Pilbara partners to present a unique educational opportunity

BHP Billiton is in the preliminary stages of planning a new co-educational school in the Pilbara, through a partnership with two local private schools – Peppermint Grove-based Presbyterian Ladies’ College and Swanbourne-based Scotch College.

A feasibility study into the proposed Port Hedland-based campus is currently being undertaken by the three-way partnership, to be completed by the end of the year.

Directed by former PLC principal Hazel Day, the feasibility study will assess the project’s viability and potential timeframe for construction. 

BHP, which initially approached the schools for the project, would provide infrastructure funding, while Scotch and PLC would design the curriculum and deliver services.

Scotch College principal, Reverend Andrew Syme, said the proposed school would provide a service for the children of BHP’s workers, as well as the local community.

“There will be no impact on the schools in Perth financially. BHP is looking for the intellectual experience and values of the schools,” he said.

Rev Syme said part of the feasibility study would involve designing a curriculum.

He said that, with BHP employing workers from around the world, it was appropriate to use the internationally recognised International Baccalaureate syllabus, used by both Scotch and PLC.

The curriculum may also include some content relevant to the resources sector, although Rev Syme said the partnership would determine what students required through consultation with parents and the community.

The feasibility study will also include a sample survey of parents in the area.

Rev Syme said informal discussions had taken place with the mayor of Hedland, which he would like to take further.

“This project will be inclusive of the government system, not in competition,” he said.

The proposed school would incorporate some remote learning technology and would be co-educational.

“We are committed to single-sex education, but the intention would be to have a co-educational facility, with a good deal of teaching being in a single-sex environment,” Rev Syme said.

He said the partnership was exci-ting and would provide a blue-print for similar partnerships elsewhere.

“Education has not been a great one for partnerships before. This is a very new thing, and the primary focus is educational delivery,” he said. “We do believe that both the remote school and partnership are, if not unique, close to it.”

BHP has an existing $6 million memorandum of understanding with the state government, to provide educational services in Port Hedland and Newman.

The company is considering a range of initiatives, including the Scotch/PLC partnership, to be implemented when its MOU finishes at the end of the year.

The partnership is yet to apply to the non-government education authority for approval to establish a new school.