New private school plans to open on Coast

A new private school with longer school days has been given the tick of approval for the Gold Coast with plans to open next month. 

A ONE-of-a-kind middle school with longer school days specialising in children with reading and learning difficulties has been approved to open on the Gold Coast in 2021.

Mastery Schools Australia, based at Varsity Lakes, has been given the go-ahead by the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board to welcome students on January 27.

Those behind the school say enrolment numbers are already growing.

The first dedicated middle school (years 4-9) on the Gold Coast for disengaged students is one of just a few in Australia that will focus exclusively on the needs of students who have fallen behind or are experiencing learning difficulties.

Based in the former Arcadia College site, the school features curriculum and teaching designed with an emphasis on the science of how students learn, longer school day to help students make progress and a focus on explicit and direct instruction-style of teaching.

There will also be a 1:6 ratio of classroom staff to students to ensure small class sizes.

While independent, the school will have no ongoing tuition fees.

“The aim of Mastery Schools Australia is for each student to reach their full potential academically and socially,” a school spokesman said. “We guarantee that students who attend Mastery Schools Australia will make significant learning progress with regular attendance.

“The entire structure of Mastery Schools Australia is designed to maximise learning.

“We are employing the best teachers to use the best programs and approaches in an environment free from distractions and full of support.”

NEW PRIVATE BOYS SCHOOL OPEN ON THE GOLD COAST

The proposed location of Mastery Schools Australia at the RP1 offices Varsity Lakes. Real Estate image.

IN JULY : 

A FORMER Gold Coast principal will head a new independent school scheduled to open at Varsity Lakes early next year.

Mastery Schools Australia (MSA) is a new education group led by ex-Arcadia College and Broadbeach State School boss Michael Roberts.

It is awaiting approval by the state education watchdog to open in Varsity Lakes. The school, to cater for Years 4 to 9, is touting longer days and a speciality for those with learning difficulties.

According to the application to the Non State Schools Accreditation Board, the school will be located at the RP1 Varsity Lakes office complex on Bellevue Drive – currently home to Arcadia College.

Mr Roberts, who has had a life-long passion for education, described Mastery Schools Australia as a co-educational no fee, non-profit independent school.

Currently the general manager of learning Disabilities Australia, Mr Roberts said he hoped to set up a school to cater to students who have disengaged due to learning difficulties or academic stress.

“Our aim is a targeted approach to teaching the kids the basics very early on,” Mr Roberts said.

“This isn’t necessarily just for those with learning difficulties, but students who may have had a tough time with some subjects and were then unable to catch up.

“That is the whole purpose of the name, to allow students to master a concept before we move on.”

OTHER EDUCATION NEWS

The face behind the Queensland Football School

Gold Coast’s plan to lobby foreign students

How schools could save the Gold Coast economy

Mr Roberts said some of the unique features of MSA included longer school days and specialist teachers.

While he admits longer days may not be every student’s idea of a good time, teachers would be able to spend more time on material.

“You have less students missing out when there is a consistently high-quality level of teaching,” he said.

“Whatever school you go to, teachers will always say they don’t have enough time to fit everything in.”

MORE NEWS

Shock as police find more than 1000 at party

New Mariner’s Cove owner revealed after $28m sale

BREAKING: Charges against cop dropped midway through trial

“If you try to spend more time on one thing, you are sacrificing something else.

“We don’t want our students to miss out on anything, and to have the time for everything to be covered properly.

“Instead of five hours of English a week we can extend to 10, while not cutting back in other areas.”

If given the green light, the school would be the first special assistance middle school on the Gold Coast.

“We found that the middle years are when students tend to disengage the most, so there was a real need for an school to fill that gap.”

The proposed new intake day is January 27, 2021.