Education expansion complete
• Scottsdale High School college students Sophie Smith, Georgia Knight and James Cashion in the new student lounge.
By Daisy Baker
August 12, 2020
Local senior secondary students now have a clearer pathway to continue their education in the region, after the completion of Scottsdale High School’s college extension.
The purpose-built academic space is an addition to the Dorset Trade Training Centre that has been designed specifically for the college age group.
Scottsdale High grade 9-12 assistant principal Belinda Fletcher said Year 11 and 12 students now have a dedicated space to learn, relax and connect with one another outside of the adult education programs offered at the Trade Training Centre.
There is internal access to the trade training centre, a kitchenette for students, a staff office, classroom, a student lounge which can be used outside of class times, and two breakout spaces with video conferencing facilities.
“The breakout rooms can be used for group work or VLT classes (Virtual Learning Tasmania) which is their online work and that way if there’s a few of them all working on the same subject they can sit together in one room and not be distracted by others,” she said.
There is also an outdoor space where students can study or relax in the sun.
Student Georgia Knight said she and fellow students feel ‘at home’ in the new learning area.
“It furthers our opportunity to learn because we’ve got more room and a personalised space to get our work done,” she said.
“Using the breakout rooms has really helped me be able to do online classes because I have a dedicated space to sit down and concentrate.”
Ms Fletcher said they currently have 37 students enrolled for years 11 and 12 and they hope the numbers will continue to grow in coming years.
Funds were contributed by the Department of Education’s Capital Investment Program, Winnaleah District High and Scottsdale High.
Ms Fletcher said the development is an important part of their partnership with Winnaleah District School.
“Some of their students come here a couple of days a week and next year they’ve got some expertise in their teaching staff that we don’t have so we’ll look at trying to hook in with them if a student wants to do that particular subject,” she said.
It’s hoped as the student cohort grows, Scottsdale High will be able to offer more year 11 and 12 classes including drama and music which are earmarked for next year and expanded PE in the future.
This will in turn limit the need for students to commute to Launceston for their studies.
With the build now complete, finishing touches will be added in the near future including, landscaping, additional furniture for the rooms and several tables being made by Mikayla Binns for the entry way.
The building has been designed so that it can be easily extended in the future if the student numbers continue to grow and more space is required.