High Trees Primary: First look at Gold Coast’s newest ‘boutique’ primary school in Currumbin Valley

Plans have been unveiled for the Gold Coast’s newest school as the city’s existing campuses are squeezed to breaking point. SEE THE PLANS

Plans have been unveiled for the Gold Coast’s newest school as the city’s existing campuses are squeezed to breaking point.

High Trees Primary will be built in the Currumbin Valley and will be one of the first new schools built on the Coast in recent years.

The boutique school will accommodate students from prep to Year 6 in small classes, with a maximum of 99, supported by a staff of up to 25 people.

It will be aimed at families unhappy with existing schooling options as well as bringing children who have been homeschooled in recent years back to the classroom.

The report notes the number of children being home schooled across the state has increased by 200 per cent in the past two years.

The project was submitted to the council for approval in late June and is yet to go before the planning committee for approval.

A report lodged with the Gold Coast City Council reveals the school will be built in four stages across a 4ha site on Currumbin Creek and will have classrooms created within the existing house on the property, as well as new buildings hosting learning pods, recreation and learning facilities.

Artist impression of a new school proposed for the Gold Coast Hinterland

“The primary school, to be known as High Trees Primary, was borne from an interest to establish a school in which all children find their place in the community, develop a passion for learning, respect for their peers and a love for themselves,” the report reads.

“The school will offer an inclusive, contemporary curriculum which is responsive to the child, their development and the modern environment in which we live.

“The school guides the child on a path of self-discovery and learning, promotes ethics and morality and values the importance of a nurturing, relationship-based approach to teaching.”

It comes as after years of calls for more schools to be built as the city’s population grows by 15,000 people annually.

State government data released in 2021 showed the city needed up to 37 new schools by 2040 to cope with the population increase.

Community consultation has been done in the area and council planning staff have indicated support for the project, which will be considered by councillors later this year.

A statement provided by the school’s planning committee to the council reveals the school will be focused on delivering a “diverse array of teaching approaches and fresh perspectives” to students.

“High Trees Primary School’s ethos revolves around fostering and safeguarding the emotional wellbeing of children within a nurturing learning setting. Research underscores that when children are supported in a safe environment: free from judgment, treated with kindness and respect, and appreciated for their unique qualities; their neurological functions optimise, enhancing their ability to learn and thrive,” the statement reads.

“High Trees Primary objective is for students to use their junior school years to cultivate essential life skills such as emotional intelligence, self-expression, critical thinking, and a growth mindset.

“The school seeks to cultivate this environment through connection, which lies at the core of its endeavours.”