CUTTING-edge technologies for 21^st century teaching makes a school in Western Sydney dramatically leap its enrolments.

Australian Christian College in Marsden Park recently unveiled its high-tech learning hub wing with the latest features delighting its over 650 students who will be taught how to utilise them.

The hub has two film production studios where they can shoot and edit footages, two podcast studios, a Virtual Reality lab, separate Robotics and Mac labs – where students are shown every tech tool they need to produce media genres used in today’s world of digital technology.

Opening the hub is meant to upskill the students even before they start an arts or STEM degree at university, making the school attractive to families with enrolments “incredibly growing” three times since 2019, ACC principal Brendan Corr said.

“These new facilities put us in an ideal position as educators to prepare our students for the rapidly changing workforce they will enter,” Mr Corr said.

“They’ll have access to a teaching environment that will engage, challenge and delight them.”

The hub comes at a time when the world of education is embracing 21^st century innovative teaching methodologies and integrating technology as tools into the classroom, Mr Corr said.

The school’s new hub became a reality through the Building Grants Assistance Scheme program funded by the NSW government.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr Corr invited the NSW minister for education and early learning, Prue Car, Blacktown City Council members, school officials, teaching staff and the excited students with their families.

Mr Corr toured them to the three-storey high-tech learning hub fitted out with a range of learning facilities to accommodate over 650 students enrolled in the secondary school section of ACC which caters for students from Kindergarten and Primary school levels.

Mr Corr said while the new hub building will accommodate secondary students, even younger students whose interests are piqued by the innovative technologies at the school are welcome to try them out.

“While the Secondary building will accommodate over 650 students, both are welcome additions to the community and will continue to ensure that students are well known, well-loved and well taught,” Mr Corr said.

“We’re thankful to the State Government for the funding assistance to provide our school community with these campus enhancements.

“Students will have access to the buildings immediately, getting their hands on high-tech equipment and brand-new classrooms with the support and oversight of fulltime industry professionals.”

Ms Car watched as the students try out the facilities at the hub. “I am honoured to be opening the new high-tech learning hub at the Australian Christian College Marsden Park which continues to play an important role in the community as a leading educator,” Ms Car said.

“It is great to see this level of investment in education in our wonderful community.”

The school applied for the grant to upgrade their teaching facilities following the wishes of parents in Western Sydney surveyed by McCrindle Research in 2019, Mr Corr said.

More than 73 percent of parents whose children are enrolled in various schools in Western Sydney are “looking for the integration of technology and critical thinking skills into their child’s education,” Mr Corr said.

The school in Marsden Park is among the 13 campuses run by the ACC across the country which also accepts students enrolling in distance education pathways.