Education director is impressed | Coffs Coast News | Local News in Coffs Coast

BIG VISIT: Mackville Public School students were excited to play host to the NSW Director-General of Education and Training, Michael Coutts-Trotter, this week.

MACKSVILLE Public School’s Gumbayngirr language class has been so successful it warranted a visit from one of the big guns in State education.

Staff and students were elated to play host to NSW Director-General of Education and Training, Michael Coutts-Trotter, after he attended a principal’s conference on Wednesday.

“It was absolutely fantastic having him in the class and a tremendous opportunity to showcase what we do,” Macksville Public School principal Glenn Thorncroft said.

“There was a real connection there and he was really focused. A lot of our staff spoke to him and he was so personable, it was a really positive experience.”

Mr Coutts-Trotter spent time learning about the course as well as speaking with teachers.

“He told us he’d heard tremendous things about the school and the program which was really nice.”

The Gumbayngirr language class, held in the Learning Community Centre, is funded by the National Partnerships program and is run in the Learning Community Centre.

Every student from kindergarten to Year 6 participates in the class, in which Michael Jarret teaches Gumbayngirr lanuage and culture for one day a week for six weeks.

“It’s brilliant, the kids absolutely adore it and Michael Jarrett really engages them,” Mr Thorncroft said.