Clare private school student enrolments set to skyrocket after development

A private school is looking for a “quick solution” to expand its regional campus to keep up with demand with its sights on a massive student growth target.

A new private school in the state’s mid north is set to double its student population by 2025.

Horizon Christian School has plans to add six classrooms at its Clare campus with the student body expected to skyrocket after its inaugural intake in 2023

Principal Michael Clisby said a work on a masterplan was yet to begin and would “take some time” to complete but had submitted an application to PlanSA to set up six transportable classrooms.

If approved, the transportables would create fresh hubs for STEM and performing arts at the campus in time for the new school year.

“The transportable buildings are a quick solution to provide a ready opportunity,” Mr Clisby said.

The Clare campus currently has 54 students enrolled in Foundation to Year 8 and is to welcome students through until Year 12 in 2024.

It will immediately grow to between 70 and 80 students and to 100 by the end of 2025.

Horizon Christian School principal Michael Clisby with a student in 2018. Picture: Tait Schmaal

The campus was formally Vineyard Lutheran School which had just 27 students enrolled when it closed in 2022.

Mr Clisby said “enrolments have more than doubled” since last year with figures for next year “well up”.

“The first year has been a great success and it’s a wonderful way to build community,” he said.

“Expressions of interest are heartening and show there is interest.”

Mr Clisby said students in years 9 and 10 will be fully integrated into the school next year while years 11 and 12 will be offered “tailored programs” to meet their needs.

Senior students will be taught with a combination of face-to-face learning at Clare and remote classes at the school’s Balaklava campus.

In total the school has about 470 students across the two campuses.

Mr Clisby said the school was exploring “a whole range” of options for its new senior students and including part of the week being delivered through online learning.

He said school leadership had “every confidence” senior students would be provided with “excellent learning support”.

Mr Clisby said the masterplan for the Clare site would be “in the works” from the start of Term 4 and would accommodate “in excess of 60 new places” by the end of expansion.

The school’s expansion application is currently open for public consultation with PlanSA.