Students will be able to learn onsite construction delays at Adelaide Botanic High School
Fears students at the new CBD high school would have to learn off site to start 2024 have been allayed.
Education
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All new Adelaide Botanic High students will be able to learn on site next year after an announcement of contingency plans for delays to the $98m expansion of the school.
Education Minister Blair Boyer confirmed that the school will welcome all new students in Term 1 in 2024 despite delays due to conditions in the construction industry including materials and labour shortages.
The builder, Lendlease, advised that the building would not open for students by the start of the next year even as workers take extra shifts and increased weekend construction to finish the build.
“While we’re disappointed by the construction delays and hope to continue to make
up time over the coming months, I’m pleased we’ve been able to work out an interim
arrangement,” Mr Boyer said.
Principal of Adelaide Botanic High, Alistair Brown, said he was “pleased” with the arrangement.
“Having our whole school community remain together will help maintain our school culture and provide continuity for our students, staff and families,” Mr Brown said.
“We have explored several options to minimise disruption to learning during the delay moving into the new space.”
Parents have been notified and will receive regular updates ahead of the completion of the new building, which will include extra learning spaces, a rooftop sports area, research and study areas and a performing arts facility.
Earlier in the year, it was unclear whether students would be able to return to campus at the start of 2024.
Speaking in July, Mr Boyer said the Education Department and the government were working on contingency plans to “accommodate students somewhere else until the build is complete”.
The expansion will accommodate growth from the current 1250 students to 1950.
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