Our history

Education for students who are in hospital was introduced as far back as 1923.

The idea originated with Miss M. Simpson who was so deeply impressed with the immense efforts of a young patient who was teaching himself to read. 

The school, later known as the Fred Birks Activity School, was opened with 16 students on November 10 1930, in the grounds of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Camperdown.

In 1995 the school moved inside the walls of Westmead Children's Hospital where there are now multiple classrooms and 1 to 1 teaching across the wards for students from around Australia and neighbouring countries.