Somerset College
| Somerset College | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Location | |
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Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, QLD Australia |
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| Information | |
| Type | Private/Independent |
| Denomination | Non-Denominational |
| Established | 1983 |
| Staff | 180+ |
| Enrollment | 1400 |
| Colour(s) | Navy Blue, Green & White |
| Slogan | Deo Confidimus |
| Website | http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/ |
Somerset College is a private, non-denominational Christian school located in Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, Australia.
Somerset College was officially opened on 16 October 1983 by Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Its name is based on the fact the school is located on Somerset Drive, on a location formerly used for dairy farming [1].
The school's founding principal was Clifford Rodney (Rod) Wells. In 1980, Wells moved to the Gold Coast from Sydney with his wife, singer Roslyn (Dunbar) Wells, and obtained farmland belonging to property developer John Jenkins for a $1 deposit. For 12 months, Wells conducted feasibility studies, had meetings with the Queensland Education Department and held public meetings to establish financial, educational and community support. In 1981, a small group was formed as the first steering committee.
The first buildings opened on 27 January 1983 with 158 students in classes from Year 1 to Year 8. Staff, parents and students helped with the landscaping and laying of turf.
The school's slogan is the Latin phrase "Deo Confidimus" which translates to "In God, we trust".
The school is divided into the Junior School (Pre Prep to Year 6) and the Senior School (Years 7 to 12). Both have separate administration centres.
Somerset College is one of three International Baccalaureate World Schools on the Gold Coast accredited to offer the IB Diploma Programme. It also offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), for which it received accreditation in 2006. In June 2006, the college hosted the Asia-Pacific International Baccalaureate Conference.
Each year in mid-March, Somerset College hosts its annual Celebration of Literature. The three-day festival features notable authors and poets from around Australia, and attracts around 20,000 school student and adult participants. Past visiting authors have included: Douglas Adams, Paul Jennings, Geoffrey McSkimming, Kate Forsyth, Andy Griffiths, Andrew Daddo, Gretel Killeen and Terry Denton.
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