Gold Coast homeschool numbers boom according to experts

Home schooling numbers on the Gold Coast are booming – with education experts expecting them to keep rising in the post pandemic world. SEE THE SUBURBS WHERE HOME SCHOOLING IS POPULAR

HOME SCHOOLING numbers on the Gold Coast are booming with education experts expecting more locals than ever to opt out of traditional schooling in the post pandemic world.

Education Queensland figures have revealed that 381 students on the Gold Coast registered in 2019, equivalent to 11 per cent of the state’s home schooling population.

On average the number of home schoolers on the Gold Coast grew by 22 per cent annually since 2014.

Home schooling whiz kid Felix Hooper, 9, celebrating his science award win with his Hydrometer and his father Derek Hooper at Evandale. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The biggest suburbs for home teachers included the postcode of 4209 (Upper Coomera, Pimpama and Willow Vale) with 73 enrolled students followed by 4211 (Advancetown and Beechmont) with 52 and 4213 (Mudgeeraba) with 37.

For Currumbin parents, Katie and Derek Hooper, home schooling their three children has proven to be the right decision.

Their eldest Felix, who is in grade three, has this week celebrated national recognition after he was awarded a highly commended in the prestigious science communication competition the Australian Museum Eureka Prize ‘Sleek Geeks’.

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At just nine-years-old Felix, combined his love of science and movie making to produce and develop a science film about his homemade hydrometer for the competition.

Mrs Hooper said the award also felt like a ‘bit of a win’ for the home school community.

“He has been home schooled all this year and was taught at home for prep, but was in school for year one and two,” she said.

“This year my daughter was going to be starting prep, we talked about the pluses and minuses and decided to go with home schooling. I am so happy we did, being able to teach at home this year was such a good thing with all of the closures.”

Felix Hooper with dad Derek Hooper. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mrs Hooper said the children have dozens of friends and regularly attend parties and sleepovers without traditional schooling, thanks to the active local homeschool community.

“There are lots of shared values in the community and they have a huge friendship base, there is always an activity or a course happening, so much to choose from.”

“We have the perfect lifestyle here for homeschoolers so it wouldn’t surprise me if more people went that way.

“One thing for us was the ability to include more nature in the learning and it also allows us more flexibility, we have been able to find a five week window in November, go travelling for five weeks and learn on the road, that's not something we would be able to do otherwise.”

Felix Hooper celebrates his win. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Teacher Hayley Clearihan, who currently runs tutor group Sunshine Bridge Education which hosts home school groups, said there was no doubt the Gold Coast was embracing a more flexible approach to learning.

“I think because of COVID more people are aware of what it could be like to learn from home, while distance learning was different to full time home schooling – it gave people a taste.

“The Gold Coast is excellent because there are so many non-traditional school providers here and an active community of home school families always willing to help.”

Ms Clearihan has developed a home school curriculum and would like to see more schools allowing flexible arrangements to allow for the different needs of families.