Private schools handed $71m in low-cost loans from the SA government

A Catholic college where numbers are surging as it goes co-ed is among 12 private schools to win up to $10m each in state government loans – with more to come.

Cheap loans worth $71.25m have been awarded to private schools by the state government.

The schools will use the money to invest in new buildings, refurbish existing facilities and create specialist learning areas.

Four colleges – Concordia, King’s Baptist Grammar, St Paul’s and Woodcroft – each received the maximum $10m loan.

The allocations are the first round of a $320m scheme, with the second round now open for applications.

St Paul’s College principal Paul Belton said the school has ambitious growth plans as it prepares to transform from a boys school to co-ed from next year.

Most of the money will be used for a new block which will accommodate senior students on an upper floor and provide modern changerooms at ground level.

“The loan has helped us enormously,” Mr Belton said.

“We’re increasing our student numbers by about 200 next year, we’re going from 760 to 970. So we’ll now move on to another project, to rebuild our primary school.

“The growth is not all because of admitting girls. Catholic Education has been talking for a long time about the need for an affordable Catholic co-ed school in the inner northeast, because there isn’t one.

“Since last year when we announced we would become co-ed, we’ve had about 1000 inquiries.

“So we’re now fully booked for 2022 – and for 2023 there’s not many spaces left either. It highlights there really was a genuine need.”

St Paul’s College principal Paul Belton with Jett, Ada and Bryce. Picture: Tom Huntley

The new building at the Gilles Plains school was designed by Walter Brooke and Associates and is now under construction by Mossop.

Mr Belton said the booming house construction in the urban infill areas of the inner north meant there would be “thousands more kids living here”.

Among the St Paul’s parents looking forward to next year is Jessica Cundy, whose sons Bryce and Jett already attend the school and will be joined by their sister Ada next year.

“Ada can’t wait, she’s super excited,” Ms Cundy said.

“It’ll really help us to only have one drop-off. Quite a lot of our friends are interested in sending their daughters there too.”

An artist's impression of the new building at St Paul's College, Gilles Plains, sesigned by architects Walter Brooke and Associates and being built by Mossop.

Education Minister John Gardner said the capital investment loans of $500,000 to $10m would be interest-free for the first five years, then low-interest for up to a 15-year term.

“These capital projects won’t just support growing enrolments and improve outcomes for more South Australian students – the construction will also support local trades and businesses,” Mr Gardner said.

“Our vision is that every student, in every classroom across the state has access to a world-class education and these loans will go towards projects that will lift educational performance and help children and young people fulfil their potential.

“The support sits alongside the Marshall Liberal Government’s record $1.4 billion investment in public school infrastructure that includes the delivery of five new government schools and more than 100 upgrades to public schools around South Australia.”