The Skills Australian Schools Will Value Most in 10 Years—and How Early Childhood Shapes Them 

19th January 2026

In the next ten years, the landscape of education in the Sutherland Shire—and across Australia—will undergo a profound shift. By 2036, the focus of schools from Cronulla to Menai will move beyond standardised testing toward a more holistic, “future-proof” set of capabilities. 

For parents today, the most important realisation is that the foundations for these 2036 success markers are being laid right now, in the early childhood years. 

The 2036 Skill Set: What Schools Will Value 

While literacy and numeracy remain the bedrock, the Australian curriculum is increasingly prioritising “General Capabilities.” In a decade, these three areas will be the true currency of academic and life success: 

  1. Adaptive Intelligence & Cognitive Flexibility

As AI and technology continue to evolve, the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn will be more valuable than static knowledge. Schools will look for students who can pivot when a solution fails and approach problems from multiple angles. 

  1. Emotional Regulation & Prosocial Skills

In a digital-heavy world, “human-centric” skills will be at a premium. The ability to navigate complex social dynamics, demonstrate genuine empathy and manage one’s own stress (self-regulation) will be key metrics for student wellbeing and leadership. 

  1. Ethical & Systems Thinking

Future students won’t just solve problems; they will be asked to consider the impact of those solutions on the community and the environment. Schools will value “Global Mindsets”—the ability to see how small actions connect to larger systems. 

How Early Childhood Shapes These Skills 

Research shows that 90% of brain development occurs before the age of five. This isn’t about teaching toddlers to code; it’s about the “neural architecture” built through play. 

  • The “Play-to-Problem-Solve” Pipeline: When a child at a Shire preschool builds a block tower that collapses, they aren’t just playing. They are practicing resilience and engineering logic. If they try a different base, they are exercising cognitive flexibility. 
  • The Social Lab: Early learning environments are a child’s first experience with a “mini-society.” Negotiating who gets the red truck or how to share a swing builds the conflict resolution and empathy that high schools will demand in ten years. 
  • Self-Regulation Foundations: Before a child can focus on a Year 12 exam, they must learn to manage “big feelings.” Early childhood educators focus on naming emotions and “co-regulation,” which eventually becomes the internal self-discipline required for advanced study. 

Looking Ahead in the Shire 

With the Sutherland Shire’s population projected to grow to over 257,000 by 2036, competition for local school placements and future jobs will require more than just “good grades.”4 The children who thrive will be those who are curious, empathetic and adaptable. 

The Bottom Line: You are not just choosing a daycare or a preschool; you are choosing the environment where your child’s 2036 toolkit is being forged. By prioritising play-based learning and social-emotional growth today, you are giving them the best head start for the world of tomorrow.