Green Light for Special Assistance School

Carinity will open a new speciality school in Rockhampton next year, creating 13 permanent jobs and vital training for up to 84 students annually within five years.

Carinity Executive Manager of Education Michael Harding said the new school on the former School of Today site at Glenlee had just received accreditation from the Queensland Government.

The new school, which will open in January 2016 with an enrolment of up to 32 Years 7-to-10 students, this week began recruiting for a Principal and other staff.

“We are looking forward to working with the community to give all young people the best possible chance to continue and succeed in education, irrespective of their previous experiences in school,” Mr Harding said.

“The new school is accredited as a Special Assistance School by State and Federal governments and will provide alternate schooling for students who become disenfranchised from mainstream approaches to education.”

“The qualifications gained at Carinity schools are the same as mainstream schools however the programs are based on practical activities and real-world applications. This helps students find greater meaning in their day-to-day school activities.”

“Students also have greater access to support than in mainstream schools with youth workers and specialist trained teachers.”

Carinity presently operates Carinity Education – Southside in Sunnybank in Brisbane and Carinity Education – Glendyne in Hervey Bay. Both have operated successfully for more a decade with record achievements in graduate outcomes last year.

“Both schools are highly valued in their local communities and carry enrolments of around 240 students annually,” he said.

Students are referred to Carinity for many reasons often by mainstream schools and other community agencies.

“Less than five percent of our students enrol with us because they have been excluded from other schools,” Mr Harding said.

“The most common reason is a student is simply not coping in mainstream schooling or their attendance has been poor or disrupted,”

Carinity Education – Rockhampton is expected to employ 13 full-time staff by 2019 when it reaches its enrolment capacity of 84 young people.

Mr Harding said Carinity was looking forward to working with the local Glenlee community and he was encouraged by the positive response so far from local residents.

For enrolment information please email info.rockyschool@carinity.org.au or contact Carinity on (07) 3550 3703.

For more information on the school, including how to enrol, please email info.rockyschool@carinity.org.au or contact Carinity on (07) 3550 3703.