St Andrew’s Cathedral School has a blueprint to open a school
for indigenous children as early as next year in the Redfern area, The
Sun-Herald revealed last week.
In a World Vision-style sponsorship program, members of the
community, business people and government would sponsor children’s fees, which are expected to be between $8000 and
$10,000 a year.
St Andrew’s
principal Phillip Heath said he had been pleased by the community response to
the idea of a non-traditional school designed to improve education for
Aboriginal children.
He had received offers of sponsorship from parents of St
Andrew’s students and the wider
community. He has also had offers of time to help set the school up.
But not everyone favours the plans, which were inspired by
Mr Heath’s visits to schools in
disadvantaged areas in South
Africa.
“Ninety per cent of the response has been positive and
enthusiastic,” he said.
A community meeting will be held within the next month to
decide on the best way forward.