If you follow education news, you may have noticed ongoing attention on the challenges facing independent schools across Australia. Stories relating to reduced government funding, rising operating costs, workforce pressures, wellbeing and increasing regulatory requirements have become regular features in the media. Like many schools, Scotch Oakburn continues to navigate these developments thoughtfully while remaining focused on what matters most: providing an outstanding education for our students.

One of the enduring strengths of independent education is the ability to provide young people with a rich and holistic experience that extends well beyond the […]

Students from Years 6 -10 recently participated in the Tasmanian Mathematics Relay competition (northern heat). This competition is always a fun, fast paced event that includes quick thinking, perseverance, teamwork and mathematical problem-solving skills.

Our Year 9 team of Max Wilson, Bowen Yang-Sun, Maddie Gofton and Riwaj Koirala came first in the northern heat Year 9/10 intermediate division, and their score was so strong (a perfect score with 6 minutes to spare), they won overall for the state!

Our Year 10 team of Grayson Edwards, Olive Kwan, Zac Boden and Micah Joseph placed third […]

What looked like an impossible task became an extraordinary achievement thanks to some of our Year 9 students.

Over two days, students from Briggs and Fox House took on the challenge of cleaning up a significant amount of rubbish, predominantly glass bottles, from the Mole Creek Karst National Park.

Much of this waste had been dumped years ago, before the area became a national park, and posed an ongoing threat to the sensitive cave systems beneath.

As can be seen from the before and after photos, when the work began, the scale of the task was daunting. Yet through determination, […]

As parents and carers, we all know that children and young people have difficult days. Children can be grumpy, anxious, tearful or frustrated, while teenagers may become more private, independent or emotional as they navigate adolescence.

These things can be a normal part of growing up.  So, how do we know when a child or young person might benefit from some additional support?

Look for changes 

One of the most useful things parents can do is to notice changes from their child’s usual behaviour.  You know your child best. If they seem noticeably different from […]

As part of their studies on human impacts on land cover change, our Year 12 Geography students recently enjoyed a valuable field trip to Glenbourne Farm, where they were able to observe firsthand the complex relationship between land use, environmental management, and biodiversity conservation. The excursion was facilitated by Kate and Darcy from the Forest Education Foundation, Jo from Glenbourne Farm, as well as Molly from Private Forests Tasmania.

Glenbourne Farm provided an outstanding example of the many ways land can be managed sustainably. Students were given a unique opportunity to see how careful stewardship of the […]

We are pleased to provide a community news section in our news highlighting events in the wider Launceston community that may be of interest to families. Included this week:

• Launceston Swim School Holiday program
• Just Swim School Holiday program
• RoboCup Australia session for students and teachers – 19 September (hosted at Middle School, Penquite Campus)

Go to community news

Opportunity, Responsibility and the Future

Recently, Scotch Oakburn College had the pleasure of hosting Professor Toby Walsh, one of Australia’s leading Artificial Intelligence researchers, for a thought-provoking community presentation in the Horton Auditorium. Presented in partnership with the Royal Society of Tasmania, the event attracted more than 250 members of the College and broader Tasmanian community, including Her Excellency the Honourable Caroline Wells, Governor of Tasmania.

Professor Walsh provided a balanced and accessible overview of the current state of Artificial Intelligence. While much of the public discussion around AI focuses on either excitement or […]

An update from our Community Arts Coordinator on our 140-Year Community Quilt project, being led by this year’s Artist in Residence, Mae Finlayson. The project invites students, families, Collegians and staff to contribute memories and quilt patches celebrating the College’s history and community.

Our Year 2 community had the wonderful opportunity to visit Clarendon House as part of their HASS inquiry learning. This rich heritage experience allowed students to explore a significant local historical site and develop their understanding of how daily life, transport, and work have changed over time.

A highlight of the excursion was the guided tour of Clarendon House, where students stepped back into the 1800s and compared home life, chores, and family roles with those of today. The children also visited the shearing shed, carriage collection, and nearby railway track, discovering historical transport methods and agricultural […]