When the travelling showmen and their rides and food vans pulled into Orange Showground over the past two weeks ahead of this weekend’s 146^th Orange Show there was one unusual vehicle among them.

It’s a school on wheels.

The National School for Travelling Show Children [NSTSC] travels throughout the east coast of Australia all year long.

David Calkins was at the wheel of the truck while wife Lisa is one of three teachers who provide tuition to the primary school children of the carnival workers.

Mrs Calkins said there were 18 students at the school this week in Orange, part of an enrolment of 70 for the NSTSC across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, ACT and Queensland.

“It is a normal school, we have a daily routine, a daily structure but we are on the move,” she said.

Every one or two weeks they go to school in a different town.

After 20 years teaching at bricks and mortar schools it has been a change for her.

“It was an adjustment to get used to it but I like the challenge,” she said.

The curriculum is set by the Dubbo School of Distance Education which also monitors the children through weekly individual Skype sessions.

Mrs Calkins said the school played a vital role to help out the parents.

“I think it is something the community definitely needs,” she said.

It’s a time honoured tradition.

Arts and craft on show.

Full information and schedule of events.