Otford school welcomes out-of-area students
Otford Public School has announced that it will accept enrolments of students living outside of the normal catchment area. This will make its unique small school experience open to many more
By Dallas Baird, president of Otford P&C
Otford Public School has announced that it will accept enrolments of students living outside of the normal catchment area. This will make its unique small school experience open to many more in the 2508 postcode. Otford PS normally teaches between 46 and 55 children across Kindergarten to Year 6. The small student body requires smaller classes of mixed years.
Principal Rebecca Stone says there are several advantages to a small school environment during primary education. “I think the big one is how well we know the kids and their well-being and individual needs.” She also points to small schools giving staff more ability to respond quickly to both discipline and learning problems once identified in students. Students also mix more with younger and older pupils, allowing them to build strong and respectful relationships in both directions.
New research has also identified that Covid exposure is less likely in a small school as the smaller class size and increased open space per student allows for easier social distancing.
Chris Bond sent his daughter Eva to Otford PS from Helensburgh. She will move into year five in 2022. He says he heard of Otford PS through other local parents and was impressed by their reports of a nurturing relationship with the older peer group and no reports at all of bullying.
He was also pleasantly surprised by the composite classes.
“We really liked that the smaller school and combined classes created a more cohesive environment among the different age groups.”
James McCormack, another Helensburgh local, first spotted Otford PS as he, wife Alexsis and young son Quincy zoomed past on an Illawarra line train. The rambling shaded green schoolyard and numerous neat buildings stood out. Living in inner-city Sydney at the time, James and Alexsis sought a meeting with Bec Stone to discuss options. So impressed were they that they decided to move to 2508 so Quincy could attend
Otford PS.
Enrolments for term one of 2022 are open at the moment. More information about Otford’s unique small school is available on the website. The school office can be reached on 02 4294 1323 or at otford-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au to arrange a chat with Bec Stone.
