LATEST Living School Startup News...
UPDATE – July 2019
The NESA inspection went well – and the inspector’s report signed off on our capacity to comply as a K-8 school for 2020.
This still requires endorsement by a NESA committee, and then final approval must be granted by the NSW Minister (Education). We expect to have this finalised in August. Once we have this approval, we shall be offering enrolments. As mentioned, Living School cannot offer any enrolments until we have approval.
So we are nearly, nearly there.
“We learn who we are in practice, not in theory.” David Epstein
UPDATE – May 2019
more to come soon but watch this space 🙂
PREVIOUS UPDATE – August 2018
Byron Council released an Expression of Interest on the land we have been hopeful to secure. Our EOI has been asked to now tender – along with three other applicants. The site sits well with our focus on sustainability and repurposing. Our focus is on the environment – and our plans involve many exciting facets that will ensure all the community gains access and benefits from our replenishment and custodianship. The next phase will involve community consultation – and we await the details.
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UPDATE – May 2019
All is progressing with the Lismore site – it is now under construction.
All documentation was submitted to NESA on time and will allow us to scope out a K-8 offering.
Lismore will offer a small startup school for 60 students in the heart of Lismore, although learning experiences will be taken offsite and into the wonders of the local communities. NESA inspection will be on July 2. If successful, we will then be notified of approval by September – and we will commence as a school in 2020. The intention is to operate as a ‘middle school’ for students from 11 years to 15 years (Years 5-8). The intention of Lismore is to be our pilot school with the intention of campuses around the region.
UPDATE – January 2019
We have now had our development application approved by Lismore City Council. This means we have the site to start a school and, with the DA consent, we can progress to submit all our registration documentation to NESA by March 31st for approval to operate as a school commencing 2020.
The next phase is the completion of our construction certificate, which we have initiated over the holiday period. There are still more documents required but we are hopeful to start the renovation and building by late January/early February 2019.
This site has been approved by Council for 60 students. We are considering our options but – at this stage – we are looking at a middle school model (for children aged 10 – 16).
It will also operate a childcare centre for 39 students.
Shortly, we will be opening up community engagement meetings – more information to come!
PREVIOUS UPDATE – August 2018
We have now lodged our development application with Lismore City Council on a small startup in the heart of Lismore. After many months of planning, we are hopeful for a smooth progression through the process. This will allow us to have a recognised school site – which, in turn, means we can apply for registration by next March 31st with NESA to open as a school in 2020. This site is Living School Lismore – and has a special focus on early childhood, called LivingKinder. See more – http://livingkinder.com
Hi I’m wondering what age group you will start with and the end age you are going to do ?
Also what age is the kinder in Lismore for ?
Kind regards Jade.
Hi Jade, There is a fair bit in this question – as I have learnt from a few years of getting this project started. The childcare centre will be open for years 3-5 (that’s 3-5 year olds). The intention is to build this up into early years and primary. But as soon as you move into primary/infants education, you need to be registered as a ‘school’. This requires registration via NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA – formerly BOSTES). That process is quite involved: You must complete a raft of documentation that addresses legal requirements, submit all documentation by March 31st to be reviewed by NESA, then there must be a site inspection – and the site must be approved to operate as a ‘school’ by the local council, the inspection and review of all documentation must show a ‘capacity to comply’ and then the NESA inspectors will pass a recommendation to the NSW Minister of Education. The submission is for opening as a school the following year – you cannot look to registration to open a few years down the track.
And, you are unable to advertise you are starting as a school or take in enrolments prior to approval being granted. You can advertise for Expressions of Interest.
So – to respond to your query, we are looking to open as a program for students aged 10-16 initially – as a Middle School. However, if there is a strong demand, we can look to register as a primary school – so that would allow us to open as a K-6 school. The Lismore project is a small startup – with a cap of 60 students only for the ‘school’ component – as submitted in the DA. I am very happy to chat about any queries further – just email me info@livingkinder.com and I shall send my details.
I hope this has helped – and thank you for your interest.
Hi, I am intetested in the Lismore primary school. When is it open for enrolment? Thank you.
Hi Nathalie, Thanks for your interest. With the regulations in NSW – starting a school is quite a process! In short, you have to submit all documentation to the authority (NESA) by March 31 for the following year. They will then review and have a site inspection before recommendations are forwarded to the Minister. So this means, we have to submit next March 31 to have the hope of opening in 2020. That said, we are exploring a few options. If we get the go-ahead, we can then send out enrolment information – but it is not legal to accept/advertise for enrolments prior to being granted approval. Our intention is to look as a startup for Years 5-8 (Middle School years), but if there is interest, we shall open at early primary ages. And there is a childcare opening – which would mean we will roll out into Kindergarten at the very least for 2020. I am happy to discuss in more detail if you would like to chat. Just email me, and I can forward to you my details. Kind regards, John
Another question… are you intending for the middle school years 5-8 opening hopefully in 2020 to operate from the Lismore Campus… or are you looking at opening it at the Byron Bay site (subject to council grant obviously).
The cap of 60 students you mentioned- is that the capacity of kids you can take at the Lismore site? Has the school got the capacity to grow in number over time or is the intention to keep it small?
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for the questions – and I hope I don’t go too technical in my response. Starting a new school is not easy – and we must meet all of the NSW regulations.
The focus on initiating Living School is to get through the new school registration requirements – mandated by NESA. That includes a site inspection – and so there must be a site approved as a ‘school’ by local council. The Lismore site (hoping for approval by Lismore Council) will allow us to meet that requirement – and so we can lodge all our documents on March 31 2019 to open in 2020. With approval, after a site inspection, we can then advertise for enrolments. It is illegal to do so prior – you can only take an EOI, and you cannot advertise as a school either. If we were to get all our documentation approved for Byron prior to March 31, we could lodge for that site – but from my experience gleaned over the years, that’s not going to happen. If there was a site approved as a school in Byron that we could lease or secure, we could start 2020.
However, once we do have Lismore operational – we can offer ‘excursions’. PM me via the FB Living School Byron page – https://www.facebook.com/livingschoolbyron/ – and I can explain in more detail.
The cap of 60 students is based on the size of the building in Lismore – but we can expand. And I have ideas on how to do this. Living School’s full vision is to be a school from childcare through to Year 13. And our focus is to connect community – which means we will not be bound by classroom cells in a fenced-in campus. We really want to get our learners out – into our amazing area, where authentic learning can develop in context. I have ideas on how to do that, too!
Again, please PM me and I can share much more.
Hi Im very keen to keep up to date with plans for the Byron School and would like to register my interest. It’s very hopeful to see there are potential alternatives to the current system which is so limiting and often damaging to children.
The Bali school looks incredible and would consider moving back there (as I lived there many years ago) for my now four year old when he’s in high school but reading all about VAST today and your informative website I’m very keen to know more about the Byron school .
Will this be pre, primary and highschool?
My 4yr old sons at Montessori and I feel he would be in great hands also at your schools.
Hi John,
All looks very exciting! I am wondering if you are still on track for a 2020 start for the middle school in Lismore? Thanks
Hi Rohan, Lismore campus is under construction and will be inspected by NESA in early July. If successful, we will then be approved as a school – probably in September owing to the Minster’s approval. After that, if all goes to plan – we will be taking in enrolments. We are still on schedule to open in 2020. Cheers, John
Hi I’m wondering if there is an information session coming up or a mailing list I’m keen to stay informed and find out more about the Lismore School. Kind regards Kylie
Hi Kylie – yes, soon. We have our inspection on July 2. We are in the middle of construction. So, toward the end of July/early August (all going to plan), we will have an information session on our site – so people can understand what we are to offer.
Some background: we must be approved as a school before we can register or offer enrolments – and that process requires the NESA inspector to make a recommendation to the NSW government. We have a few more documents to prepare and then the site inspection. We are ‘nearly’ there. Once we do have approval, the next phase will be public information session, then teacher information session, teacher training, student interviews and selection process – and (with approval) we will open for the start of the academic year in 2020. We are registering for a K-8 school but we will determine the exact offering once we have taken in enrolment registrations. More to come very soon 🙂
Hi that all sounds wonderful. We are visiting the green school in Bali this July, and will have our fingers crossed for a northern rivers option. What is the best way to stay connected?? Sorry I don’t have Facebook.
Hi Diann, Just stay up-to-date with this page and our Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/livingschoolbyron/
We also shall be using our mailing list to keep interested parties informed – but we have not moved ahead with any communication at this stage while we await confirmation and approval by the school registration/accreditation board (NESA). This should be forthcoming very soon as we have an inspection on July 2. If all goes well, we will initiate a pilot school in Lismore but we have plans for Byron Bay and Lennox area. Previously, there was consideration of Mullumbimby but this is now no longer on the table. Best to start small, ensure the programs run efficiently and engage our community, then broaden the offering. But… it is happening 🙂