Massive upgrade planned for Unley High School
A $32 million expansion of Unley High School has been announced - just as neighbouring Springbank Secondary College faces closure. See the concept images.
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Unley High School is set to undergo a $32.5 million expansion as the future of nearby Springbank Secondary College remains under a cloud.
The State Government has announced a new three-storey building for flexible learning including home economics, technology, art, science and classroom spaces will be built at the popular inner-southern suburbs public school.
The campus upgrade will include a new courtyard with a covered outdoor learning area called “Unley Square”.
Existing spaces will also be refurbished and ageing infrastructure demolished.
The upgrade is scheduled for completion before 2022 when Year 7s start at the school and will see Unley’s capacity increase to 1700, up from 1250.
The news of the redevelopment comes as the State Government has revealed it is considering the future of neighbouring school, Springbank Secondary College
The P asadena school will close at the end of this year, if a ministerial review finds it is unviable.
Should Springbank close, students in its zone would be transferred to Unley’s zone.
In that case, additional capital works would be done to increase Unley’s capacity to allow it to accommodate more students.
Education Minister John Gardner said 90 per cent of families living within Springbank’s zone were already choosing to send their children elsewhere.
“While we have confidence in the teaching and learning at Springbank Secondary College, it is concerning that our confidence is not shared by the local community,” Mr Gardner said.
“Our priority is to ensure that current and future generations of students have access to high-quality public education.
“A sustained period of very low enrolments is having an impact on the school’s ability to offer students a broad and varied curriculum with specialist subjects and teachers.
“Conducting a school review of this nature is a very difficult decision and we will be carrying out thorough consultation incorporating feedback from all relevant parties including students, parents, staff and the governing councils of local schools.”
Parents at the Daws Rd school overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to merge with Unley in 2016 amid falling enrolments.
Since then, the school has embarked on a rebuilding program aimed to increase student numbers.
It was renamed from Pasadena High School to Springbank Secondary College in 2018.
