LNP wants modelling for new school where most students live outside catchment area

The Opposition has demanded the State Government release modelling that showed a new school in Brisbane was needed, after it was revealed more than half the cohort was from outside the catchment area.

THE Opposition has demanded the State Government release modelling that showed a new school in Fortitude Valley was needed, after new figures revealed more than half the cohort was from outside the catchment area.

Of the 138 students enrolled at the Fortitude Valley State Secondary College, 75 live outside the catchment.

Kelvin Grove State College’s enrolment overhaul

New students start at Queensland’s first vertical school

LNP education spokesman Jarrod Mr Bleijie slammed the revelation, claiming the Government had previously said the school was desperately needed.

Fortitude Valley State Secondary College. Picture: AAP Image/Attila Csaszar

“While we have schools across the state that are at capacity and in desperate need of maintenance upgrades, we have a minister pork barrelling her own electorate with a school, based on the government’s own numbers, the majority of which are not local students,” he said.

LNP education spokesman Jarrod Mr Bleijie. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I call on the government now to release all their economic modelling to prove that this school was needed for locals and that it’s not disadvantaging other schools by taking students away.”

FVSSC, which is Queensland’s first vertical school, opened earlier this year to Year 7 students and will eventually house about 1500 students by 2025.

In a question on notice released yesterday, Education Minister Grace Grace said in its opening year, the school supplemented in-catchment enrolments with out-of-catchment enrolments “to ensure a viable and suitably sized cohort to allow for curriculum delivery”.

Ms Grace last night slammed the LNP.

“Honestly, how desperate can the LNP get?” she said.

Minister for Education Grace Grace with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Richard Walker

“Anyone who lives in Brisbane’s inner north knows the growth our suburbs have seen since the last time a new school was built here more than 50 years ago.

“The LNP tried to sell this school land but we saved it, committed to build a new high school before the 2017 election and now we have delivered it.

“As FVSSC grows it will continue to take the enrolment pressure off Kelvin Grove – one of the biggest schools in Queensland.”