Facilities and resources

Our school offers a range of spaces, tools and resources to support student learning. Whether it’s for study, sport, creativity or technology, our learning environments and resources give students what they need to succeed.

Our school facilities

We offer a range of learning environments. They help students stay engaged, build confidence and enjoy every part of their school day. Our facilities include:

• bright and comfortable classrooms
• a well-stocked library for reading and research
• science labs for hands-on experiments
• sports fields for fitness and fun
• dance studios
• drama studios
• music studios
• individual music practice rooms
• visual arts studios
• photography room
• film production room
• kitchens
• performance spaces - St George's Hall and the Studio Theatre
• gallery space - St George's Gallery

Hiring our facilities

You may apply to use our school's facilities for appropriate purposes provided your hiring the facility does not interfere with our teaching and learning programs.

We assess each application on a case-by-case basis.

If you are interested in hiring our facilities, please submit a Venue hire enquiry form below.

Costs

Venue Hire

* A minimum booking period is one hour. These rates are GST exclusive.

All bookings should include time for setup and packing up.

Additional Costs

Staff

Shifts are a minimum of 3 hours, except for Sundays and Public Holidays, which are a minimum of 4 hours. All rates listed are per hour. Up to eight hours charged at normal rate; hours nine and ten charged at time and a half; hours eleven and greater, Sundays, Public Holidays or after midnight charged at double time.

All prices are ex. GST. GST will be added to all charges.

Hirers may be allowed to use their own technical staff in certain instances provided they can demonstrate suitable experience to operate Newtown High School of the Performing Arts equipment. However, the NHSPA Theatre Manager must be present at all times for safety reasons.

Equipment

This section is under review.

Community Use Agreements

Required Documentation

Insurance

Where a signed agreement is required for the use of school facilities, the user must hold appropriate third party liability insurance. Some users may also be required to hold professional indemnity insurance. Public Liability certificates must name the Minister for Education and Early Learning on the policy as an additional insured.

Public liability insurance

The community user must obtain and maintain a broad form liability insurance policy (also known as public liability insurance) during the term of the agreement. The policy must:

• be appropriate to the community user’s activities for at least $20 million for any one occurrence in respect of any liability for personal injury and property damage arising out of, or in connection with, or caused by the community user’s occupation and use of the premises and equipment
• be issued by a body corporate authorised to carry on insurance business under the Insurance Act 1973 (Cth)
• list the Minister for Education and Early Learning on behalf of the State of New South Wales as an additional insured.

The department’s insurance arrangements do not cover the activity or the participants in that activity if there is no fault of the department. Participation in the activity offered by the community user is essentially at the participant’s own risk.

Workers compensation insurance

The community user must obtain and maintain workers' compensation insurance with a licenced insurer under the Workers' Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) during the term of the agreement for any of their employees who are employed in connection with the use of the premises and equipment.

Where access is to be provided under a community use agreement, the community user must provide the principal with a copy of, or a certificate of currency for these insurance policies. Should the community user’s insurance policy expire during the term of the agreement, the principal should request a copy of the renewed insurance policies or certificate of currency.

Child Protection

Child protection compliance is mandatory for community users in all community use agreements where children and young people are involved or will be present.

When children and young people are not involved and are not present, this section does not apply.

Community users must ensure they are aware of and comply with all requirements of child protection legislation, including:

• Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
• Child Protection (Working with Children) Regulation 2013 (NSW)
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)

The community user must provide the principal with a signed Child Protection Declaration (PDF 643 KB) before signing any agreement, lease or licence to use school facilities. This is necessary to ensure compliance with all legislative requirements related to protecting children and young people from abuse and neglect.

Child protection declarations must be signed by the principal before execution of the agreement.

Note:

• verification of Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearances and child protection compliance is the responsibility of the Community User. WWCC evidence is retained by the Community User and provided if requested.

Risk Assessment

Before allowing school facility usage, the principal must conduct a risk assessment to ensure facilities and equipment are safe and in good condition.

As part of the assessment, the principal should consider the following community user information:

• the proposed use
• known specific risks and proposed mitigations
• whether the facilities are fit for purpose
• the roles and responsibilities of the organisers and any volunteers
• supervision of any children on the grounds (including play equipment areas and toilets)
• car parks and traffic control as required for surrounding streets
• emergency medical plans
• safe working statements or risk management plans, if appropriate age of participants.

General community use of school facilities

Visit us

You can register for a school tour using the link below if you want to visit and learn more about the school.

Meet our friendly staff, explore our school facilities, and see what makes our school a great place to learn.