Located in the heart of Charters Towers, with historic Thornburgh House sitting pride of place on the campus, Blackheath and Thornburgh College (BTC) provides an environment that is nurturing, challenging and technologically rich, according to principal Nigel Fairbairn.
The school offers a diverse curriculum and co-curricular program and supports the individual needs of boarding and day students, he said.
“The college aims to enable all students to become resilient, caring and responsible global citizens,” Mr Fairbairn said.
“At BTC we continue to build on the proud traditions of the past while acknowledging the ever-changing landscape in regional and rural Australia.”
Mr Fairbairn said last year a new undercover sports area was built, and at the end of 2018, construction will begin on a 70-bed senior boarding precinct.
“The boarding precinct, comprising two wings for girls and boys respectively, will be separated by live-in staff accommodation,” he said.
“In the boarding houses, staff are aided by GAP Assistants, ensuring excellent supervision and a weekend recreation program are provided for all boarders.”
The school offers students activities such as sport, camping, barbecues and pool parties and other opportunities to socialise, get to know other boarding students and build their sense of camaraderie within a close-knit, friendly and supportive environment.
Mr Fairbairn sees each child as an individual with unique and special talents.
With more than 29 years’ experience in boarding, he said he was committed to and excited by the challenge of further developing opportunities for students and staff at the college.
“In the classrooms, I want our students to be in inviting surrounds, taught by teachers who care and with access to all the tools to make learning awe-inspiring, wondrous and relevant,” he said.
“I want our students to take responsibility of their own learning and be active participants in this process.
“I also want our students to learn resilience because in life we have good and bad days, and by learning to cope with the little setbacks at school, a student gains the skills to cope with knockbacks later in life.”
Mr Fairbairn said BTC would celebrate its centenary in 2019.
BTC is an independent, co-educational boarding and day school for students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
The college currently caters for about 280 students, including 110 boarding students mainly from across Queensland, Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
- Visit btc.qld.edu.au or call 07 4787 5100.
