Charli Fulton’s Mataranka schooling milestones through Haileybury Pangea

A family’s outback adventure in the NT almost went belly-up when they struggled to find a challenging school for their daughter, but an online class means they can put roots down.

Haileybury Pangea's online school has made Charli Fulton's move to Mataranka – where her father works as a watermelon farmer – simple.

Watermelon farmers’ search for an accessible schooling solution for their daughter has proved fruitful as she settles in with virtual cooking classes, interstate friendships, and a challenging curriculum.

Charli Fulton moved from Victoria to Mataranka with her family two years ago when her father was offered an opportunity to work on a farm 10km out of the NT town.

But after studying at Mataranka Primary School for some time, mum Kate said she wanted to get her daughter ready for the jump to high school.

“It’s a great little school, but we wanted Charli to be challenged more with her work,” she said.

“We looked further into finding an education that was going to challenge her more, that’s when Haileybury Pangea popped up in my social media.”

Haileybury Pangea's online school has made Katie and Charli Fulton's move to Mataranka simple.

Haileybury Pangea's online school has made Charli Fulton's move to Mataranka simple.

Ms Fulton manages the Mataranka Roadhouse and brings Charlie to work with her when she’s on shift.

She said Charli “knows her routine” and makes herself breakfast before settling in for a day of learning – during her lunch breaks, she sometimes visits her friends at Mataranka Primary.

“If Haileybury Pangea hadn’t been around we would probably have had to move back to Victoria – I didn’t feel comfortable sending my 11-year-old daughter to boarding school,” Ms Fulton said.

“A lot of station owners pass through the roadhouse and they see Charli in her Haileybury Pangea uniform and ask about her school.

“I tell them that it is so worth it – this is one option where we, as parents, can keep our kids home and not have to send them to boarding school.”

Haileybury Pangea's online school has made Katie and Charli Fulton's move to Mataranka simple.

Charli said she adjusted to her online education easily and found Haileybury Pangea “very welcoming”.

She said she liked “everything” about the school structure, which still allows her to take part in science experiments with her class and jump into the kitchen with the school’s Mini Masterchef course.

“The difference is that, with online learning, I don’t get to see my friends in person,” she said.

“However, when I’m learning online, I can learn from anywhere … (and) I can work at my own pace and the teachers are there whenever I need them.”

The Year 6 student has even visited some of her classmates in Victoria.

She spent the day at Lego Land with new friend Grace while her mum got to know fellow Haileybury parents.

“At the end of our holiday, Mum and Dad took me to Phillip Island to meet Felix and his family,” she said.

“It was such good fun, it is great having friends around the country with different interests like gymnastics, screenplay and coding.”

Originally published as Charli Fulton’s Mataranka schooling milestones through Haileybury Pangea