Queensland School for Travelling Show Children
Encyclopedia
The Queensland School for Travelling Show Children (QSTSC) is a publicly funded co-educational primary (K-7) school that provides distance education
services to the children and families of itinerant business proprietors and workers
on the agricultural show
circuits in all states and territories of Australia
except Western Australia
.
Families whose incomes are dependent on the employment opportunities provided by the shows have traditionally found it difficult to access mainstream educational services leading in some cases to interrupted or abandonment of education at an early age and in others either the splitting up of families as one parent or carer stayed on the circuit whilst another settled in one place on a permanent basis or cessation of the occupation by parents and carers.
A sub-section of the Brisbane School of Distance Education (BSDE), the actual school consists of two mobile classrooms which are transported separately each week to a new location (usually the grounds of a primary school). The site of the temporary locations is dictated by the routes followed by the show circuits. The school maintains an administrative office on the BDSE campus in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo
.
which are hauled from location to location by a prime mover
driven by a staff member. Each Prep (ie. "K") to Year 7 semi trailer travelling classroom is staffed by two teachers and supported by one operations officer. A third run operates as and when required at locations where there are sufficient students whose families are working off the main show circuits who can attend classes. This run typically conducts classes in rooms at a local host school. For example in one week in October 2011, one trailer was located in the Mount Gambier
Showgrounds in South Australia
, the other was at a school in Bendigo, Victoria
whilst the "third run" conducted classes in a classroom provided by a school in Hobart, Tasmania.
Whilst at a location the operation of the QSTSC is autonomous from a host school although it may be physically located within the school grounds and the pupils may be invited to participate in activities with those of the host school.
In 2010 the school had a total enrolment of 40 of whom 15% were self identified as indigenous. There were 7 teaching staff and 3 non-teaching staff. The attendance rate was 95%.
QSTSC attempts, so far as is practicable, to provide students with an emulation of school life as experienced by students who attend a "normal" school. Thus students follow a curriculum which conforms to the standards laid down by Education Queensland
and participate in activities such as "Learn to Swim" schemes and NAPLAN
testing, as well as being expected to conform to the usual uniform, attendance, punctuality and behavioral standards.
which raises funds to buy additional equipment and facilities for the use of the school community. Typically the actual meetings will be held in the locations being used by one of the runs and parents on the other run or at remote locations participate through a teleconferencing facility provided by the school.
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
services to the children and families of itinerant business proprietors and workers
Showman
Showman can have a variety of meanings, usually by context and depending on the country.- Australia :Travelling showmen are people who run amusement and side show equipment at regional shows, state capital shows, events and festivals throughout Australia...
on the agricultural show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
circuits in all states and territories of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
except Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Families whose incomes are dependent on the employment opportunities provided by the shows have traditionally found it difficult to access mainstream educational services leading in some cases to interrupted or abandonment of education at an early age and in others either the splitting up of families as one parent or carer stayed on the circuit whilst another settled in one place on a permanent basis or cessation of the occupation by parents and carers.
A sub-section of the Brisbane School of Distance Education (BSDE), the actual school consists of two mobile classrooms which are transported separately each week to a new location (usually the grounds of a primary school). The site of the temporary locations is dictated by the routes followed by the show circuits. The school maintains an administrative office on the BDSE campus in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo
Coorparoo, Queensland
Coorparoo is a southern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located approximately four kilometres from the city. Surrounding suburbs include Camp Hill, Holland Park, Greenslopes, East Brisbane, Norman Park and Seven Hills.-Aboriginal history:...
.
Genesis
In Australia distance education is both well established and well regarded. Standard distance education programs had been regularly utilised by show people up to degree level but it was felt that it was necessary to provide an educational methodology that both followed a mainstream formal curriculum and allowed the students to maintain a distinctive cultural identity. After sustained lobbying by representatives of the Australian Romani community and the Showman's Guild of Australia, the Queensland government agreed to establish a specially developed distance learning curriculum for the children in 1989. Following the success of this program it was decided in 1999 to set up a mobile school with transportable classrooms which could accompany the show people on their circuits and provide a more structured learning environment. The school first opened its doors to pupils for an initial trial period in January 2000.Operation
The school operates three "runs". Two of which, the "Northern" and the "Lower", conduct classes in specially adapted semi-trailersSemi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
which are hauled from location to location by a prime mover
Tractor unit
A tractor unit, prime mover , road tractor, or traction unit is a heavy-duty commercial vehicle within the large goods vehicle category, usually with a large displacement diesel engine, and several axles. The tractor unit serves as a method of moving trailers...
driven by a staff member. Each Prep (ie. "K") to Year 7 semi trailer travelling classroom is staffed by two teachers and supported by one operations officer. A third run operates as and when required at locations where there are sufficient students whose families are working off the main show circuits who can attend classes. This run typically conducts classes in rooms at a local host school. For example in one week in October 2011, one trailer was located in the Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
Showgrounds in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, the other was at a school in Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
whilst the "third run" conducted classes in a classroom provided by a school in Hobart, Tasmania.
Whilst at a location the operation of the QSTSC is autonomous from a host school although it may be physically located within the school grounds and the pupils may be invited to participate in activities with those of the host school.
In 2010 the school had a total enrolment of 40 of whom 15% were self identified as indigenous. There were 7 teaching staff and 3 non-teaching staff. The attendance rate was 95%.
QSTSC attempts, so far as is practicable, to provide students with an emulation of school life as experienced by students who attend a "normal" school. Thus students follow a curriculum which conforms to the standards laid down by Education Queensland
Queensland State Schools
Queensland State Schools are schools that are part of the Queensland, Australia State Government provided universal free education system.Primary Schools cater for Preparatory Year and Years 1 to 7 . PY, Years 1, 2 and 3 are sometimes known as Infants. Highschools cater for Years 8 to 12...
and participate in activities such as "Learn to Swim" schemes and NAPLAN
NAPLAN
NAPLAN, or National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, is a battery of tests administered to Australian students. These standardized tests assess students' reading, writing, language , and numeracy, and are administered by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting...
testing, as well as being expected to conform to the usual uniform, attendance, punctuality and behavioral standards.
Parents and Citizens Association
As with most state schools in Australia, QSTSC is supported by an active P&CParents and Citizens
Some Australian State Schools, both primary and high, are supported by Parents and Citizens Associations. These groups provide volunteer support, raise funds for infrastructure and other expenses and assist in the administration of their school....
which raises funds to buy additional equipment and facilities for the use of the school community. Typically the actual meetings will be held in the locations being used by one of the runs and parents on the other run or at remote locations participate through a teleconferencing facility provided by the school.
Other sources
- Danaher, Geoff and Moriarty, Beverley and Danaher, Patrick Alan (2006) Challenging heterotopic space: a study of the Queensland school for travelling show children. Studies in Learning, Evaluation, Innovation and Development, 3 (1). pp. 40-51. ISSN 1832-2050
- Olding, Rachel (2010) Show and tell: travelling school in a class of its own, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 April
- Negus, George (2004) George Negus Tonight: Travelling School, ABC, Broadcast 6.30pm on 02/08/2004 Accessed Oct 2010
- Fullerton, Catherine and Moriarty, Beverley and Danaher, Patrick Alan and Danaher, Geoff (2005) The Principal as change leader and manager in and via the Queensland School for Travelling Show Children. Prime Focus: the professional journal for Australian primary school leaders (40). pp. 15-17. ISSN 1322-249X
External links
- School web site
- Education Queensland Directory Entry
- The travelling school for the travelling show - audio segment from ABC Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
Bush TelegraphBush TelegraphBush Telegraph is a radio program on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National network, broadcast weekdays at 11-12am, presenting stories from rural and regional Australia....
program featuring interviews with staff and pupils broadcast on 13th June 2011 - Catherine Fullerton - Principal of the Queensland School for Travelling Show Children - profile by Rebecca Meston published in "Every Child" the journal of Early Childhood Australia. Autumn 2003