Yipirinya School

Yipirinya school has an enrolment of approximately 150 students. The School has a purpose built Preschool catering for 4 year olds and a full Primary School from Transition to Year 6. There is also a Secondary class, catering for the middle school years, 7-10.

In addition the school has 4 purpose built language classrooms and a Language and Culture Centre for the production of language materials. Other buildings include administration, the student dining room and kitchen, the school library, ICT lab (computer room), a multi purpose hall, swimming pool, home economics room and craft room. The school is registered as an Independent non-government school and is governed by a School Council.

The Yipirinya School is a two-way (bilingual and bi-cultural) school. It caters for students from Child Care to Year 10. It is a school primarily for Indigenous students, but is willing to take enrolments from non-Indigenous students whose families want their children to become more acquainted with Indigenous Languages and Culture.

The school follows the Australian Curriculum, the Early Years Learning Framework and the Northern Territory Curriculum Framework. These Frameworks have been localised and indigenised to suit the school’s clientele. We concentrate on the basics of literacy and numeracy, but also include other Learning Areas in the Curriculum.

The School offers all primary grades from Transition to Year 6. Where numbers justify it there are separate classes for each year group, or alternatively composite classes of two year groups. The classrooms have been built in pairs, each with its own withdrawal or tutor rooms and store rooms attached, and with a shared office. There are separate toilets and bathrooms for each classroom and facilities for washing clothes.

The School Library, the Language and Culture Centre, and the Kitchen and Dining Room are all part of the Primary Campus. The classrooms also have a shared outdoor lawn play area and a shade covered playground.

Qualified and registered teachers are appointed to all classes. In addition an Indigenous Assistant Teacher is appointed to work with each teacher and, wherever possible, a part-time tutor is also appointed to assist with one on one tuition or small group work. Additional classroom support staff include the Principal, the Curriculum Coordinator, School Counsellor, Physical Education Teacher and a Special Needs Teacher. School Liaison Officers assist with communication with parents. An aboriginal healthworker assists with health issues.

In keeping with the School's philosophy all students have language and culture lessons each day in addition to following the Australian Curriculum Framework. Cultural excursions are also part of the Curriculum.

The School has a small Secondary section consisting of one or two general classes with students from age grades 7-10. It is really a Middle School at this stage with one generalist teacher for each class. The emphasis is still on literacy and numeracy but there is also a VET component.

The Secondary classrooms are located apart from the Primary classes and close to the schools' multi-purpose hall, swimming pool, the school oval and outdoor basketball court. A specialist computer laboratory is also adjacent.

Following the Primary pattern a qualified teacher is appointed to each Secondary class, and an Indigenous Assistant Teacher and part-time tutor make up the team. Secondary students have a uniform that distinguishes them from the Primary students, but as the school is a family school they do share in many activities including school assemblies.