Angurugu School is located in the community of Angurugu on Groote Eylandt, 650km east of Darwin and 50km off the Arnhem Land coast in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The population is approximately 1150, however can fluctuate depending on the season and ceremonial activity. The traditional owners of Groote Eylandt are the Warnindilyakwa people, but are referred to by their language name Anindilyakwa. Access to the island is via daily regular passenger air transport. There is a bitumen road from the township of Alyangula on the island to Angurugu; most other roads are dirt so a 4-wheel drive is essential. The island contains a number of rivers and streams which may make travel throughout the island difficult.
There is considerable movement of families and students between the communities of Angurugu and Umbakumba on Groote Eylandt, Milyakburra on nearby Bickerton Island and Numbulwar on the mainland. This results in a certain amount of fluidity in enrolment and attendance figures. Angurugu School offers education from early years to senior years and the student population is 100 per cent Indigenous. The school focuses on the priorities of attendance, student achievement in numeracy, literacy and pathways to employment; as well as community engagement and participation.
Angurugu has been identified as a site under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery, as well as a Territory Growth Town under the NT Government's A Working Future initiative.
