The School That Strikes the Right Note - Hunter River Times, October 2023
Richard Gill School adds music to STEM to create a winning formula for future-proof workers
By Stephen Long
In the heart of coal mining country in the NSW Hunter Valley is a new school with a difference.
The motto of the Richard Gill School at Muswellbrook is "through music and movement let us flourish" — and it aims to prepare the sons and daughters of mining engineers and coal mine workers for a changing world.
The school is the brainchild of Richard Gill, the late Australian conductor, esteemed in the arts community, who was passionate about music and its ability to enhance broader learning and liberate the mind.
"The vision is to create a school that is really about enabling the emergence of creativity in children from the get-go," says Kim Williams, the former CEO of News Corp and Foxtel, who is the chairman of the school and was a friend of Mr Gill.
Kim Williams was a former student and long-time friend of Richard Gill.(ABC News: John Gunn)
"At the core of the curriculum is music and supervised physical activity that will really liberate the minds of these children in a way that I think is going to be very special."
Its educational philosophy is based on an extensive body of research on the capacity of music to develop the mind and enhance creativity and learning.
"Music is the subject that really does activate more neural pathways than any other human undertaking," says Mr Williams who alongside his business career is an accomplished musician and composer.
"It's been established with adults, it's been established with teenagers, it's been established with children, that music has this amazing capacity to actually activate most of the brain.
"Very few other things activate more than a portion of the brain, so it has a wonderful lateral impact on all other subjects and on your capacity to learn.
"Music manifests itself in students being able to perform much better in mathematics, much better in science, much better in languages and a variety of other things, because they have the benefit of what music does to make their brains very much more elastic and flexible and giving them a much greater capacity to listen and learn."
Why Muswellbrook?
So, how did a school such as this end up in a regional town, surrounded by coal mines and coal-fired power stations, where coal is a mainstay of the economy?
It's the result of what Mr Williams describes as a "magical meeting" between Mr Gill and the mayor of Muswellbrook, Martin Rush.
The famous composer was looking for a location for a pilot school that would embody his philosophies on music education.
The local government, aware that the economy was facing a potentially painful transition from a dependence on coal mining, was looking at how it could prepare the coming generations for an uncertain future.
"Richard Gill's vision and ours happily met," says Mr Rush.
"We need to be creating a workforce in this community that is agile, that is capable of wherever the jobs come from being able to adapt and to latch onto those jobs as they arise, but also be creating the jobs of course, too."
Richard Gill also wanted a community with "some disadvantage, undergoing an economic transition", says the mayor.
"He saw parallels with Wales," says Martin Rush, with its history of coal mining and music.
The council was relocating to the town's CBD and the mayor immediately suggested the school be established at Muswellbrook's former council premises on the outskirts.
The school building provides a visual metaphor for the transition underway.
The brand new Richard Gill school, as seen from above.(ABC News: John Gunn)
Built in the mid-1980s, its roof was fashioned in the shape of a mining drill-bit. Now, inside, is a rug illustrated with musical notes and a Steinway piano.
Full STEAM ahead
Richard Gill School opened this week with a combined kindergarten-Year 1, but hopes to expand each year and offer education that takes students right through to the end of Year 12.
Students are read a book by the principal of the Richard Gill School, Chris English.(ABC News: John Gunn)
Science, technology, engineering and maths — the important STEM subjects — will feature heavily in the curriculum, but this is not a 'STEM' school — it's a 'STEAM' school — adding the arts, through its emphasis on music, alongside the STEM disciplines.
"It's often said there is no team in STEM, but there's real team in STEAM," says Mr Williams.
"With the addition of arts we are going to see kids who are able to actually benefit from their music education in learning science, engineering and mathematics, which are pretty fundamental to a well-skilled individual in the 21st century."
There's a message here for politicians and business leaders who want the focus to be entirely on "job ready" skills: an education that fosters creativity, adaptability and lateral thinking may be the best way to prepare the workforce of the future for a changing economy and an uncertain future.
The long coal trains that make their way through Muswellbrook every eight minutes, each with a million-dollar payload, are a reminder of the future challenges the region faces, says the school chairman.
"This is a community that is going to go through an enormous transition in a relatively short period of time over the next 15 to 20 years as the world moves away from carbon-based fuels," says Mr Williams.
"I think [the school] will create a group of students who actually have the kind of adaptability and agility, because of the quality of their minds and their capacity to problem-solve and to learn, that they'll be fit-for-purpose for a world where they will probably have six or seven different jobs through the course of their lives.
"They'll have the capacity to retrain and relearn in a wide variety of other areas.
"Hopefully, some of them may even end up as musicians!"
For full article visit: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-03/richard-gill-school-combines-music-creativity-and-science/13113446
Meet Richard Gill School principal Chris English at Muswellbrook Marketplace's Pop-Up Information Booth
Original Article: Muswellbrook Chronical https://www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au/story/6659370/seek-answers-to-your-questions-english/
THE appeal of the inaugural Richard Gill School is continuing to grow in Muswellbrook.And, principal Chris English's just as keen to speak with families about the educational facility.
So much so, he'll be setting up Pop-Up Information Booths over the coming weeks to answer questions and take expressions of interest for enrolment in 2021.
They will appear at Muswellbrook Marketplace in the next fortnight - near the top of the escalator; on Thursday, March 5, from 3pm to 6pm; Saturday, March 7, from 9am to noon; and Friday, March 13, from 10am to 1pm.
Image: Chris English. Richard Gill School Principal. 2020.
"There's no need to make an appointment, just 'pop in to the pop-up'," Mr English said.
"I'm very eager to get out into our community and speak with families about the Richard Gill School.
"I know there are a lot of vital questions being asked and I want to be able to answer them face -to-face with the families of our prospective students for 2021.
"Choosing a school for your child is a hugely important decision to make as a parent or carer.
"So, I want to be able to give my community as much information and support in that decision as possible.
"And, it's also nice to be able to meet your child's principal early on, so this is a great opportunity to do that, too."
The Richard Gill School is a comprehensive, secular, independent primary school with a musical focus, tailored around the educational philosophy of the late Richard Gill AO.
With music and physical education as cornerstones of the curriculum, the school will provide a first-of-its-kind opportunity for regional students to engage in a unique education where creativity plays a central role in all key learning areas, including English and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with a specialised teacher.
By registering an interest, parents will be kept up to date with matters relating to the school including construction works, curriculum development, school registration, community forums and formal enrolments periods.
For full information about the Pop-Up Information Booths, or further details, visit www.richardgillschool.org.au/event
Richard Gill School founding principal Chris English hails new Muswellbrook educational facility
Original Article: Muswellbrook Chronicle https://www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au/story/6636911/a-privilege-to-lead-pioneering-school
FEBRUARY 18 2020
Rod Thompson
Muswellbrook Shire Council's spokesperson for the arts Jason Foy and Richard Gill School founding principal Chris English
THE emergence of the Richard Gill School is a major coup for the region, according to Muswellbrook Shire Council's spokesperson for the arts Jason Foy.
Cr Foy and founding principal Chris English announced expressions of interest for enrolments were now open from this week for the facility, which will be located in council's administration centre in 2021.
The secular independent primary school, starting with students from Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2, is founded on the innovative philosophy and vision of renowned music educator and conductor, the late Richard Gill AO.
It will lead not only in creative tuition, but also in the 21st century disciplines of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
"Given my background, as head teacher of creative and performing arts at Muswellbrook High School, it's an amazing educational opportunity in the area," Cr Foy said.
"It's a school with a keen focus on music - that's the point of difference.
"But, it is not its sole aim to produce musicians.
"We want to see the youngsters grow musically, physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually, developing life foundations of responsibility, confidence, resilience, purpose and performance.
"With music and physical education as cornerstones of the curriculum, the school will offer regional pupils a chance to engage in a unique situation where creativity plays a central role in all key learning disciplines."
Cr Foy also praised the appointment of Mr English, who grew up in the Hunter Valley and now calls Muswellbrook "home".
"Council is thrilled to have Chris on board," he said.
"He's brought much enthusiasm to the role - and done a lot in a short space of time.
"Chris is certainly the best fit for (founding) principal."
Mr English, a highly-experienced educator and musician, admitted he was "privileged" to lead the Richard Gill School.
"I look forward to working with the community and welcoming our first intake of children and their families," he said.
"Our door is open to those from Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, Denman, Merriwa, Murrurundi, Scone and Singleton - and beyond.
"Richard Gill School offers an exciting educational journey in a very special environment where creativity will take a major role alongside the full suite of primary school subjects."
Visit www.richardgillschool.org.au for more details or, to register your interest, email admin@richardgillschool.org.au
"By registering an interest, parents will be kept up to date with matters relating to the school including construction works, curriculum development, school registration, community forums and formal enrolments periods," Mr English said.
Richard Gill School At Muswellbrook Puts Music At Heart Of Education
Original Article Newcastle Herald https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6634948/richard-gill-school-at-muswellbrook-puts-music-at-heart-of-education/
FEBRUARY 18 2020
Helen Gregory
Opportunity: Principal Chris English with board member Councillor Jason Foy. The board also includes Kim Williams AM, Philip Pogson and Gerry Bobsien.
THE HUNTER will become home to an Australian-first school next year, when a dream of the country's most revered music educator becomes a reality. Conductor and music education advocate Richard Gill AO was heavily involved before his October 2018 death in the shaping of the Richard Gill School, which will open in the soon-to-be-vacated Muswellbrook Shire Council administration centre.
Conductor and music education advocate Richard Gill AO was heavily involved before his October 2018 death in the shaping of the Richard Gill School, which will open in the soon-to-be-vacated Muswellbrook Shire Council administration centre.
Principal Chris English said expressions of interest were now open for enrolment and he expected at least 15 students in the first cohort, a composite class of kindergarten to year two.Teacher recruitment will start next term.
"Richard's vision was all about using music as a tool to create the best possible opportunities for young people to reach their potential," he said.
"There's a wealth of information that confirms that academically gifted or successful students more often than not have a really strong music education throughout their schooling life.
"Music has an incredible impact on the brain and on how we learn and draw connections to other things."
The school's motto, Mr English said, is Musica Motuque Floreamus, or 'through music and movement let us flourish'.
Mr English said Mr Gill wrote documents "outlining his vision, priorities and principles" to guide the school.
"This was not something he wanted to wrap up quickly before he passed away - it was going to be his next big project."
Mr Gill's friend, former student and the school board's chairman, Kim Williams AM, said Muswellbrook was chosen as the school site after Mr Gill met mayor Martin Rush.
"To have it happening in the Upper Hunter is very exciting because it's not what people would expect," Mr Williams said.
"The school will serve as a demonstration school for others in its approach. It's not intended to be isolated... but will serve as a pilot to be embraced across the public and private sectors."
Mr Williams said Mr Gill was aware there were "pockets of disadvantage" in the area.
"This school is very much based on equity and fairness," he said.
"It's intended to be genuinely affordably priced with a range of bursaries.
"I feel pretty confident we'll be able to ensure that those who are economically disadvantaged will not in any way be denied participation to the school."
Mr English said council staff would vacate the building in June.
The first of five stages to refit the building includes creating an administration area, three classrooms, a library, small multi purpose centre, grassed field and basketball court.
He said the school would eventually construct a separate building and sports field for the high school.
"This school would not be getting started without investment from council," he said. "They've been incredibly supportive."
Councillor Rush said the school would provide "enormous benefits to children across the Upper Hunter and a wonderful opportunity for Muswellbrook".
"Critical thinking, human creativity and STEM is where it is at for long term education of children today and the best defence against automation," Cr Rush said.
"Council has unanimously voted to support the school and also a STEM initiative across all schools in the Upper Hunter as part of its long term economic planning."
Cr Rush said the council's future fund had provided around $150,000 in fit out assistance to the school.
"Our forward budget proposes a further $350,000 in fit out assistance," he said.
"Our budget also includes a one-off contribution to start-up of $100,000."
He said the council would also allocate $250,000 over five years for a STEM coordinator in the Upper Hunter working two days a week, who will have teaching responsibilities at the school three days each week.
Cr Rush said the council also owned the TAFE town campus, the conservatorium building, and a residential student college "as part of our continued efforts to invest in our most important resource of all - our kids".
Cr Rush said the council would eventually sell the centre to the school.
Mr English said the school was finalising its registration with the NSW Educational Standards Authority.
He said it would teach the same six key learning areas (KLAs) as other primary schools, "but we will have a heavy focus on music and take every opportunity to deliver additional musical pedagogy".
"Each day will start with the whole school singing and some form of physical activity, whether that's something like dance or exercise, to start the brain and the creative process," he said.
"As they get older they will get access to instrumental tuition and the opportunity to participate in ensembles.
"As teaching staff we'll be finding ways for music to permeate through the other KLAs. Every day will have music in it... we're looking at an hour a day."
Mr English said he expected the school to grow over the next decade to one class per grade from kindergarten to year 12, with capacity for around 400 students.
He said students who join the school from year three will audition.
"I hope we will produce outstanding musicians, future music educators, but in saying that, the guiding philosophy of the school is to develop successful young people with a thirst for knowledge, desire to learn and who we'll develop to their full potential," he said.
"The goal is for every student to leave here as a more complete individual than if they had attended school elsewhere, brimming with self confidence, intelligent, with a good understanding of the world and highly literate in terms of music and all KLAs."