Evelyn Scott School

Evelyn Scott School
Location
Denman Prospect, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

35°18′25″S 149°01′36″E / 35.3069°S 149.0267°E / -35.3069; 149.0267
Information
TypePublic, Co-educational
Established2021 (2021)
Principal
Jackie Vaughan
GradesPreschool to Year 10 (P-10)
Enrolment~800
Capacity1,288
ColourBlue
Websitewww.evelynscottschool.act.edu.au

Evelyn Scott School is a public, co-educational educational institution located in the suburb of Denman Prospect in the Molonglo Valley district of Canberra, Australia. Opened in 2021, it is the 89th public school established in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the second zero-emissions school in the territory.[1] The school caters to students from preschool through to Year 10 (P-10). It was the first school to be opened in the Molonglo Valley.

Named in honour of the late Dr Evelyn Scott AO, a prominent Indigenous rights activist and social justice campaigner, the school was designed with a heavy emphasis on sustainability, cultural integrity, and future-focused learning.[2]

History

Naming and establishment

In 2020, the ACT Government opened a community consultation process through its "YourSay" online voting system to finalise the identity of the Molonglo Valley's first public school.[2] The community was asked to select a name from a list of Aboriginal leaders known for reform and activism.[2] The winning name, Evelyn Scott School, honours Dr Evelyn Ruth Scott, who devoted over 30 years to Aboriginal affairs and the cause of Reconciliation.[3] Foundation Principal Jackie Vaughan contacted Dr Scott's family, who granted the ACT Government permission to name the school in her honour.[2]

Campus openings

Evelyn Scott School's Junior Campus (Preschool to Year 6) officially opened at the start of the 2021 academic year, welcoming an initial cohort of around 180 students.[4][5] In June 2022, the school held a special ceremony attended by Dr Scott’s family, who travelled from Queensland, to unveil a commemorative plaque.[6] The event featured the unveiling of a mural designed by Ngunnawal artist Lynnice Church, depicting the journey of the bogong moth across Ngunnawal country.[6]

The Senior Campus (Year 7 to 10), located on the same site, commenced operations at the beginning of the 2023 school year, accommodating high school students and effectively integrating the facility into a comprehensive P-10 school.[7]

In May 2025, the Evelyn Scott preschool unit achieved an 'Excellent' rating under the National Quality Framework, marking it as the first ACT public preschool to attain this high standard.[8]

Campus and architecture

The school's state-of-the-art facilities were designed by Hayball Architects and constructed by Joss Construction.[4] Built to accommodate a total capacity of 1,288 students (88 preschool, 600 primary, and 600 high school students), the campus spans a sloping site that takes advantage of views across the Molonglo Valley.[7][9]

The expansive project involved the construction of eight individual buildings, four carparks, and multiple sporting and community facilities.[10] The grounds heavily integrate outdoor learning with nature play, yarning circles, and digging pits, acknowledging the region's rich Aboriginal culture.[4]

Facilities

Evelyn Scott School contains specialised learning environments catering to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), Arts, and Music.[7] For sports and community engagement, the campus features:

  • A general-purpose double gymnasium capable of seating 300 people. It includes two full-sized courts lined for basketball, futsal, netball, and volleyball, and is notably equipped for roller derby training and competitions.[7][10]
  • A multi-purpose sporting oval suitable for soccer, rugby league, and rugby union, alongside two cricket nets.[7]
  • Two outdoor hardcourts for basketball and netball.[10]
  • A library and resource centre.[1]
  • Secure bicycle parking and storage.[7]

Sustainability and awards

Evelyn Scott School is the ACT's second zero-emissions school, relying on sustainable design principles, solar panels, and double-glazed windows.[11] During the build, Joss Construction successfully diverted 98.53% of the project's waste from landfill.[10] In recognition of these efforts, the school won the 2022 Master Builders Association (MBA) ACT Award for "Sustainable Construction – Sustainable Commercial Project".[10]

In 2024, the school was awarded the Innovative Education Initiative (Category 1) at the Learning Environments Australasia Design (LEAD) Awards.[4][12] This accolade celebrated a unique collaboration between the school, Dr Dion Tuckwell from Monash University, and Hayball architect Dr Fiona Young.[4] The project focused on enhancing teachers' spatial literacy to help them effectively utilise the school's broad pedagogical settings—from open-plan designs to breakout spaces.[4]

Educational philosophy

The school operates under a "Future Focused Learning Continuum" aligned with the ACT Future of Education Strategy.[13][14] This approach is anchored in an inquiry-based methodology, shifting from play-based learning in preschool, to inquiry-based in primary school, and project-based learning in the high school years.[13]

As a P-10 school, Evelyn Scott School aims to minimise transition friction, particularly bridging the traditional gap between Year 6 and Year 7, by maintaining a continuous learning structure across junior and senior cohorts.[13]

School culture

Uniform and emblem

During the 2020 community consultation, locals voted on the school uniform design. The selected uniform is blue and features the design of the Australian reed warbler.[2] The uniform was produced in partnership with Workin' Gear.[13]

Bunjis (House system)

In 2021, the school sought a contemporary and culturally sensitive alternative to the traditional school "house" system.[15] Working with the ACT Education Directorate's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team, the school adopted the term Bunji, which translates to 'mate' or 'friend' in Warlpiri and other Indigenous languages from the Northern Territory and Queensland.[15] Students are placed into a Bunji upon enrolment, and siblings are grouped together.[15]

The four Bunjis are named after prominent female activists and reformers, names which are also shared with streets in Denman Prospect:[16][17]

  • Norris (Emerald Green) – Named after Dame Ada Norris DBE, CMG, advocate for women's rights and president of the National Council of Women.[17]
  • Felstead (Burnt Orange) – Named after Minnie Felstead, a union organiser and women's rights advocate.[17]
  • Rigby (Purple) – Named after Norma Rigby MBE, who advocated for the rights of people with disabilities and helped establish Canberra's Koomarri school.[17]
  • Golgerth (Light Blue) – Named after Joyce Golgerth, a prominent Australian anti-fascist.[17]

Japanese-inspired cleaning

To foster respect and responsibility for the learning environments, the school incorporated practices inspired by the Japanese education system. At the end of the school day, music is played to signal a dedicated time for students and staff to tidy their learning spaces together.[17]

Leadership

The school's Foundation Principal is Jackie Vaughan, an educational leader with over 25 years of experience in the ACT.[14] She works alongside Deputy Principals Natalie Otten (Junior Campus) and Adam George (Senior Campus).[18][19]

Namesake

Dr Evelyn Ruth Scott AO (1935–2017) was an Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman born in Ingham, Queensland.[20][3] Experiencing racism firsthand—such as being refused the right to try on a wedding dress in 1963—she became a tireless advocate for Indigenous rights and social justice.[3] Scott was instrumental in the 1967 referendum, which saw 90% of Australians vote to include Indigenous people in the census.[20] In 1991, she became the first female chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, driving the reconciliation process in Australia for nearly a decade.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Schools - Denman Prospect". Denman Prospect. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Canberra's newest public school in Molonglo has been named". Mirage News. September 5, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Dr Evelyn Scott AO". VIC Gov. July 28, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Steering a shift in contemporary education at Evelyn Scott School". Education Matters Mag. November 11, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ Samaras, Denholm (February 1, 2021). "ACT public schools start welcoming students for 2021 academic year". Canberra Weekly.
  6. 1 2 "ACT's first school named after an Aboriginal woman". Canberra Daily. June 21, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About the School". Evelyn Scott School. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Evelyn Scott preschool marked 'Excellent'". ACT Government. May 28, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Central Park New Apartments". Realestate.com.au. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Congratulations! 2022 ACT MBA Award". Joss Group. September 14, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Evelyn Scott School". Wikipedia. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Australian Design Takes Centre Stage at A4LE Conference". Learning Environments Australasia. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Senior Campus (7-10)". Evelyn Scott School. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Jackie Vaughan: Leadership lessons". Apple Podcasts. March 18, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 "Starting School". Evelyn Scott School. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Denman Prospect". Wikipedia. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Our School Day - Senior Campus". Evelyn Scott School. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Meet our Team". Evelyn Scott School. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ Lansdown, Sarah (January 28, 2021). "Evelyn Scott School in Denman Prospect is a principal's dream". The Canberra Times.
  20. 1 2 "Scott, Evelyn Ruth". The Australian Women's Register. November 17, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
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