SCHOOL OF FOOTBALL READY TO KICK OFF
THE founders of the Gold Coast’s latest niche school have announced their new site on one of Clear Island Water’s busiest intersections.
The Queensland Football School, set to open in 2020, was announced this year under a cloud of mystery, with no website, teachers and limited information on the academic curriculum.
However Martin Calvert (pictured), the chairman of the school’s board, this week revealed images of the proposed years 4-12 school on the site of the Gold Coast’s Italo-Australian Club, opposite Sunland’s The Lakes development.
The site plans show a football pitch and collection of two-storey classrooms with a football pattern up the side and a science laboratory.
Mr Calvert, who did not respond to requests for comment, claims online that construction will be completed for the beginning of the next school year.
Trials for enrolment at the school will take place on September 23-26, for a fee of $150 per prospective student – and enrolments are scheduled to be announced in October.
Twenty-five enrolments will be offered for each age group. Fees are currently set at $5000 a year.
Mr Calvert is a former national futsal player and currently a technical director of the Federation of Australian Futsal.
He is listed as a director of the school, along with a Bradley Quinn and a Forbes Madau.
“The site has been home to the Italo-Australian club for well over 40 years,” Mr Calvert said in the video online. “The club has a rich footballing history, being home to Merrimac Football Club.”
Other staff members announced include head of performance Chris Cahill, the brother of former Socceroo Tim Cahill.
Jamie Dixon will be the head of junior school football and Craig Midgley the technical director.
Approval was granted by the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board last year and the original commencement date was listed for January 2019.
An information night for parents will be held at the site on Wednesday, September 18.