Indooroopilly State High School gets 10 new classrooms in two weeks after crowding fears

Fears students at one of Brisbane’s best high schools would have to learn in storage rooms next year have sparked an around-the-clock building frenzy, amid claims a leading builder has been told to get the job done by term 1 next year “whatever the cost’’.

Work on the demountables has gone on late into the night.

Fears students at one of Brisbane’s best high schools would have to learn in converted storage rooms and in the library next year due to chronic overcrowding have sparked an around-the-clock building frenzy.

Toowong-based Hutchinson Builders has had up to 35 workers on site at Indooroopilly State High School this week, toiling away from daybreak until as late as 9pm to install two, two-level demountables and one single-level structure.

There would be a total of 10 classrooms housing several hundred students.

A source told Quest Newspapers “Hutchies’’ was instructed by the State Government to get the work done before term 1 next year “whatever the cost’’.

They also claimed the looming crisis was first known as early as February this year.

Another source said the school had submitted multiple requests for demountables to the Department of Education, at least as far back as mid-year.

A DoE spokesman said the government was undertaking master planning for future infrastructure, as well as creating six classrooms within the existing school footprint.

Ten new classrooms would also be installed over the school holiday break and be ready for term 1, 2024.

“These buildings were pre-purchased stock held by the department for emergent requirements,’’ he said.

“The buildings are being installed by a supplier on the department’s standing offer arrangement utilising pre-approved rates.

“The quoted price was also reviewed by an independent quantity surveyor and deemed reasonable for the project being undertaken.’’

ISHS’ student population was forecast to swell to 2937 students next year, well above its maximum enrolment capacity of 2140.

The school, which posted the 36th highest Year 9 NAPLAN results in the state this year, already had 22 demountable classrooms.

Its P&C has demanded the government urgently release a masterplan to address how the school would cope with the fast-growing school-aged population in its catchment.

The school has come under such pressure from surging enrolments it announced early this year that all out-of-catchment enrolments, including gifted students previously accepted for excellence programs, would be halted.

Surging medium and high-density unit projects and strong demand for ISHS, one of Queensland’s leading state secondary schools, have driven a sustained jump in enrolment applications in recent years.

It comes after the school’s P&C took the unprecedented step on December 6 of writing to the Education Minister, Treasurer, then-Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and every local politician after being told the library, two music rooms and storage areas would have to be repurposed as classrooms.

But in one of the new-look State Government’s first actions, 10 extra demountable classrooms were announced on December 15.

Work on the demountables has gone on late into the night this week.

Hutchies has a reputation for providing urgent fixes, stepping in only a few months ago to complete a footpath at a marathon two-year ColesLocal supermarket project in nearby Taringa.

Vice-President Tony Ellison said he believed Hutchies’, one of Queensland’s biggest builders, was racing to complete exterior works before forecast heavy rain this weekend and over the Christmas break.

The final demountable was due to have been installed on Thursday, December 21.

“They’ve had up to 35 people there on site. Hutchies was still going until 9pm on Tuesday — they’ve been amazing,’’ Mr Ellison said.

“The school’s infrastructure manager was supposed to be on holidays but has been there every day.

Work began last week to install 10 new demountable classrooms on the Indooroopilly State High School oval.

“We requested 16 demountables but have got 10.’’

He said despite the shortfall, the P&C was very grateful and amazed at the speed at which the demountables have been installed.

The Department of Education spokesman said the library would continue to be available for normal use “as it has been in previous years’’.

“The storage rooms will not be used as general classrooms,’’ he said.

“Like all schools across Queensland, the department has engaged regularly with Indooroopilly SHS across 2023 to monitor enrolments and plan to meet in-catchment enrolment requirements.

“The department engaged an architect earlier in 2023 to develop a future-focused master plan to provide for additional learning and specialist spaces at Indooroopilly SHS.

“These enhancements will support the delivery of school curriculum and ensure that staff, administration and other ancillary facilities across the school site are appropriate for long-term, in-catchment student forecasts.

“In addition to the current works the Queensland Government has invested almost $44 million in infrastructure at Indooroopilly State High School since 2015.

“This includes the delivery of a new three-storey learning centre with 18 learning spaces, two flexible spaces and seven specialist learning spaces in August 2022, a multi-purpose hall with three multi-purpose courts, tennis courts, gymnasium, canteen, staff room and ancillary spaces completed in December 2020 and six hire buildings installed in March 2023 to address enrolment increases.’’