path unfolds differently Because one score doesn't define us and one path doesn't have to define your whole life. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child is tying their worth to a number, Claire's story is one to share. It is for parents, students and anyone untangling self-worth from performance. Have you ever achieved something others celebrate but still felt like you fell short? Claire Tonti is a former teacher turned musician, filmmaker, podcaster and CEO. She grew up in a high-achieving family quietly believing she was not smart enough, and when she finished school with an ATAR of 89.95 it still felt like failure. Her path did not follow a neat line; she found herself through creativity, performance and building communities. This is an honest conversation about unspoken family expectations, the weight of comparison, and why perfectionism disconnects us from who we really are. One score does not define you, but one conversation can change how you see yourself. What you’ll hear in this episode: • Why an excellent ATAR can still feel like failure • Growing up with unspoken expectations in a high-achieving family • How perfectionism disconnects us from who we really are • Creativity as an outlet and a lifeline • Helping a child feel enough beyond their achievements • Untangling self-worth from performance One score doesn’t define you, but one conversation can change how you see yourself. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you are navigating subject selection or university pressure with your young person, this gives real perspective. Changing direction is often growth, not failure. This is a TITANIC episode. (See what we did there?). Have you ever started down a path because it seemed right, only to realise it did not fit? James Cameron is a teacher, mentor and outdoor education specialist who began university on one course and chose to shift, not because he could not cope, but because he was paying attention to who he was becoming. Working inside schools, he sees how quickly young people tie their identity to subjects, scores and labels, and how his own greatest strengths were relational rather than academic. For parents wondering whether it is too late for their child to change direction, James offers reassurance and clarity. Relationship-building outlasts any exam result. What you’ll discover: • What it feels like to change university course partway through • Why changing direction is often growth, not failure • Navigating subject selection and university pressure • How young people tie identity to subjects, scores and labels • Why relationship-building outlasts any exam result • Choosing growth over comfort when something doesn't fit Sometimes the most important step forward is having the courage to adjust course. 🔗 Discover more about Rise Outdoors here: https://riseoutdoors.com.au/ Check out James on Loz's previous podcast episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3aaJzeQdawQyZQ5KdWbUoC?si=ft0n-dFSQzecew_4dnch-A More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child has ever been quietly written off, Cade's story matters. It is for any parent whose child has been told they are not likely to get the score they need. What happens when you are told university probably is not realistic for you, months before your final exams? Cade Witnish heard exactly that. Co-founder of Loud and Clear and sports-tech platform PlayHQ, he grew up in regional New South Wales labelled as someone with potential who did not apply himself. Then his ATAR surprised everyone. But this is not a story about proving people wrong. It is about how low expectations shape who we think we are, the influence of a determined mum, and the teacher who saw something first. Potential is easily misread, and the trajectory of a life is rarely defined at eighteen. What you’ll discover: • What to do if your child is told university isn't realistic • Handling the label has potential but doesn't apply himself • Why one teacher's belief can shift a whole trajectory • What first-generation university looks like in real life • Why confidence often develops years later • How potential is easily misread at eighteen One score does not define you, but one sentence of belief can change your whole trajectory. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child has a strong interest or talent and you wonder whether school can accommodate it, this is for you. Flexibility and belief can help a young person thrive. What happens when school works with a young person's passion instead of against it? Dean Brady, a former Rip Curl professional surfer and founder of the Noosa Surfing Academy, shares his experience of a school that recognised his commitment to surfing and supported alternative pathways into elite sport. From international competition and sponsorships to setbacks, career pivots and eventually building his own business, his story shows how discipline, resilience and lived experience shape a meaningful life beyond results. It is a powerful reframe for parents and young people navigating pressure and passion, especially those wondering whether school can make room for a learner with different talents. What you’ll discover: • How a flexible school helped a young athlete thrive • Supporting a child with a strong passion or talent • Building identity beyond results • Learning discipline and resilience through lived experience • Turning a passion into a career and a business • What schools can do for learners with different interests If you're a parent supporting a child with clear interests or passions, a young person questioning whether there’s “only one way” to succeed, or an educator rethinking what meaningful support really looks like - this is for you. Because when young people are trusted, supported, and allowed to grow, incredible things can happen. Find out more about Noosa Surfing Academy at https://www.noosasurfingacademy.com/. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you are supporting a creative young person or questioning whether passion can become a pathway, this offers perspective and permission. Success rarely arrives all at once. What if the quiet thread running through your life is pointing somewhere meaningful? Sophie Perez is a fine artist and Royal College of Art graduate, former elite cyclist, studio founder and mother of three. Her path is anything but linear: painting in London, couriering by bike, racing at Tour de France level, stepping away from art for a decade to raise her family, then rebuilding her practice on the Mornington Peninsula. This is reassurance for parents and young people that success evolves and rarely follows a straight line. If you are supporting a creative young person or questioning whether passion can become a pathway, this episode offers permission to keep following the thread. What you’ll discover: • Whether a passion can really become a career • Why stepping away from something you love doesn't mean it's gone • How creative confidence is built through community • Supporting a young person who doesn't fit neat academic categories • Why success rarely arrives all at once • Following your thread through reinvention and different life stages Discover More About Sophie Perez and her art here 👇: https://www.sophieperezartist.com/ More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child worries about getting it wrong, this reassures that learning through lived experience is a strength, not a weakness. It is for parents and students alike. What if the most valuable skills for life are not the ones measured by exams? Tash Chapman moved from school into people-focused work in HR and leadership, and now Nissi Wellness, and offers a powerful perspective on what really helps people thrive. Through years leading teams she has seen that confidence, communication, adaptability and emotional awareness often matter far more than a perfect academic record. This conversation is especially valuable for parents supporting young people who are questioning their direction, and for students who need reassurance that uncertainty is part of growth, not failure. Success is about becoming self-aware, capable and confident enough to navigate change. What you'll discover: • The skills employers value most, beyond exam results • Why self-awareness, communication and adaptability matter • How exploring different pathways builds clarity over time • Supporting a young person without over-directing them • Reframing uncertainty as part of growth, not failure • Why learning through experience is a strength You can learn more about Tash’s work and follow her pathway at Nissi Wellness on Instagram: @nissi_wellness More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child opened results that did not reflect who they are, this helps. Feeling lost does not mean they are off track. It is for parents and students after a hard result. What happens when the result staring back at you does not reflect who you know you are? Emily Rovere is an osteopath, business owner and mentor who opened her results feeling confused and deflated, then slowly realised the number was not the full story. A hard-working high achiever who did not yet know how she learned best, she carried pressure as the one who had to succeed. Missing the score she hoped for forced her to problem-solve, adapt and find a path that suited her. For parents, it is reassurance that struggle is not failure and detours can lead to clarity. One exam never defines the whole story. What you'll discover: • When your child's ATAR doesn't reflect who they are • The importance of learning how you learn • Why asking for help is hard, and why it matters • How resilience is built through discomfort • Why progress matters more than perfection • Reassurance that a detour can lead to clarity Because one moment, one exam, or one score never defines the whole story. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you have followed the show and wondered what shaped one of its hosts, start here. It is for parents worried about a child's future and educators supporting young people. What happens when the person usually asking the questions becomes the one being interviewed? In this special episode, co-host Dan Steele, an award-winning school leader and internationally accredited leadership coach, steps into the guest seat. He reflects on his own school experience, why he was never overly defined by his final score, and how early setbacks became unexpected springboards. Drawing on nearly two decades in classrooms, leadership and coaching (including living and teaching in a remote community in WA), Dan talks about failure as part of growth and the power of relationships in shaping how a young person sees their future. It is a window into the thinking behind the podcast itself. • Why school is the beginning, not the verdict • How belief from one adult can change a child's trajectory • What parents can model to build confidence and resilience • Why learning how to learn matters more than outcomes • Helping a young person run their own game • The thinking behind More Than a Score More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you want reassurance that there are many ways to live a fulfilling life, meet one of the hosts. It is for parents supporting a child through school transitions. You have heard the conversations. Now meet one of the people behind them. In this special episode, the mic turns toward co-host Laura Pitt to explore her own journey through school, uncertainty and the decisions that shaped how she now supports young people and families. Laura is open about the expectations she carried, the choices she made, and how her understanding of success has evolved. It is an honest reflection on why life rarely follows a straight line, and why that is often where growth begins. It also explains why More Than a Score exists and who it is really for. No one score ever tells the whole story. What you’ll discover: • How school pressure and expectations shape confidence • Why success looks different at different life stages • The power of reflection and self-trust • What one host wishes parents knew during the school years • Why uncertainty in young people is normal • Why More Than a Score exists and who it's for Because behind every pathway is a human story. And no one score ever tells the whole one. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your teenager is facing big decisions without certainty, this helps. Confidence often comes after action, not before. It is for parents and students rethinking direction. What if the path you are meant to take only becomes clear once you stop chasing the right one? Athan Didaskalou, founder of one of Australia's most recognisable lifestyle brands, July, talks honestly about his relationship with school, the uncertainty he felt early on, and how curiosity, courage and lived experience mattered more than perfect results or a linear pathway. His story is a reminder that there is no single right pathway after school, that skills can be built through experience, and that one result never defines future potential. Whether you are a parent or a student unsure what comes next, this offers reassurance and practical insight. What you'll discover: • Navigating uncertainty after school with no clear plan • Why curiosity and experimentation beat early certainty • The risks and realities of starting something from scratch • How parents can support exploration without pressure • Why success looks different at every life stage Whether you’re a parent supporting a young person through big decisions, a student unsure of what comes next, or someone rethinking their own direction, this episode offers perspective, reassurance, and practical insight. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child is devastated by a result that did not go their way, this is for you. One moment does not get to define the rest of their life. What do you do when the score you worked so hard for does not turn out the way you hoped, and you feel completely devastated? Stacey Lapira is a former teacher and prison officer, now a fitness coach and gym owner. She shares honestly about missing the ATAR she expected, feeling embarrassed, withdrawing from friends and questioning her intelligence, and what came next: a story of courage and course-correction. Her journey reminds us that changing direction is not failure but often the beginning of finding your fit, and that one person who believes in you can change everything. One setback was never meant to define you. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your young person knows what they want but feels afraid of the wrong choice, this helps. You do not need certainty to move forward, just a starting point. What if the thing that helps a young person thrive is not perfect grades, but internal motivation, curiosity and the confidence to grab opportunities? Stef Pedersen is a specialist midwife and clinical educator whose story is a blueprint for pursuing a passion while staying open to the twists that shape a career. She shares how she navigated Year 12, chose a brand-new double degree, juggled early placements and created her own learning opportunities. For any student or parent who feels overwhelmed about the future, Stef's honesty offers clarity and comfort. The future is not built on one score; it is built on motivation, opportunity and the courage to take the next step. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your teenager's ATAR came in lower than hoped and their friends all seem miles ahead, this is for you. A lower score does not define their future. What happens when your ATAR comes in lower than you hoped and everyone else seems miles ahead? Tyson Day is a careers coach and co-founder of Arrive and Thrive who received 66.6, lived with undiagnosed dyslexia, and spent years unsure of who he was or what he wanted. His honest story unpacks why a score captures only one kind of intelligence, why so many teenagers freeze in analysis paralysis, and how parents can support a young person through the messy middle. It is reassurance that a non-linear path, built on hard work, curiosity and backing yourself, can lead somewhere good. Your teenager's score does not define them. What you'll discover: • What to do when your child's ATAR is lower than expected • Why a score captures only one kind of intelligence • Helping a teenager stuck in analysis paralysis • Backing yourself through undiagnosed dyslexia • How parents can support a non-linear path Find out more about Arrive & Thrive: • https://arrivethrive.com.au/ • Insta @arrive_thrive • Career Conversation Dinner Menu - Little icebreaker they share with parents and students: https://arrivethrive.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Career-Conversation-Menu_v4_website.pdf More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child wants to leave school early or learns differently, Gwen's story is a reassurance. School can be the starting point, not the peak. What if school is not the peak of your story but just the starting point? Gwen Gothard left school at sixteen with dyslexia and built an inspiring life across fitness, high-performance nutrition, elite sport, product development and entrepreneurship. Moving between school systems in the UK, she discovered sport as the place she felt capable and confident. Her story is a powerful reminder that success is rarely linear and that saying yes to opportunities can shape a life far beyond a classroom. For parents of a child who learns differently or wants to leave school early, this is encouragement that there are many ways to build a meaningful path. What you'll discover: • Leaving school early at sixteen and still thriving • Supporting a child with dyslexia who learns differently • How sport can build confidence when classrooms don't • Saying yes and spotting opportunities • Why success is rarely a straight line More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you or your child is facing change or uncertainty about their path, this helps. Growth often comes from staying curious, not from choosing one fixed route. What if success was not about choosing one path, but learning to grow through change and uncertainty? Josh Kinder shares how curiosity and courage have shaped his life, from moving schools and chasing surf breaks to building a career and a business. His story is about holding plans loosely, staying open, and finding direction through experience rather than certainty. For parents of a young person who feels unsettled by change or unsure which way to turn, this is a grounded, reassuring conversation about resilience and adaptability. You do not need the whole path mapped out to move forward. Listen now and share it with someone who’s learning to hold things loosely. • Helping a young person cope with change and uncertainty • Why holding plans loosely builds resilience • Finding direction through experience, not certainty • How curiosity and courage shape a path • Supporting a teenager who feels unsettled More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you want a school leader's view on what actually helps a child thrive, start here. It is not about getting everything right, but what you do next. What if thriving at school was not about getting everything right, but about what you do next? Kristy Kendall, Principal of Toorak College and an education innovator, reflects on her journey from a curious student to a nationally recognised school leader reshaping how we think about success, feedback and learning. She shares how curiosity, courage and connection shaped her path, from a strong ATAR and a love of tests to a broader understanding of what really matters. For parents and educators, this is a thoughtful conversation about building confidence and a healthy relationship with feedback, and why curiosity matters more than perfection. In this episode, you’ll discover: • What actually helps a child thrive at school • Building a healthy relationship with feedback • Why curiosity matters more than getting it right • A school principal's view on real success • Helping a young person build confidence More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child loves school and worries about what comes after, this helps. Sometimes the real learning starts once school is over. What happens when you leave a school you loved, only to realise the real learning starts after it is over? James Pattison is a writer, broadcaster, creative and founder of Miniature whose path ran from the classroom to Radio National and beyond. His story is about curiosity, confidence and rediscovery, and the risks worth taking when you back yourself. For parents of a young person who is unsure what comes next, or who thrived at school and fears the drop-off, this is an encouraging reminder that learning and growth continue long after the final exam, often in unexpected and rewarding directions. • Why the real learning often starts after school • Backing yourself enough to take a risk • Building a creative and broadcasting career • Rediscovering confidence beyond the classroom • Supporting a young person who loved school This episode is for parents, students, and lifelong learners who want to remember that the best lessons often come long after the exams are over. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you want to know how one supportive adult can change a child's direction, this is for you. Small acts and advocacy matter more than we think. How much difference can one caring adult make to a young person's path? Ellen Steele explores how small acts of support and advocacy can change the direction of a young person's life. Her conversation is a reminder that the people around a child, the ones who notice, encourage and advocate, often matter more than any result on a report card. For parents and educators, this is a warm, practical discussion about how to show up for young people, lower the barriers that hold them back, and help them feel seen. Sometimes the smallest act of belief changes everything. What you’ll discover: • How one supportive adult can change a child's path • Why small acts of advocacy matter so much • Helping a young person feel seen and supported • Lowering the barriers that hold teenagers back • What meaningful support actually looks like More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child's best school memories are the people, not the marks, this resonates. The most valuable lessons often are not the graded ones. What makes a great school experience, the marks you earn or the memories you make? For Tom Pountney, it was the laughter, sport, and sense of community that made learning come alive, and the teachers who treated students like adults ready for the world. Leaving that environment brought its own lessons; he admits he felt a little lost, missing the structure and connection school provided. Through travel, writing and work he gradually found his feet. For parents, it is a reminder that belonging and relationships shape a young person as much as any result, and that feeling lost for a while is part of finding your way. What you’ll discover: • Why the best lessons aren't the graded ones • How community and belonging shape a young person • Feeling lost after school, and finding your feet • The teachers who treat students like capable adults • Why connection matters as much as results Tom reminds us that the best lessons aren’t found on a report card; they’re discovered along the way. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you have ever waited for permission before backing yourself or your child, this is for you. Courage and curiosity open doors that school sometimes can't. What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start backing yourself instead? Lael Stone, speaker, educator and author, shares how leaving a school system that did not quite fit opened the door to a life of possibility. At seventeen she travelled overseas alone and launched her first business, guided by courage and curiosity rather than convention. This is a warm, practical conversation for parents about raising confident young people, choosing connection over judgment, and trusting that a different path can be a rich one. If your child does not fit the traditional mould, Lael's story is a hopeful reminder that there are many ways to build a meaningful life. What you'll discover: • Backing yourself instead of waiting for permission • Raising confident, curious young people • Choosing connection over judgment • When school doesn't fit, and what becomes possible • Why courage and curiosity open doors In this episode of More Than a Score, Lael Stone shares how leaving behind a school system that didn’t quite fit opened the door to a life of possibility. At just 17, she travelled overseas alone, launched her first business at 20, became a parent at 25, and went on to build a career as a parenting educator, speaker, author, and co-co-founder of Woodline Primary School. Lael’s story is a reminder that qualifications don’t always come from classrooms — they can come from life experiences, curiosity, and the willingness to take a chance on yourself. She opens up about the power of trusting your instincts, embracing imperfection, and finding freedom in being “enough.” This episode is for parents and young people who feel pressure to have everything figured out. Lael’s journey reminds us that courage, curiosity, and connection will take you further than perfection ever could. You’ll discover: • Why backing yourself can be a powerful qualification you can have. • How courage and lived experience can open unexpected doors. • Why being “enough” matters more than being perfect. • How parents can model possibility, presence, and calm for their kids. Because success isn’t about ticking boxes — it’s about backing yourself and creating a life that feels true to you. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child faces a setback right before exams, this is reassurance. A curveball in Year 12 does not have to derail their future. What do you do when life throws a curveball right before your final exams? For Shayegan Abdollahbeigi, a severe illness in Year 12 almost stopped him sitting his exams. With a teacher's encouragement he pushed through and discovered a principle that still guides him: discipline equals freedom. Growing up in Iran before moving to Australia gave him a unique lens on school and opportunity, and his path led him into engineering and entrepreneurship. For parents whose child has hit an unexpected setback, this is an encouraging story about resilience, the power of one encouraging teacher, and building a future on discipline and self-belief. What you’ll discover: • Coping when illness or setback hits before exams • Why discipline equals freedom • The power of one encouraging teacher • Building a path into engineering and entrepreneurship • Resilience when Year 12 doesn't go to plan Because true success isn’t about a score, it’s about systems, values, and the person you become along the way. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child's big dream does not work out, this helps. The end of one path can be the start of an unexpected, meaningful one. What happens when your childhood dream of being a professional athlete ends and you have to start again? For TJ Weistra, badminton was everything, first as a player at the highest level, then as a coach in Peru and New Zealand. Today he is the CEO of Badminton Australia, proof that success can be redefined well beyond results. His story speaks to anyone whose plan has fallen away and who must rebuild. For parents, it is a reminder that identity does not have to rest on one outcome, and that the skills built chasing a dream often open doors you never expected. Starting again is not starting over. What you’ll discover: • What to do when a childhood dream ends • Rebuilding identity beyond one result • How skills from sport transfer to new careers • Redefining success after a plan falls away • Why starting again is not starting over Because success isn’t fixed. It grows and changes with you. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If your child missed their first university preference, this is reassurance. A pivot can lead to experiences they would never have planned. What if your best school memories were not about results, but connection, laughter and a community that felt like home? For Jess Orr, it was house singing days and a close-knit year level that defined her final years. After school she pursued an Arts Law degree, but had to pivot and move to a regional city after missing her first options. That pivot led to unexpected experiences, from living on campus to studying overseas. For parents whose child misses a preferred course or pathway, this is a warm reminder that a detour can open doors, and that balance and openness to adventure matter more than a perfect plan. What you’ll discover: • When your child misses their first university option • Why a pivot can open unexpected doors • Finding balance beyond results • Staying open to adventure and new experiences • How connection shapes the school years Because success is built on balance, connection, and the courage to be yourself - not a final score. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you or your child has been told they are going non-scored, this is for you. For Thomas, it was the start of resilience, not a full stop. Imagine being told at school that you have to go non-scored. For many that feels like a full stop and time to shut down. For Thomas Pitt, it became the spark for resilience that shaped every step of his journey. From working as a wool presser and on the floor of a garden nursery to civil construction, he worked his way up from being on the tools to leading. His story is proof that a non-scored pathway can lead to a strong and capable career built on grit and hard work. For parents whose child is going non-scored or stepping into the trades, this is reassurance that it is a beginning, not an ending. What you’ll discover: • What going non-scored really means for your child • Why a non-scored pathway is a beginning, not an end • Building a career in the trades and construction • Working up from the tools to leadership and founding AUE • How resilience is built through hard work This episode is testament that life is about far more than a score. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you or your child wants to follow what they love rather than chase a score, this is for you. Leaning into strengths can open unexpected doors. What happens when you stop chasing results and start following what you truly love? Elleni Pearce shows that when you lean into your strengths and back yourself, the path ahead can unfold in unexpected and exciting ways. Her story is encouragement for any young person who feels the pressure to choose a conventional route over the thing that genuinely lights them up. For parents, it is a reminder that strengths and passion are not a distraction from a career, they can be the foundation of one. Creating your own pathway is not only possible, it is often where the most fulfilling work begins. What you'll discover: • Following what you love instead of chasing a score • How leaning into strengths opens doors • Creating your own career pathway • Why passion can be the foundation of a career • Backing yourself when the route is unconventional Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.

If you are new to the show, start here. Hosts Laura and Dan explain why a score is not the whole picture and who this podcast is for. What really defines success? For too long, school results and test scores have been treated as the ultimate measure, but life after school tells a different story. In this first episode, hosts Laura Pitt and Dan Steele introduce the vision behind More Than a Score: why marks are not the whole picture, and why the real lessons are found in resilience, relationships and the pathways we take beyond school. It sets the stage for a series of honest stories from people who did not follow a straight line. If you are a parent, a young person or an educator, this is the place to begin. • Why a score is not the whole picture • What More Than a Score is really about • Who the podcast is for: parents, young people, and educators • Why resilience and relationships matter most • The kinds of stories the series explores Do you know someone with a great story or a unique pathway in or beyond school? Reach out to us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.