Location of new high school in Adelaide CBD revealed
ADELAIDE’S new city high school will open in 2019, with a special focus on health and sciences, and be based in a refurbished building on Frome Rd.
- HOW THE ADVERTISER BROKE THE STORY
- Premier vows to build high school on old RAH site
- Old RAH site election ground zero
- Labor promises new city high school
ADELAIDE’S new city high school will open in 2019, with a special focus on health and sciences, and be based in a refurbished building on Frome Rd.
The State Government has made the announcement this afternoon, after speculation it may back away from an election promise to put the school on the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site.
Premier Jay Weatherill today said the school would cater for 1000 students and be constructed following a refurbishment of the Reid Building on Frome Road — the site exclusively revealed by The Advertiser last month.
The building will be purchased along with surrounding land from the University of South Australia for $30 million.
“This new city high school will be a world-class facility and is likely to be in high demand from parents living in the city and inner suburbs who are seeking the best educational outcomes for their children,” Mr Weatherill said.
“The school will specialise in health and sciences, preparing young South Australians for jobs in some of our fastest-growing industries.
“The Government is investing $85 million into building the school, which will transform the current UniSA Reid Building into one of the nation’s best public high schools.”
Deputy Premier John Rau said the Reid Building was the best choice for the new school as it required less internal reconstruction and was close to open space and transport.
“The State Government has been in discussions with UniSA over purchasing the building since it was identified as a possibility,” he said.
“The university are looking to move these existing services to their new building currently under construction on North Terrace, consolidating their current research effort.
“Finalising the location of the new city school means we can now continue to plan for the entire Royal Adelaide Hospital site.
“The RAH precinct is an important part of the broader riverbank project, and it presents a fantastic opportunity for development.
“The redevelopment of this precinct needs to continue to draw people to this site and I am confident we will see some exciting plans for this area soon.”
The city high school zone will be expanded to include Bowden, Brompton, Hindmarsh, Hilton, Kurralta Park, Glandore, Black Forest, Nailsworth, Medindie, Medindie Gardens, Gilberton, Walkerville, Collinswood, as well as eastern parts of Torrensville, Mile End, Richmond, Marleston and the section of Clarence Park zoned to Black Forest Primary School.
Enrolment policies for both city high schools will be established by a new committee involving governing councils, teachers, principals and the Education Department.
Education and Child Development Minister Susan Close said the new zoning broadened the educational possibilities for teenagers in the north and west of the city.
“We’re excited that even more young people in inner-city suburbs will have access to the CBD schools,” Dr Close said.
“We recently increased capacity at Adelaide High School from 1200 to 1450 students, and this new school will allow 1000 more students from Adelaide’s inner-city suburbs to attend a modern, top-class facility.
“With its educational focus on health and science and its proximity to the universities, we hope this high school will encourage young people to pursue tertiary studies and enter careers in those high-demand fields.”
Building work on the site is expected to commence within the next 12 months.
Before the last election the Opposition promised a new city high school on West Tce, linked to the existing Adelaide High School by a raised footbridge over the roadway.