Silkwood School Review

Silkwood School is a private co-educational school for Prep to Year 12. Surrounded by the lush bushland of the Gold Coast Hinterland, Silkwood offers a progressive alternative to traditional schooling. The School has developed The Silkwood Way – an innovative educational program that focuses on individual learning plans using student interest, contemporary learning styles and the Australian Curriculum to enhance the learning experience of each student.

Silkwood School Philosophy and Values

Silkwood believes that intelligence is developed through “knowledge, experience, creativity” and thinking in ways to encourage curiosity and imagination. The vision for the School is “a community supporting young people to realise their potential; forever learning, forever teaching, in the service of humanity.”

Silkwood School’s mission is “to provide a unique, learning-centred environment that progresses young people through an integrated and developmental approach to education. Through meaningful student engagement in learning, we aspire to develop interpersonal, intrapersonal, physical and cognitive competencies, empowering young people to lead purposeful, fulfilling lives.” (Source: Silkwood School).

Facilities at Silkwood School

Silkwood’s beautiful bush setting in Mount Nathan provides an indoor-outdoor learning environment that enriches the educational experience. The School campus consists of four learning communities, each with a dedicated learning space that has been designed to reflect the developmental needs of the students.

The four learning communities are:

• Junior Primary – Preparatory to Year 2 (Students aged 5 – 8)
• Primary – Years 3 to 6 (Students aged 8 – 12)
• Middle School – Years 7 to 8 (Students aged 12 – 14)
• Big Picture Academy – Years 9 to 12 (Students aged 14 – 18)

The communal facilities at the School include the library, music room, school hall, sports fields and interpretive bush trails.

Special Needs

Silkwood offers The Arrowsmith Program, an internationally recognised program that “addresses the cognitive learning capacity of students who experience difficulties in learning.” (Source: Silkwood School). Developed in 1978, the program is based on neuroscientific research and aims to help students with learning disabilities become effective, confident and self-directed learners.

Silkwood School Co-Curricular Activities and Other Programs

The co-curricular program at Silkwood includes a range of diverse classes for students to broaden their skill set. These activities include, African drumming, craft groups, dance, drama and music. The music program offers lessons for Guitar, Piano, Cello, Drums, Violin, Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone and Voice.

Expanding Your Horizons is Silkwood’s unique camp and personal development program for Years 2 – 12. Class camps give students the opportunity to build self-awareness, develop character while embarking on challenging adventures. The carefully considered activities and locations are relevant to students’ age and development needs.

Silkwood respectfully acknowledges the regions traditional landowners, the Kombumerri People, and have incorporated Indigenous ways of learning into their Indigenous Cultural Integration program. Notably through the unique whole-school learning program ‘Connecting to Country through Totems’. This program runs every year and is celebrated as party of the annual Silkwood Dreaming Festival.

The Silkwood School Playgroup Program is available for parents and their children from 15 months to 4 years old. Silkwood also runs a Preschool Program a specialised playgroup for children from 4 to 5 years old. Before and after school care along with vacation care are also available for children in Prep to Year 8. The Helping Hands Network in partnership with the School runs these programs.

Enrolment at Silkwood School

Enrolment applications for students in any year level are welcome. To apply, an Application for Enrolment form needs to be submitted, along with a non-refundable application fee. Enrolment interviews are conducted prior to a place being offered. Enrolment forms can be downloaded from the School’s website.

Due to the Schools popularity, there is a waitlist for all year levels so submitting an application early is recommenced. Unlike State school intake, enrolment at Silkwood is based on the calendar year of birth, therefore children entering prep are aged 5, turning 6 during the school year. Private tours of the School are available to prospective students and guardians.

Silkwood School at a Glance

• Address: 39 Shepherd Hill Lane, Mt Nathan
• Phone: (07) 5655 0300
• Enrolment capacity: 400
• Prep to Year 12
• Co-educational
• Silkwood Learning Program:
  • Core Academics
  • Integrated Learning
  • Big Picture Project Learning
  • Italian
  • Music
  • Experiential Learning
    • Visual Art and Craft
    • Performing Arts
    • Entrepreneurial Education
    • Environmental Sustainability and Indigenous Education
    • Health and Physical Education
• The Arrowsmith Program
• Camp and Personal Development Program
• Indigenous Cultural Integration
• School Festivals
• Co-curricular program:
  • African Drumming
  • Craft groups
  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Music

Why Choose Silkwood School

Silkwood School is a credible choice for families seeking an alternative to traditional schooling. The progressive and innovative education model at Silkwood enhances student learning through exploration, discovery, and creativity. With an emphasis on learning how to learn, students develop passions and skills that stay with them for life. The school’s small size and the family-oriented community allows for individual support so students do not get lost in the crowd.

Silkwood School is located at 39 Shepherd Hill Lane, Mt Nathan. Find out more about the school at www.silkwood.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 5655 0300.