Lightning Reef Primary School boasts outstanding open planned facilities and large grounds beside Bendigo Showgrounds. The grounds are expansive and provides for active and passive play.  The full-size gymnasium and indoor canteen ensure a range of indoor activities are encompassed in daily learning opportunities. The school’s mission is to provide a welcoming and challenging environment that fosters respectful and responsible global citizens capable of thriving in the future. We hope our students graduate as knowledgeable, skilled, confident, and critical thinkers through the school being a centre of excellence committed to sharing best practice. Our key values demonstrate our shared and relentless commitment to implementing our mission so that our vision becomes a living reality. We value Respect: We show we care about ourselves, others and the environment through our actions and words. Responsibility:  We do the things we are supposed to do, own, and accept the results of our actions and words. Persistence: We keep trying, even when things seem hard, and know when to seek help. Kindness: We use actions and words to make others feel happy, or when we notice they need help.

In recent years, our student enrolment has remained between 165 and 175 students, with a number of enrolments occurring after the commencement of the school year. Both the student Family Occupation (SFO) index and the Student Family Occupation and Education Index remain high. This characterises the school as a low socio-economic school community.

Approximately 10% of our students identify as Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders, 4-5% live in Out of Home Care and about half have an English as an Additional language background, which is mainly Karen.

The leadership team consists of a Principal, Assistant Principal (AP) , a Leading Teacher (LT), and an Acting Learning Specialist (LS). Both the AP and LS have part-time teaching loads.  We usually have eight homegroups. About half are taught by multiple teachers, who have flexible work arrangements or have a middle leadership position in the school. We dedicate 2 EFT teachers to intervention and have three 3 part-time Specialist Teachers. The school’s specialist programs are Visual Arts, Music and Physical Education and a Languages program in Karen with the assistance of one of our Multi Cultural Aides. There is a high number of Education Support Officers (ES) across the school, working either to support students learning English or support those with a disability. 

The school maintains positive community partnerships that support our students and their families. We are proud to be associated with Smith Family Scholarships.  The school enjoys strong ties with both the Eaglehawk and Bendigo Sandhurst Rotary Clubs, with Bendigo Sandhurst Rotary Club supported by Coles Supermarkets to donate and deliver fresh fruit weekly that complements our daily breakfast club. The school accesses DET Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Koorie Education Support Officers, supplementing our own speech aide programs to complement these services using Equity funds.

The Wellbeing Leading Teacher and Assistant Principal, follow up absences each day. The Wellbeing Leading Teacher is also the MHiPS Leader, Lookout Teacher and Student Wellbeing Manager. Her role includes management of attendance and student behaviour, ensuring concerns are followed up in a timely manner. Funding has been allocated to allow the Wellbeing Leading Teacher to promote and oversee SWPBS , support additional ESS, release teachers to manage Disability and Inclusion at a whole-school level, and oversee Numeracy, Literacy & EAL programs at a whole school level.