OneSchool Global campus students respond to controversy as The Advertiser is welcomed for exclusive Adelaide campus tour
For the first time, an Australian school exclusively for members of the Brethren church has opened its doors to the media, as two students explain what their schooling looks like.
For the first time Adelaide’s only OneSchool Global campus – a school attended by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church – opened its gates to media with The Advertiser invited for a tour of the school and exclusive interview with staff and students.
It was also the first time a journalist has been welcomed on any Australian OneSchool Global site in years.
Graduating student, Beulah Joyce described her experience at the school as “pretty normal” with her classmate, Mason Selby dubbing his education as “absolutely amazing”.
The pair have both recently completed their SACE final assessments in general maths, modern history, economics, accounting and English.
“(The learning) is more self directed,” Ms Joyce said about OneSchool’s approach to teaching.
“You take action on what you need to do and your teachers are always there to support you.”
The school, located in Aberfoyle Park, features open plan classrooms, a library filled with modern and classic titles, recreational areas, a science lab, music facilities and art room.
The global collection of schools has recently come under fire from former teachers at Victorian campuses who claimed that the school’s day-to day was heavily influenced by the church.
Mr Selby strongly denied this allegation.
“The church has nothing, no control over the school,” the 18-year-old said.
“It’s a set up I guess for us (Brethren) but the church has literally no control over it and it hasn’t impacted any lessons or anything.”
Ms Joyce said she was aware of some of the recent scrutiny OneSchool Global has faced in the media but admitted she “(tries) not the read” about it.
Ms Joyce said this has not been her experience.
“Not very many people have met us (Brethren) but as a woman … I feel supported the whole time,” the 17-year-old said,
When it comes to life after school, Ms Joyce said she was “unsure” about her future but liked the idea of “earning while learning” and possibly travelling.
Mr Selby said he plans to work in his family business - a common career path in the Brethren community.
“The opportunity is always there to go to uni and do extra study but personally I’m just going to go straight into working because that just aligns with some of my future goals,” he said.
Mr Selby urged those outside the church not “judge” their community and understand that they are “living normal lives”.
“I’m close with loads of people who are non-community and I get on really well (with them) and they’re the same with me,” Ms Joyce added.
Mr Selby and Ms Joyce both attended OneSchool Global’s local campus from year three and were two of six students in their year 12 cohort.
The school currently has 65 students and 11 full-time teachers and two part time educators.
Principal, Dr Jodi Gordon, who has previously taught at Seymour College, echoed the responses of her students and said her time at OneSchool has been “no different” to that at mainstream schools.
“I think as an educator we educate students and children of all backgrounds and I’ve been in faith-based schools and non-faith based schools,” Dr Gordon said.
“In fact (it’s) been a very progressive experience.”
