The Cocos (Keeling) Islands boast a very special educational setting with several unique features that facilitate interesting and varied teaching and learning programs. 

Comprehensive education facilities have only existed on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands since the late 1970s and before then only a very limited education was provided on the Clunies-Ross estate. 

Over the last 20 years the islands have undergone dramatic population changes, have completely changed their economic base and have become politically self-determining.

Whilst many mainland remote communities have also undergone similar changes over the same period, an important difference on Cocos is that here the religion, cultural values and the local language have remained largely unchanged. There is strong argument that these factors are the important determinates of the social and political stability we see.

Literacy forums held at Home Island and West Island campuses.

 Cocos students are typically respectful of their teachers and keen to learn, and education receives strong support in the home and community. As a result of their ESL background  there are some linguistic interferences when learning English, and their limited English language skills impact on performance across most learning areas.

Educationally, the challenges at Cocos (Keeling) Islands  D.H.S. relate to the following issues:

       The very strong retention of the Cocos-Malay language and culture that still sees English spoken only in the school classroom for most students. We aim to strike the balance between valuing and promoting the local language and culture, and promoting fluency in Standard Australian English. On-going dialogue with parents to discuss English language illustrates that parents are 100% supportive of students speaking only English language while at school. This has been embedded in all classes.  We continue to work with parents to support and maintain strategies for inclusion of English language in the home environment.

            The geographic isolation of the community resulting in limited exposure to outside ideas and influences. We aim to provide an education with a wide range of rich and varied experiences that build upon local experience and extend students' educational horizons. The school has a strong technology focus that is invaluable in exposing our students to current affairs, world views and global communication. IT is a school focus with computers and computing integrated into teaching and learning programmes. Secondary students are provided with their own laptop, wirelessly connected, for enhanced learning.

The school runs a comprehensive Work Experience program.  In Year 9, this is on-island and in Year 10 off-island in conjunction with a City Experiential Camp when students also visit their perspective schools for Year 11/12 as well as experiencing other mainland activities.

The staff encourage a beneficial Visiting Speakers' program wherein visitors to the island with differing backgrounds and occupations are invited to speak with students about themselves, their backgrounds and the path that led them to what they now have achieved. 

             A limited economic base, resultant high unemployment and few employment opportunities on the islands for returning students. We aim to provide a comprehensive education to maximise economic opportunity and teach students to be critical and creative in their approach to learning. School programs have strong outcomes-based foci. Independent learning and lateral thinking are encouraged in a problem-solving approach.  Assessment and monitoring is educative and shared between students and staff.

        Turnover of teaching staff: We aim to ensure that firm direction and strategies are clearly established; that we listen carefully to and involve our local community in the school; and that a pedagogy incorporating best practice in ESL is embedded. Teaching staff are selected on merit from a competitive field. Those selected have a firm knowledge of the teaching strategies for working with students whose first language is not English. Each year, the whole teaching staff, including administration and level three teachers, have their skills and knowledge refreshed through appropriate  E.S.L. professional development.

Consistent parent involvement in the School Council and regular open discussions at well-attended parent/teacher meetings and social gatherings ensure that our local community is included in setting direction for our school programs.

In 2006, the school was awarded with a National Literacy Award for its sustained and continued improvement in students' literacy.