Teacher appointed at Richard Gill School

It has been a busy few months for the Richard Gill School as 2021 approaches, but at the same time things are just getting started.

The inaugural classroom teacher for the Richard Gill School has been appointed and principal Chris English is looking forward to having her join him in the preparation process.  

“Her name is Linda Burrow, she is coming from Sydney where she has worked at Kinds College and Highfields which are two outstanding independent schools in Sydney,” he said.

“Linda has been teaching for more than 20 years and is a brilliant musician as well so she brings a brilliant skill set and a lot of experience to the role.”

With day one of class approaching enrolment numbers are continuing to grow, but the school will still start with just a Kindergarten, year 1 and year 2 composite class.

Mr English has been able to meet some of the new enrolments at a series of Early Childhood Music sessions he has run at local preschools in the region.

“It was so much fun, and all the educators really loved it and were deeply appreciative of me coming in and delivering that program,” he said.

“I think just them being able to observe and learn the songs as I was teaching them to the kids was really good, but of course the children really loved it.”

Community confusion about the Richard Gill School being a music school is one of the questions Mr English often faces, as well as enrolment costs.

“We are a normal school just with a musical focus, we are just passionate about the impact that extra music learning can have on the brain and for learning and engagement with young people in particular,” he said.

“It (enrolment) would be free if we could make it free, but there will be some scholarships available for people who are genuinely motivated by the ethos of the school and would desperately want to send their children but finances are the only thing holding them back.”

In the coming weeks demolition work will start on the school building, currently the Muswellbrook Shire Council Administration Centre, to begin stage one of construction that will create three classrooms and a breakout space to accommodate students next year.

If you would like to find out more about the Richard Gill School Chris English can be contacted on 6549 3700.