Springbank Secondary College has only seven per cent of the students within its zone, leaving it at risk of closure
Only a handful of students within this school’s zone actually go there, leaving it at risk of closure.
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A suburban public high school is at risk of closure because only a tiny proportion of students in its zone are enrolled there.
Education Minister John Gardner will on Thursday meet with Springbank Secondary College leaders to discuss options including a ministerial review that could lead to closure.
Education Department figures show that of 846 students who live in Springbank’s zone and attend public high schools, just 62, or 7 per cent, attend the Daws Rd college. That compares to 399 students, or 47 per cent, who go to Unley High, while 63 are at Urrbrae Agricultural High, 58 at Mitcham Girls and 46 at Glenunga International High. Many others in the Springbank zone would attend private schools.
Mr Gardner said he had great confidence in principal Wendy House and the quality of teaching and learning at the school, which has partnerships with Flinders University, the Australian Science and Mathematics School and Basketball SA.
But “a range of historical factors” meant local families continued to look elsewhere. If Mr Gardner orders a ministerial review it will trigger a broad community consultation. Ms House said: “At this stage we will just work through what the possibilities are.”
The situation throws into doubt a planned $10 million upgrade – money pledged in 2017 by the former Labor government – a year after Springbank parents voted down a “voluntary amalgamation” proposal to close the Daws Rd campus and merge with Unley High. A spokesperson for the Friends of Springbank Secondary College Facebook group was “bitterly disappointed to have not seen investment in the school”, which was “crying out for a major upgrade”.
“This site presents a perfect opportunity to create a modern, 21st century school that is equivalent in standard to Adelaide Botanic High. If a ministerial review does go ahead, I urge the minister to put all options on the table, including a major upgrade or rebuild.”
Enrolments at Springbank, formerly Pasadena High and, before that, Daws Rd High, are up this year from 149 to 167. But it had 290 a decade ago. Its current capacity is 450 and in its heyday it had 1200 students.
Springbank's zone grew when the Government shrank Adelaide High’s zone last year. But a $12.5 million upgrade of Unley High, to expand its capacity by 450 to 1700, means it will still be able to take out-of-zone teens, soaking up demand from the Springbank zone.