Kentucky Public School

Location: New England

Kentucky PS is a rural small school located between Armidale and Tamworth in the New England Region of NSW. The school’s 44 students come from the local village and surrounding district. Kentucky PS provides high levels of pastoral care with an emphasis on providing high quality learning experiences in a sustainable setting.

How has your school used its Gonski funding?

Gonski funding has been used to provide additional teaching time and support to more effectively develop and implement a wide range of quality programs at the school. This includes the co-ordination and management of the Small Schools Marimba Ensemble. This group is based at Kentucky PS and is made up of students from small school across the state. It enables students from these schools to participate in quality performance experiences at venues including the Sydney Opera House on instruments made by themselves, developing high levels of self esteem, community pride and learning focus.

How has Gonski made a positive difference for students?

Through providing additional teacher time and support, Gonksi funding has enabled the school to more effectively manage a wide range of programs making a real difference to student learning outcomes and wellbeing. The school conducts weekly bike safety sessions, manages a comprehensive kitchen - garden program, runs extensive sustainability initiatives, provides quality performing arts experiences and a range of alternative winter and summer sport opportunities. The effective management and implementation of this range of learning experiences have only been possible through Gonski funding.

What could your school do with Gonski funding in the future?

Continued Gonksi funding would see the above programs continue and student learning outcomes maximised. Funding would continue to applied to increasing teacher time and support across the school also offsetting the disadvantages associated with an inequitable staffing formula.