This story was written by Teach Learn Grow Public Relations Officer, Anne-Marie White.

While other high school students were sitting in classrooms, undoubtedly counting down the days until the Christmas holidays, Year 11 students from Scotch College were busy packing boxes of tissues, aluminum foil and various cooking materials for Teach Learn Grow (TLG).

Earlier in November, seven Year 11 Scotch students participated in TLG’s recently launched, School’s Outreach Program. The program is a new initiative launched by TLG which aims to spread awareness among metropolitan students about educational disadvantage. The program gives these students the opportunity to contribute to TLG’s mission to improve the educational outcomes and aspirations of rural and remote students in socioeconomic disadvantaged areas so that they can reach their full potential.

Back in August, several Year 10 Scotch College students helped TLG volunteers prepare educational resources to take on Rural Programs. Then, more recently, in November, Year 11 students helped package Resource Kits full of science materials to take on TLG’s 2019 Summer Rural Program. The Resource Kits that the Year 11 Scotch College students helped pack were used to perform Chemistry experiments with students participating in the Saplings stream of TLG’s Rural Program. These experiments helped teach students about various chemical reactions and characteristics of temperatures and insulation.

After packing 14 Resource Kits and completing a recycling run, the Scotch students sat down with TLG’s CEO and former teacher, Bridget Staude, to learn more about the education gap in Australia and the work TLG does. One student reflected that the most shocking statistic for him was that students in rural and remote areas are 20 times more likely than metropolitan students to be below the minimum standard in mathematics. “It’s quite surprising to hear about the disparity”, he said, “we’ve all mostly grown up in the Western suburbs which is a bit of a bubble.” A Scotch College staff member said that it was very valuable for his students to “see programs they might be able to participate in at university, especially since TLG was started by two young university students who wanted to make a difference in their local community.” When asked whether he would encourage other schools to get involved in the School’s Program, the staff member responded with a resounding, “without a doubt.”

CEO Bridget reflected that, “the Schools Program provides an excellent opportunity for metropolitan students to make a meaningful contribution to a local cause. Students not only complete practical activities to assist with our programs but also learn about the nature of the Education Gap and why we do what we do. It gives them a chance to appreciate the differences between their own educational experience and those who are less fortunate.”

Schools who are interested in participating in TLG’s School Program should contact marketing@teachlearngrow.org.au.