Haileybury Rendall School to offer fully online option in 2024

NT students previously ‘limited by geography’ will be able to attend one of the Territory’s most prestigious private schools, all from the comfort of their homes.

Students from the NT will soon have access to the Territory’s first private school delivered fully online.

Haileybury Rendall School has opened expressions of interest for the virtual classes for years five to 12 launching in 2024.

The fully online education program will give students access to small classes and one-on-one learning, and will cost about $4000 more per year then attending the Darwin campus.

Principal Andrew McGregor said it would give Territory families another option for education.

“It’s about choice and the reason Haileybury Rendall school is here in Darwin is to provide that choice — at the moment it’s limited by geography,” he said.

Andrew McGregor said the Territory’s first online private school was a project about five years in the making.

“The traditional classroom, school timetable and hours don’t suit every child.”

Students who would otherwise go interstate for boarding school or those excelling in sports or arts would be the ideal clientele.

“We think for remote students, we know there are a lot of students spread out in the NT that go interstate for boarding school and that’s an expensive business,” Mr McGregor said.

“And those students who are really elite in their sport or arts and they have to travel over Australia to reach the level of competition they need.”

Mr Mcgregor said he was expecting a fair bit of interest from residents of the Territory.

“By day one I had two or three phone calls already so there’s definitely interest,” he said.

“I’ve had a large group of isolated parents wanting to jump on board as well.”

Currently there are two options for primary schooling via distance through Alice Springs School of the Air and Katherine School of the Air, while middle and high school students can learn virtually at the NT School of Distance Education.

Alice Springs School of the Air saw a 96 per cent attendance rate in 2022, the highest in the NT.

NT School of Distance Education history class in session. NTSDE is the other example of a virtual middle and high school in the Territory.

While concerns around network connectivity were flagged, Mr McGregor hoped it could present an opportunity for the government to show its support.

“It will be reliant on internet access and getting your device online but there are some advances in connectivity at the moment,” he said.

“We’re confident in the very short term the government infrastructure will help with that.”

Any issues around social development for students would be checked on by regular wellbeing checks and access to school counsellors.

Moira Lanzarin said choice was always a good thing when it came to education options. Picture: Emma Gorny

The Isolated Children's’ Parents Association NT state council president Moira Lanzarin said they were aware of how virtual schools impacted on socialisation.

“Socialisation issue is huge but sometimes students aren’t necessarily ready for it,” she said.

“Sometimes spending that little bit longer out bush in the family environment is the right thing.”

She said the ICPA welcomed the news of the latest online schooling opportunity.

“People are certainly interested and we’re excited about other options for people to consider — absolutely choice is the single biggest thing and it adds another choice,” she said.