About Our School
The Richard Gill School is a comprehensive, secular, independent primary school with a musical focus, tailored around the educational philosophy of Richard Gill AO. With music and physical education as cornerstones of the curriculum, the school will provide an 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.
The School is located at 157 Maitland Street, Muswellbrook.
Why Enrol at Richard Gill School?
A focus on Music, PE and STEM will engage young minds and prepare them for the industries of the future
Small class sizes and a small school size means that every child is known and nurtured in their learning and wellbeing
Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) for all children, supported by strong partnerships with families and our local community ensure we foster individual strengths
Exceptional teaching staff who work hard and care deeply for their students
Outstanding facilities and grounds
Scholarships are available.
curriculum
At Richard Gill School, we will offer teaching and learning across the full suite of primary school subjects, guided by the Australian Curriculum and meeting the requirements of the NSW Department of Education and NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Higher order, critical thinking, creativity, whole school singing and physical activity are core components of the school curriculum, which are supplemented by classroom teaching in these areas. The school will work collaboratively with the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music, and qualified teachers will provide individual and ensemble tuition as students develop.
In keeping with our vision, an emphasis on multi-literacies will ensure students are capable communicators across all 21st century demands. While it is essential to grow confident and competent language readers and writers, students will also work with non-linear texts, developing a wide range of linguistic, communication and technological perspectives and tools in preparation for life in a dynamic connected world.
Similarly, a strong foundation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) will be offered, incorporating problem-solving, critical thinking and innovation, readying primary students for diverse pathways of study in secondary school and beyond.
School Motto
Musica Motuque Floreamus
Through music and movement let us flourish
The Richard Gill School Motto is a very special piece of Latin not only because it was written by Anthony Gill, son of Richard Gill, and the classics staff at Sydney Grammar School, but because it genuinely encapsulates the true ethos of the school and our vision.
‘Musica’ or Music in Latin means anything inspired by the muses, and refers to all intellectual endeavours, embracing maths and science in its spirit. ‘Motus’ or movement, refers to all kinds of movement, including sporting, military, dance, and even stages of growth. ‘Floreamus’ means let us flourish and is central to the mission of any school and captures all that is nurturing and caring at the same time as promoting vigorous growth through rigour and discipline.
Strategic Plan
In collaboration with our parent body, the Board, staff and friends of Richard Gill School, we have put together a Strategic Plan which we feel aligns with the vision and educational philosophies of Richard Gill. See our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan here.
School Fees
While we are an independent school and rely on fees to run, our vision is to keep our fees at a low rate so that the school is accessible to as many families in the community as possible. We will be doing all we can to match our fees to other independent schools in the region. You can download our fees here. This is updated annually.
There will be a number of scholarships available each year and we suggest you contact us for more information of visit our scholarships page here.
School Timeline
The school plans to grow to be a K-6 primary school by 2026, with aspirations to become a K-12 school in the future.
MUSWELLBROOK
Muswellbrook Shire is located in the beautiful Upper Hunter Valley and incorporates the towns of Muswellbrook, Denman and Sandy Hollow. Muswellbrook is ideally located, just 2.5 hours drive from Sydney and 1.5 hours from Newcastle.
Muswellbrook Shire is located within the Gamilaraay Indigenous Nation, one of the four largest Indigenous nations in Australia. Muswellbrook Shire acknowledges that the local Aboriginal People are the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land. While the first white settlement occurred in the 1820s and the township of Muswellbrook was gazetted in 1833.
For over four decades Muswellbrook Shire has been at the heart of the State’s energy industry; with two of NSW’s base load power generators located in the Shire, Bayswater and Liddell. Muswellbrook Shire’s coal industry exports 25% of NSW’s thermal coal, it is also the home of the two largest thoroughbred horse studs in the southern hemisphere, it produces a large volume of the Hunters viticulture and is home to the largest dairy industry in the Hunter.
Muswellbrook is a young community with a rising population. Muswellbrook Shire is a welcoming community offering all the cultural, recreational, educational and community facilities that you would expect to find in a city including brilliant food and wine, schools, arts and entertainment. It is the main regional centre for the Upper Hunter.
The population of Muswellbrook Local Government Area (LGA) sits at around 16,000.
To find out more about Muswellbrook Shire’s Community Profile visit: www.communityprofile.com.au/muswellbrook
*Muswellbrook content sourced from https://muswellbrook.org.au/ and Muswellbrook Shire Council Annual Report.