The Small School
Welcome to The Small School
The Small School is an independent, progressive and democratic K-10 school in the heart of Murwillumbah. We are offering Year 11 in 2026 and Year 12 in 2027.
We aim to inspire children to be confident, happy and independent learners in a big-hearted school community.
We offer a holistic, project-based learning program in a democratic, playful, non-competitive and family friendly educational environment.
Educational Philosophy
The Small School is a child-centred, democratic school strongly focused on nurturing and protecting each child’s intrinsic drive to be curious and explore, to create and invent.
We believe the protection and development of children’s natural playfulness and curiosity is at the heart of their learning success.
Dynamic Learning Environment
The Small School is providing an evidence-based, dynamic learning environment, committed to best practice in progressive education to suit our rapidly evolving world.
Our learning environment:
• Is participatory, empowering and highly supportive of students’ wellbeing
• Provides opportunities for individualised, project-based learning and portfolio-based assessment
• Retains a strong focus on literacy and numeracy instruction
• Is adventurous, with nature-based camps and excursions
• Develops meaningful pathways to future opportunities in higher education and enterprise
• Prioritises skills in creative thinking, collaboration and communication
• Encourages design thinking for students to envisage positive futures for themselves, their community and their planet
The Senior Years
The senior years of high school offer a new way of doing senior secondary school in our region. Education is and should be changing.
We are providing young people with an alternative to high-stress, standardised testing, which we know is unreflective of who they are, what they want and what the world around them needs. Our senior program will offer personalised learning pathways and a Graduation Portfolio, which will support students to transition to university, TAFE, employment and entrepreneurship.
We want to prepare young people to enter the world with confidence in their abilities as learners, and as creative and critical thinkers who have agency, and who are prepared and hopeful about engaging with a rapidly changing world.