Sturt School future assured as independent not-for-profit

In February 2024, Frensham Schools advised that Sturt School for Wood was facing “operational and financial challenges”. While the Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Manufacturing course continued, a “pause” followed in the operation of adult classes as well as the shop and gallery while the Board of Governers conducted a review.

Today the Board announced that on 19 October, Winifred West Schools Ltd voted overwhelmingly to endorse the recommendation made by the Sturt Review Committee (SRC) for Sturt to become an independent entity, that will be self-managed but still be part of Winifred West Schools Ltd (WWS), which was also endorsed by the Board of Governors.

Established in March this year, the SRC was tasked with designing an improved operating model for Sturt and creating an action plan to guide Sturt towards greater financial stability and operational success.

The SRC delivered its Stage 1 report to the Board in July. This was based on 340 submissions and 70 interviews. The SRC recommended that Sturt should be reconfigured as a self-governing, not-for-profit entity independent of Frensham Schools under the continued ownership and control of WWS.

This model will allow Sturt to be self-governing and responsible for its own outcomes. It will also be able to have its own not-for-profit status which will greatly improve its fundraising options. This in turn benefits WWS as it will allow Frensham Schools to focus on the core business of primary and secondary education.

The next step will be to establish an Implementation Committee which will comprise members of the Board, the Company and the SRC. The committee’s role will be to develop an operational strategy for the recommended model. This strategy will include details such as legal structures, financial and asset issues, recommended transitional governance and staffing arrangements leading to the establishment of a new Sturt Board, staff and operating framework, along with a suggested timeline.

Sturt School is currently accepting applications for the 2025 one-year Certificate IV course. See www.sturt.nsw.edu.au