Government refusing to apologise to families shifted from Adelaide CBD high school zone amid petition protesting changes

The State Government is refusing to apologise to angry families it has shifted out of the Adelaide CBD high school zone, despite 1450 parents signing a Labor petition protesting at the change. SCHOOLS DATA: HOW THEIR RESULTS COMPARE

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The State Government is refusing to apologise to angry families it has shifted out of the Adelaide CBD high school zone, despite 1450 parents signing a Labor petition protesting at the change.

READ BELOW: HOW THE NEARBY SCHOOLS COMPARE

But another funding announcement on Wednesday may appease some.

Frustrated parents, some of whom specifically bought houses within the old zone to send their children to CBD high schools, have lashed the change that comes into effect from next year. Steve Hann moved into Black Forest in November to be in the city high school zone but now falls outside it.

Steven Hann with his two daughters Ruby and Matilda at Black Forest Primary School, Black Forest. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“We were pretty angry,” he said. “Our house value has probably dropped overnight.”

Mr Hann 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 meant it was more likely they would find one that fitted their girls’ future interests.

Parent Emma Fleetwood wrote on The Advertiser’s Facebook page: “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.”

Angry parents sign a petition outside the Black Forest Primary School. Picture: AAP/MIKE BURTON

The Advertiser can reveal the State Government has now committed an extra $12.5 million to boost Unley High’s capacity by 450 to 1700 students, meaning it will continue to be able to take out-of-zone enrolments, as well as add Year 7s by 2022.

That means families cut from the shared Adelaide High/Adelaide Botanic zone, but who don’t like the schools they are now zoned to, should still find places at Unley.

Analysis of annual reports shows Unley’s academic results are more on par with Adelaide High than the much smaller Springbank Secondary, Underdale High and Plympton International College, to which hundreds of families have been rezoned.

Local MP Jayne Stinson with parents outside the Black Forest Primary School. Picture: AAP/MIKE BURTON

Opposition education spokeswoman Susan Close said Education Minister John Gardner told Parliament in September there were no plans to change zones.

“How can we believe the Marshall Liberal Government on school zones when they previously ruled out changes and then backflipped?” she said.

Premier Steven Marshall and Mr Gardner yesterday announced $56 million, which they said was all new money, to expand capacities of 10 schools by 2022.

The biggest rises will be Roma Mitchell College by 500 students, Seaview High by 420 and Golden Grove High by 400. Mr Marshall and Mr Gardner would not say sorry to parents affected by the CBD school rezoning, instead blaming the former Labor government for failing to plan for growth.

Adelaide High School on West Tce.

They said Adelaide High would be over capacity next year by 80 students without the zone change, regardless of plans to add Year 7s later.

Springbank Secondary principal Wendy House said her “unique”, small school, which added 30 students this year to total 160, offered more personalised support. She urged parents to visit, saying results data for tiny Year 12 cohorts “isn’t helpful in showing what is happening in schools” as it could be skewed by a couple of students.

HOW THE NEARBY SCHOOLS COMPARE

■ ADELAIDE HIGH

Enrolments 2018: 1473

Year 12 grades in 2017: As 28.6%, Bs 47.2%, Cs 22.5%

Year 9 NAPLAN students meeting SA Education Department’s standard in 2017: Reading 86%, numeracy 91%

Attendance in 2017: 93%

■ UNDERDALE HIGH

Enrolments 2018: 493

Year 12 grades in 2017: As 17%, Bs 45%, Cs 35%

Year 9 NAPLAN students meeting SA Education Department’s standard in 2017: Reading 54%, numeracy 61%

Attendance in 2017: 90%

■ PLYMPTON INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Enrolments 2018: 413

Year 12 grades in 2017: As 7%, Bs 43%, Cs 44%

Year 9 NAPLAN students meeting SA Education Department’s standard in 2017: Reading 69%, numeracy 61%

Attendance in 2017: 90.5% (includes primary year levels)

■ SPRINGBANK SECONDARY

Enrolments 2018: 130

Year 12 grades in 2017: As 4.4%, Bs 37.7%, Cs 51.1%

Year 9 NAPLAN students meeting SA Education Department’s standard in 2017: Reading 50%, numeracy 83%

Attendance in 2017: 86.3%

■ UNLEY HIGH

Enrolments 2018: 1162

Year 12 grades in 2017: As 26%, Bs 46.5%, Cs 23.4%

Year 9 NAPLAN students meeting SA Education Department’s standard in 2017: Reading N/A, numeracy N/A

Attendance in 2017: 92.8%