Victorian school Haileybury College to take over Kormilda College in Darwin

AN elite Victorian school is expected to take over the financially embattled Kormilda College from as early as next semester, securing the five-decade-old institution’s future, the NT News can reveal

Kormilda College in Berrimah is set to be taken over by Haileybury College. PICTURE: Michael Franchi

AN elite Victorian school is expected to take over the financially embattled Kormilda College from as early as next semester, securing the five-decade-old institution’s future, the NT News can reveal.

The 120-year-old Haileybury College, which has campuses in Keysborough, Brighton, Berwick, Melbourne and Beijing, was given the tick of approval by the Gunner Labor Government’s Cabinet last Friday. It followed Federal Cabinet approval.

Details will be provided to parents, students and staff at a meeting at 6pm tonight.

Education Minister Eva Lawler, who approved a $5.1 million bailout soon after coming to office in August last year, said she wanted to ensure the school community were provided with “accurate information and an opportunity to ask questions” of the school.

“The Government is working with the Federal Government to find a long-term, sustainable education future for the students of Kormilda College,” she said.

“As we have said previously, parents, students and staff would be advised of 2018 arrangements by the end of this school semester.”

Attracting a school of Haileybury’s calibre is a major victory for the parents who fought to keep the school open.

NT Senator and Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said this would be the first “tier one” school to open in Northern Australia.

Mr Scullion stepped in to provide funding certainty through the Coalition Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy, keeping the school open through 2017.

“Should Haileybury agree to take over the operations of Kormilda, Territory families, particularly indigenous families, will continue to have access to this first-class educational facility,” he said. “My absolute priority has always been to ensure indigenous students continue to receive the high-quality education the college provides.”

The NT News understands the non-denominational Haileybury could take over from as early as next semester to prepare for 2018.

On its website, Haileybury brands its academic programs as being enhanced by a “strong social education program”. “We aspire to a lifetime love of learning and the complete development of a person,” its website said. The school has regularly recorded “substantially above” results in NAPLAN testing between years three and nine.

The takeover is seen as a strategic one given Darwin’s proximity to Asia. Kormilda has about 180 indigenous boarding students and is able to accommodate up to 230 indigenous students. AFL legend and former boarder Michael Long joined the campaign to keep the school open.