Education in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church community

Education is important to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church community, as we believe every student should receive a quality education and that learning is a lifelong journey. We see education not only as a pathway to knowledge but also as a way for young people to develop responsibility, discipline, and practical skills that will serve them throughout their lives. We encourage our children and young people to become critical thinkers with a passion for learning about a wide range of subjects, to work hard, and to always strive to do their best. We believe parents and families play an important role in supporting children’s learning, both at school and at home, and we view education as a collaborative effort between students, teachers, and families.

What schools do children from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church attend?

Today, our children generally attend government schools for the first three years of their schooling. During these early years, they gain foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and social development while interacting with peers from a wide variety of backgrounds. From Year Three onwards, they will usually attend the independent school network OneSchool Global, where they are taught according to the local curriculum, but with a significant focus on self-directed and inquiry-based learning. We place strong emphasis on independent study and encourage students to take responsibility for their learning while developing strong academic and practical skills.

What do Plymouth Brethren children learn at school?

The schools our children attend, whether government or independent schools, follow the local curriculum. This means our students are taught core curriculum subjects such as mathematics, science, language, literacy, history, arts, geography, and physical education. These subjects help them develop a broad knowledge base as well as essential skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and communication.
Brethren students may also study subjects such as digital technologies, design and technology, and other electives depending on the school and local curriculum requirements. They are also taught religious studies if the subject is mandated by the local curriculum, but we primarily undertake religious education at home and at church, where families and church members play a central role in guiding young people in their faith and the teachings of the Holy Bible.

Are Plymouth Brethren children homeschooled?

Some of our families may choose to homeschool their children in the early years of their education, but it is much more common within our community for children to attend government or state schools up until Year Two, and the independent school network OneSchool Global from Year Three onwards. We believe this approach provides children with the opportunity to benefit from structured learning environments and professional educators while also maintaining strong family involvement in their development.

However, as is the case for many families, we believe opportunities to learn are always available to our children whether at school or at home. We do not see learning as limited to the classroom and often encourage it through practical activities and everyday experiences.

We may encourage our young people to start small ventures from home — for example, selling homegrown produce such as eggs or firewood, helping with family businesses, or even running a classic lemonade stand. We see these experiences as enjoyable and productive ways to learn important life skills such as problem solving, communication, responsibility, and financial awareness, while motivating young people to be independent and take initiative.

What are Plymouth Brethren Christian Church schools?

We do not own or run any schools as a church.

OneSchool Global is an independent school network attended by children from our community. It is not a religious school and does not teach religious studies outside of what is mandated by the local curriculum. The school has a strong focus on student-led study, independent learning, and the development of critical thinking skills. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and to develop strong study habits that will support them throughout their education and future careers.

Do Plymouth Brethren students go to university after they finish school?

We see education as a lifelong journey, and we therefore encourage tertiary studies once students graduate from school. Students from our community who undertake further study may complete tertiary qualifications through universities or registered training organisations, often through online or distance learning, as we consider the university campus lifestyle incompatible with our traditional Christian way of life.

We also believe strongly in the principle of “earning while you learn.” Many of our young people begin working shortly after finishing school while undertaking further study at the same time. We believe this approach allows them to gain valuable real-world experience, develop professional skills, and build financial independence while continuing their education.

By working and studying at the same time, our young people are often able to save money toward purchasing a home without accruing significant student debt, while also progressing in their careers. We see this balanced approach to education and work as a practical way to prepare young people for adult life while continuing the lifelong pursuit of learning.