About VISII
A school built around the
question, not the clock.
Vancouver Island School of Innovation and Inquiry — VISII for short — is Victoria's inquiry-based school for grades 5 to 8. We're close-knit, warm, and serious about following kids' curiosity into real learning.
Our mission
To ignite a passion for learning by creating an open inquiry space, connecting inquirers with knowledge, and building a framework where questions matter.
Our story
VISII was founded in 2020 by a group of parents who recognized that the public school system was not serving their children's needs or cultivating a love of learning. They formed the Epiphyte Educational Society, and although starting a brand-new school in the midst of a global pandemic was challenging, other families soon joined the community.
A few years on, VISII has blossomed into a vibrant, innovative space where learners pursue their passions and nurture their curiosity — setting them up for whatever future they choose.
Our vision
Three words at the heart of VISII.
Ignite
To ignite a passion for learning by creating an open inquiry space that connects learners with knowledge.
Engage
To create a dynamic and supportive environment where learning engages all dimensions of a child's life.
Connect
To help learners cross disciplines and make connections in pursuit of questions that matter to them.
What’s different about inquiry?
Learning that follows the question across every subject.
Integrated Subjects
As opposed to subjects being taught in silos or limited by grade level, VISII's educators take a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to teaching. Learners are introduced to a wide range of topics and taught to consider the connections between them.
Curriculum Design
Curriculum is built on personal curiosity through a close learner-teacher relationship, with room for occasional “nudges” by the teacher into areas of learning the learner may not have thought of alone.
Personalized Learning
Personal learning paths are co-created by learners and teachers. Intersection points and emerging needs and goals inform what is done individually and what is done in groups.
Community Connections
Learners are encouraged to develop real projects based on their own inquiries, and to access the world outside for mentorship and as a place to contribute to society.
Learning Environment
VISII is an open-plan learning environment with several diverse micro-environments. Some areas are specialized — such as makerspaces and quiet rooms — but almost everything is flexible.
Learning Groups
Instead of being separated by grade, our learners are grouped in whatever configuration makes sense — sometimes by interest, sometimes by similarity, sometimes by difference, and other times as a whole. Mixing ages is one of our quiet superpowers: older learners grow into mentors, younger ones rise to meet them, and by spring the group feels like one big family.
How it works
How an inquiry unfolds.
Like the fern in our logo, an inquiry unfurls — one question opening into the next. It moves through five movements, though rarely in a straight line.
- 01
Wonder
It starts with a real question a learner genuinely cares about. A mentor helps shape that spark into something worth chasing.
- 02
Explore
Learners dig in across many sources — reading, experiments, interviews, and getting out into the community to consult people who know.
- 03
Make
Understanding becomes something real: a project, a prototype, a piece of writing, a performance, or a small venture.
- 04
Share
The work meets a genuine audience — classmates, families, and the wider community — not just a teacher's red pen.
- 05
Reflect
Learners look back at their goals, set new ones, and chase the better questions that have opened up along the way.
Inquiry isn’t a straight line. A good question almost always leads to better ones — so learners loop back, refine, and go deeper.
What is an inquiry?
A deep dive into a topic through real, experiential learning.
Learners ask questions, explore resources, and connect with others to gain a deeper understanding of something they genuinely care about. Here are real inquiries our students have chased — every one of them learner-chosen.
One question, many subjects
Take a question like “Could our shoreline support more life?”
Biology — intertidal ecosystems and the species that depend on them
Geography & data — mapping the coast and measuring change over time
Civics — how municipal decisions get made — and talking to the people who make them
Writing — shaping the findings into a clear, persuasive proposal
Art — field illustration and a way to show the work to others
One honest question becomes a real proposal a student can share with a community group — and a year of learning that crosses five “subjects” without ever feeling like five subjects.
But is it rigorous?
Yes — and you’ll see more of your child’s learning, not less.
Following real questions doesn’t mean lowering the bar. It means raising engagement — and making progress visible in a way a report card never could.
Meets — and exceeds — the curriculum
Our learners work toward, and beyond, British Columbia's core competencies. Inquiry is how we get there — not a detour around it.
Progress you can actually see
Instead of a letter grade a few times a year, families get descriptive feedback and a clear picture of where their child sits on each skill. You'll see more of your child's learning, not less.
Met at the edge of what they can do
We pitch the work to each learner individually — challenging enough to stretch them, never so much that they shut down. That's where real growth happens.
What we offer
The things that make an intimate school powerful.
Individual Support
VISII offers one of the most intimate learning groups in Victoria, cultivating a close-knit community and allowing for highly individualized learning. A high teacher-to-student ratio means that your learner will be guaranteed the time and support they need to thrive.
Fantastic Facilities
From multiple maker spaces to quiet rooms, VISII's open-plan, flexible learning space supports a wide variety of interests and learning styles.
Community Engagement
At VISII we believe education shouldn't be limited to the classroom space. We offer a biweekly outdoor program, multiple field trips throughout the year, and frequently invite guest speakers from the community to share their expertise.
Holistic Education
Highlighting a learner's strengths and tailoring our support to their individual needs means that learners are empowered to create meaningful success and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.
With gratitude
We acknowledge that our school rests in the heart of Straits Salish territory, a living culture with its own rites, ceremonies, and unfolding history. We honour the Esquimalt, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, whose unceded homelands we share and whom we recognize as our neighbours. We respect and commit to a deep consideration of their history, culture, stewardship, and voice.
Curious whether VISII fits your child?
Meet the people who make it work — or take the first step and apply.