Dumped parents’ fury at Adelaide High School shared zone overhaul

Furious parents have spoken out after being dumped from Adelaide’s CBD public high schools in a rezoning overhaul, saying their long-term housing and education plans have been dashed. SCHOOLS DATA: HOW THEIR RESULTS COMPARE

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Furious parents have spoken out after being dumped from Adelaide’s CBD public high schools in a rezoning overhaul, saying their long-term housing and education plans have been dashed.

Steve Hann and his family bought a home in Black Forest in November to be in the shared zone for Adelaide High and Adelaide Botanic High.

“We’re now screened out of the Adelaide High School zone,” Mr Hann, who has daughters aged four and 18 months, told The Advertiser.

“I’ve heard (Education Minister) John Gardner said last year there’d be no changes to school zones.

“When we heard yesterday we were pretty angry.

“I don’t know whether to move house again or choose another public or a private school.

“Our house value has probably dropped overnight.”

The State Government will remove several suburbs from the shared zone, affecting hundreds of families.

It will also spend $18 million expanding Adelaide High School’s capacity by 350 students to cope with the addition of Year 7 students and other enrolment pressures.

The Advertiser today revealed another $22 million for nine more schools. A further announcement has been made of $56 million for Roma Mitchell College, Port Augusta Secondary School, Nuriootpa High School, Mark Oliphant College, Eastern Fleurieu R-12 School, Playford International College, Seaview High School, Golden Grove High School, Heathfield High School and Mount Compass Area School.

Roma Mitchell College will grow by 500 students by 2022, Seaview High by 420 students and Golden Grove High by 400 students, including Year 7s.

Mr Hann was one of several frustrated parents who met outside Black Forest Primary School to vent their frustration and sign a petition opposing the changes.

He said they were keen on Adelaide High because of its good reputation. They also liked the option of Adelaide Botanic through the shared zone, as having the choice of two schools’ specialities meant it was more likely they’d find one that fitted with their girls’ future interests.

The Hanns are now zoned to Springbank Secondary, which had just 130 students last year. Mr Hann said at such a small school “subject choice won’t be that great”.

Adelaide High School on West Tce. Picture: File

Some parents also took to social media to express their views.

Parent Emma Fleetwood posted on The Advertiser’s Facebook page that she “can’t believe the news”.

“We have been told for years we will be zoned for Adelaide High once the new Botanic High is built. It’s been up and running all of three weeks, and then suddenly the decision is made to change the zone,” she wrote.

“People have made major life decisions based on high school zones, and then it’s changed on us without warning. Totally unfair.

“If all schools were equal, it would not matter, but the people who have all fallen out of the Adelaide High zone have all been rezoned to school’s that are substandard in comparison.”

Andy Briggs was in a similar situation: “We live 100 metres from the corner of South Rd and Henley Beach Rd and are close to Adelaide High, yet as of today are no longer in the zone. Not happy Jan.”

Patsy Whittington agreed, posting: “And so is Walkerville and we are now out also. Love the consultation process!!!!”

But not everyone was on the same page. Caz Boyd made the point that the more students that attended a particular state school, the higher the funding would be.

“Parents can help change their local schools by sending their children there and getting involved in the school community. Not all of the commonly believed advantages of sending children to schools that have been labelled “good” actually materialise and they are often not backed by data.”

And Richard Worso posted: “What a load of rubbish. These parents think their kids are entitled. The parents only want bragging rights. As for the property values, the value will drop only if supply exceeds demand. That won’t happen.”

FUNDING COMMITMENTS

$56 million to support enrolment growth across:

Roma Mitchell College

Port Augusta Secondary School

Nuriootpa High School

Mark Oliphant College

Eastern Fleurieu R-12 School

Playford International College

Seaview High School

Golden Grove High School

Heathfield High School

Mount Compass Area School

$18 million to expand Adelaide High by 350 students

Funds for ‘priority projects’

$4m - Seaview High School

$3m - Kapunda High School

$3m - Mount Compass Area School -

$2m - Heathfield High School -

$2m - Golden Grove High School - $2m

$2m- Henley High School - $2m

$2m - Wirreanda Secondary School - $2m

$2m - Blackwood High School - $2m

$2m - Craigmore High School - $2m