Each of the school's approximately 580 students has their own iPad, with students from kindergarten through to year 6 all using the "tools of the future".

Project leader and deputy principal Brad Tate said while some schools have a bank of shared devices that travel throughout classrooms, or one device shared between two or four students, Nowra Public had settled on a strategy of one iPad per student.

"We've decided to equip every single student with a powerful tool for creativity and productivity, and every teacher is also provided with an iPad so that teachers and students are using a common platform," he said.

"It's a one to one strategy - and we're doing really something quite different in this space."

The program operates between both the school's infants and primary sections, across its two sites, and 28 classes, including its three support classes.

Even the 157-year-old school's historic buildings have been upgraded to embrace the change and move into modern technology.

The school has replaced its interactive whiteboards because now each student has virtually got an interactive whiteboard at their fingertips.

"We didn't actually need big touch screens in the rooms as such, we use Apple TVs and big flat-screen TVs, replacing ageing projector based classroom displays," Mr Tate said.

"A teacher can take over the main display and do what they need to do, but at the same time kids can actually airplay their device and take over the main screen, to show and demonstrate their work from the floor."

Funding for the project has come from a variety of sources, with state and federal funding combining to fund the purchase of the hardware with principal Nicole Humphreys saying you can already see the results of the investment.

"It's 2019, we are preparing our students for the future, it's our constant focus, our purpose," she said.

"We've got to teach children to be collaborative, be problem solvers, and to work in teams.

"They're all skills they are going to need for the jobs that haven't yet been invented, thought about or created. We're preparing them for that future.

"They're all things in the Australian and NSW curriculum that we have to teach and this is what we're doing - it's the perfect vehicle to help that happen."

Ms Humphreys thoughts were echoed by her colleague Mr Tate.

"We know without a shadow of a doubt, pretty much any occupation that you're going to be involved in, you're going to be using a device of some sort," Mr Tate said.

"Mobile devices are the way it is going."

He said some schools have a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy, meaning leaning on the wallets of the parents in their community.

"We looked at that idea for a very brief moment, but for ease of management and other practicalities, we decided that this is something the school could do to lift the standing of the school and engage our students and community in learning," he said.

"In reality, the school is actually, dare I say it, reasonably well funded. Because of the socio-economic status of the school, the school is tasked with reducing the impact that economic disadvantage can have on students.

"We're really trying hard to combat and break down those barriers. We know education breaks that cycle. This strategy is as much about enriching and extending our top students as much as re-engaging those students that can struggle with learning."

He said the school had done a lot of careful thinking around how iPads traditionally get used at home - often passively, watching videos, YouTube, gaming or whatever addictive stuff sucks you in.

"We've worked hard to address concerns within the community about screen time," he said.

"Parents have asked us 'are iPads going to teach or are teachers going to teach? What is the iPad actually going to do?'

"We've worked hard addressing that and we've conducted a number of sessions with parents where we've literally placed parents into the role of a learner, put the iPad in their hands, with teachers conducting micro-lessons with iPad integration.

"Parents can see that while the curriculum has evolved over time, the fundamental elements remain the same. Literacy and numeracy is still our core business. However with iPads, the way students get to express their learning has changed - rather than being in a traditional book or worksheet, it's quite different.

"Expressing understanding or thinking in that way doesn't actually suit all students. Using the iPad unlocks a huge variety of ways in which students can demonstrate their learning.

"New assessment techniques are helping teachers to get real clarity about their students learning achievements."

The school's P and C has been really supportive of the initiative, with president Kate Daniel saying the "impact of the program is palpable".

"I see first hand the work that our students are completing, and I see how effective technology use is able to engage kids that were lost in the system," she said.

"It gives disengaged kids a different way to learn, and it gives our engaged kids a chance to shine!"

She said the program had been meticulously planned, carefully funded and professionally supported at every step.

"Mr Tate has brought a wealth of experience in terms of delivering such a program, and that has given our staff and students confidence in pursuing such a innovative program within our school," she said.

"Along with the support of Nicole Humphreys, Mr Tate and his team have implemented the iPads in an authentic way, and have allowed them to be used as a tool to engage and inspire many students in their educational endeavours.

"The language that our kids use around their learning is changing. They are being challenged in ways they hadn't before, and are rapidly expanding their skill set.

"The P and C is extremely supportive of the program, and have been consulted and included at every stage.

"As parents we have asked questions, and we have not only had them answered, but have also been educated often about how the devices are used in the classroom!

"We too have been the students.

"As the P and C president, I am immensely proud and excited about the direction our school is taking.

"I'm thrilled our school is leading in this area, and can't wait to tell people about what Nowra PS students are achieving."

Students at Nowra Public are already writing code to make things work, even those as young as kindergarten.

"We've got kids coding robots and flying drones, who are actually learning how to code," Mr Tate said.

"There are coding applications that we provide on the iPads where students have to design, create and debug a set of instructions to fly the drone or control the path of a robot successfully."

"They are highly engaging activities, one that keeps a close eye on the future." Ms Humphreys said

"Students are using designing and coding skills to measure physical activity, tying into the science and personal development and health syllabi.

"They are coding wearable electronics now to measure movement - the difference between a burpee or a sit-up.

"They are coding for wearable sensors that look and measure movement, and then tally up and provide data.

"Students are working in teams, trialling ideas to see if it works, getting it right. If not they keep going, working to fix their designs.

"Student resilience is growing. They know that they're not going to get it right straight away, they've got to make it better.

"They see it as a fun thing."

Mr Tate said teachers are getting as much out of the program as the students.

"As teachers, we know what we are getting out of it. We are always keeping our eye on the curriculum," he said.

"We aren't teaching technology skills as such, we are teaching literacy and numeracy, but we use technology to support our delivery of lessons, and students use technology while they complete their classwork.

"With a varied teaching workforce, it's been an interesting learning experience for staff as well. At times, shaping existing practices to accommodate these tools was confronting for our teachers, but we have been coaching them through this.

"It has been really important to be able to say that you don't have to toss out everything you've ever done.

"It's just about taking what you know and adapting it."

"We ask 'What can these iPads offer you and your students?'

"The curriculum hasn't changed and good teaching hasn't changed. This is just another aspect of creating a great classroom experience to support learning."

Ms Humphreys said school community concerns about stifled creativity, or students being absorbed by screens leading to a lack of personal engagement had been addressed.

"There is a lot of collaboration - we have classes coding a robotic ball around a maze in the classroom," she said.

"The kids were coding, doing work around measurement and angles, plotting a path, enormous amounts of problem-solving.

"Yes they all had an iPad, but it was a productive and busy classroom. The amount of conversation the kids were having with each other, sharing of screens, coding ideas, even recording their attempts, it is fascinating."

As with any technology initiative, Mr Tate said the school knows it will have to eventually replace its current iPad crop as new and improved versions are released.

"As leaders of the school, we just need to manage our funds for the long term knowing we have to repurchase the fleet in a few years, however the current machines will serve us for quite a number of years before we need to replace them," he said.

"That's just part of what we do when we budget," Mrs Humphreys said.

The school has even budgeted for breakages, broken screens, of which there had been around seven or eight.

"You've got to remember these devices are in the hands of our youngest students, five-year-olds," Mr Tate said.

"Our teachers have established rules around safe and respectful use of the iPads.

"The students take the iPads around our school, leaving the classroom.

"It's beautiful, and we want them out there, touring the school, using the cameras to document, record things that are happening around them.

"They complete science experiments - filming things in slow motion, placing their videos into their electronic workbooks.

"It's fantastic stuff, really rich. It's often more rewarding than the book or paper.

"The workbook has evolved into something quite different, now it's an electronic book capturing the learning."

He said the school's resourcing was matching high performing elite Sydney schools where parents pay between $50-$60,000 a year tuition, and was a real point of pride.

"Everyone gets the same, everyone has the same opportunity, our gifted and talented students will be able to extend with great teaching, but we are really engaging or re-engaging those students who in the past have struggled and we can improve their results too," he said.

"There should be something in it for everyone"

"And our students have got the latest and greatest. Our kindergarten students will likely never know what school ever looked like before this, this is what school is for them.

"Some of our year 6 students, who are on their way to high school, are looking back longingly, wondering, can we stay?

"Mostly because this is so different, they can see what we're trying to achieve and they are now looking at high school saying 'I hope they're offering this' because, it has changed what school meant for them."

He said one student even made a presentation and pitch to the school's P and C for a 3D printer.

"One of her peers had designed and 3D printed an iPad stand while we had one on loan," he said.

"After six attempts she finally perfected her design it, complete with the ability to house her Apple pencil.

"One of our student leaders was so inspired by the experience that she prepped an entire presentation and pitch on her iPad and went to the P and C, which was amazing.

"She went into great depth about the trial of the 3D printer in the school. She talked about the Australian curriculum and general capabilities and pitched the purchase of one to the parents of the school - there was no discussion when she finished.

"The P and C was totally supportive, so her passionate and thoughtful request secured a 3D printer purchased by our community.

"The school will further support this by purchasing one so there will be two available across our school."

Ms Humphreys said she can already see the results of the investment.

"You can see it's working. I love innovative stuff, I might not be the best at it, but this is great," she said.

"We are all learning - there is ongoing professional learning offered by the experts in the school at staff development days, staff meetings.

"We're all sitting in there learning, I'm in there learning with my staff.

"I may not use it in quite the same manner because I'm not in the classroom these days, but I certainly know what they are doing.

"It's important for me as the principal to be involved in what's happening. This ties into everything we want to achieve."

Mr Tate said, easily the most challenging part of this is working with parents about their expectations.

"They often want school to look like what school was like for them," he said.

"However, schools have had to move on, society has changed and our job is to prepare kids for society."

"Whatever a student wants to do when they finish school, we've got to provide them with the skill sets they need for whatever that is," Mrs Humphreys said.

"And give them the opportunity to develop that skill set. That's what teaching is about, recognising their potential and help them achieve that potential, whatever it might be."

And then the question of how to power 580 iPads that all need charging at one time or another.

The school has put in place bulk charging stations into all rooms so that devices are re-charged and ready for use at the beginning of each school day.

"To offset costs considering our whole school is air-conditioned now, we have solar panels and we are looking at getting more," Mrs Humphreys said.