New Catholic school in Walloon being investigated by Brisbane Catholic Education

Several new public schools will open in Ipswich over the next few years and a new Catholic school for the city is also being investigated.

Foundation students, parents and staff of Sophia College in Plainland celebrateed their first day this year.

ESTABLISHING a new Catholic school in Ipswich’s growing western corridor is being investigated.

It is understood Brisbane Catholic Education is exploring setting up a new school in Walloon to take advantage of the expected population growth in the area.

About 42,000 people are expected to ultimately live in the rural corridor between Walloon and Rosewood.

Catholic school Sophia College opened in Plainland in 2021.

Two new Catholic schools were opened in the south east this year in Plainland in the Lockyer Valley and Yarrabilba in Logan.

Another two are on the way next year in Fitzgibbon in north Brisbane and Merrimac on the Gold Coast.

A parcel of land for a school in Walloon has yet to be secured in what is a lengthy process conducted many years before a school welcomes its first students.

No contracts have been signed or development applications submitted and it is understood construction on a new school for Ipswich’s western suburbs would be a few years down the track.

“Brisbane Catholic Education continues to grow our network of schools across southeast Queensland,” BCE said in a statement.

“We currently operate 144 schools.

“We are unable to discuss proposals for other locations until we have finalised plans including all necessary consultation and approvals.

Several new public schools will open in Ipswich in 2023 and 2024.

“However, we will continue to look to provide more Catholic schooling options within the greater Ipswich area, which is already home to some outstanding Catholic schools that are well supported by their communities.

“In 2022 we will open another co-educational secondary college and a primary school.

“Sophia College in Plainland and San Damiano College in Yarrabilba opened in January 2021 with Foundation Year 7 students and will grow by one year level until their first cohort of Year 12 students graduate in 2026.

“In 2022, Holy Spirit College in Fitzgibbon will open with three streams of Year 7 and Star of the Sea primary school will open with Prep to Year 3 students.”

Catholic primary school St Ann’s School opened last year in another high-growth suburb in Redbank Plains.

“The identification and location of new schools and colleges is incorporated within a strategic planning program employed by Brisbane Catholic Education,” BCE said on its website.

“This program draws upon local and state government policies and initiatives which impact on population growth, settlement patterns, infrastructure and land development across the archdiocese.”

The state government says ten new public schools will open in 2023 and 2024, including several in Ipswich.

Ripley Valley State School and Ripley Valley State Secondary College opened last year in the Ripley Valley.

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.