The Cottage School

The Cottage School is a community based co-educational primary school, providing education from Kindergarten through to Grade six. This small school of 80 students is situated at Bellerive on Hobart’s eastern shore. It provides holistic education in a nurturing environment. The philosophy of the school is to provide a broad range of learning experiences catering for the whole child: intellectually, socially, emotionally, aesthetically and physically.

The Cottage School began in 1975. Sally Sorell had successfully run a kindergarten in her home in Petchey Street, Bellerive and with a group of parents decided that it would be good to extend the family based school for more than just the kindergarten year. Fathers felt that they were excluded from taking part in their children’s education so an Innovation Grant was applied for to enable school sessions to be run during some evenings and weekends.

In 1978 a further grant was given to the school to help integrate children with special needs. Yabbo Thompson was the Coordinator and joined the school to work from Sally’s home and the cottage at 4 Queen Street.

The Cottage School was established in response to a recognised need in the community for a school that focussed on educating the individual child in a nurturing environment. The caring environment supports children’s curiosity and desire to learn. The learning is meaningful and children acquire necessary skills to become competent and confident learners. Children are supported emotionally and through guidance, develop sound social skills. All areas of the Arts provide avenues for self expression. Regular excursions provide experiences that expand children’s horizons. Participation in games, camps and outdoor pursuits provide challenges and develop independence.

This underlying philosophy of education has helped shape a number of principles and values which help guide the Committee, the staff and the school community in the running of the school.