About Us
Context
Norwood Primary School is a highly regarded, Reception to Year 6 School of approximately 350 students. Norwood is a category 7 school, with a culturally and socially diverse cohort, having approximately 59% of students from non-English speaking backgrounds. We also have small numbers of International Students and a small enrolment of Indigenous students.
Norwood is an inner metropolitan school with a proud heritage, strong traditions and identity dating back to 1877. It is also a school with a strong sense of community demonstrated through an emphasis on Community, Diversity, Creativity and Opportunity.
The school is situated close to the Norwood business precinct and adjoins the historic Norwood Oval, which was once part of the school’s property. The oval was transferred to the City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters in 1928. An agreement is in place from that time which allows the school to use Norwood Oval during the term under established agreements and conditions.
Our leadership team includes a Principal, a Senior Leader in Teaching & Learning and a Senior Leader in Student Engagement & Wellbeing. The work of the leadership team is greatly enhanced by teachers who implement individual projects, or accept responsibility for whole school support, e.g. Intervention, English as an Additional Language and Transition. We are extremely fortunate to have a hard working and dedicated team of highly skilled individuals, which includes outstanding student support officers who positively contribute to every aspect of our community.
Heritage
Our school began in 1877, when it opened as the Norwood Model School. We are acknowledged as a school with a strong heritage, tradition and identity. This is built on a firm foundation of multiculturalism, a strong sense of community and a celebration of diversity. These aspects of our school’s history continue to influence the development and operation of our school.
We are proud of our historical links and buildings are named after significant people from our past, including former Premier Don Dunstan. The obelisk that stands on the corner of Osmond Terrace and Beulah Road was built by school children, under the guidance of their head master, Joseph Kennedy. The children paid a penny for a brick and as far as we know, it is the only memorial built by children in South Australia. In 2011, students worked with local historian Denise Schumann to publish a book entitled ‘Pennies For Bricks’.
At the rear of Clarke House, we are also proud to have a piece of living history – our heritage vine. Clarke House (also known locally as Vine House) became part of Norwood School in 1925. The house was built by William Clarke in the 1800s and the Clarke family were well known in the local area for many generations. The Clarkes made wine and jams, exporting them back to the UK and storing their wares in the extensive underground cellars that run beneath our school grounds.
In 2017, the school celebrated its 140th birthday.
Facilities
The school’s buildings and facilities reflect its diversity and are highly regarded by the local and wider community for their heritage value. A major and extensive school redevelopment was completed at the beginning of 2010 which has successfully brought the school more in line with flexible approaches to C21st learning. We currently provide a variety of portable devices including tablets and iPads for student use and interactive panels are installed in every classroom. In 2021, we expanded our program to deliver Design and Digital Technologies in Dunstan Hall with a Specialist Teacher.
The addition of a new, architecturally designed Performing Arts Centre has greatly enhanced student learning opportunities. School musicals and performances are regularly presented in this space, and a Specialist Teacher delivers The Arts curriculum using this purpose built facility.
Alongside the Master Plan, we worked with the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters and the Way To Go project (DPTI) to visually enhance our local area and encourage safer walking routes to school.
Our gym floor was upgraded in 2016, resulting in a fantastic indoor facility that will serve us well into the future.
In 2019 we opened our new nature play area, providing students with a space to engage in climbing, making and building. Recently we also completed the construction of a new undercover seating area to compliment the design of Mulberry Hall, complete with seating and gardens.
There are several joint user agreements in place with the Norwood Out of School Care Program, the DfE Instrumental Service, Primary Schools Strings Orchestra, the Norwood Football Club and various external hirers.
