Indooroopilly State High School to stop out-of-catchment enrolments in 2024

One of Brisbane’s biggest and best high schools will stop new out-of-catchment enrolments from next year.

Indooroopilly State High School executive principal Michael Hornby says new out of catchment enrolments will cease from next year.

One of Brisbane’s top secondary schools, Indooroopilly State High School in the inner-west, will no longer accept new out-of-catchment enrolments from next year in a bid to rein in overcrowding.

The shock move, which will be discussed at a public forum at the school on Wednesday night (March 22), comes after nearby feeder campus Ironside State School asked parents to sign statutory declarations to remove their children if they moved out of its catchment area.

ISHS has long been highly in demand. It posted the 34th best NAPLAN results in Queensland in 2022 but is also popular for its Programs of Excellence and perceived inclusiveness.

Many of its Programs of Excellence students are not from the local area.

Last year 45 per cent of the school’s then 2680 population, or 1084 students, lived outside catchment. It has a stated capacity of just 2160.

BRISBANE SCHOOL CATCHMENTS MAPPED

That percentage was just behind Brisbane State High School, which has long battled what it called “catchment fraud’’.

Last year 46 per cent of BSHS students were out of catchment.

About 41 per cent of students at Kelvin Grove State College last year were not locals.

The ISHS out-of-catchment percentage has however declined in recent years, hitting a peak of 51 per cent three years ago and falling to 49 per cent in 2021.

Executive principal Michael Hornby told parents in a recent letter that as a result of the school’s “great culture and reputation’’ it had rapidly outgrown built capacity.

“Demand for our school is strong which reflects the unique, progressive culture of our school.

“For example, for the 2023 school year, Indooroopilly had 300 more out-of-catchment applications than we were able to enrol.

Indooroopilly State High School is bursting at the seams despite an impressive building program.

“Unfortunately, due to the growing number of students coming from in-catchment, without additional facilities it is highly unlikely that we will be able to take out-of-catchment enrolments for the 2024 school year.

“I know that this news will cause heartache for families and I apologise in advance to those students and families who had intended on joining us here at Indooroopilly in 2024.

“However, with the increasing demand on our facilities, only in-catchment applications, siblings and children of staff members will be able to enrol students in Indooroopilly in 2024.’’

About $30 million has been spent on new buildings in the past few years, including $18.7 million for a state-of-the-art multistorey learning centre, $12.1 million for a multipurpose sports complex and $300,000 for a new tuckshop.

Parents who took to Facebook to debate the announcement were split, with some in favour but others unimpressed.

The impressive new multi-storey learning centre.

“I am glad the school is bringing in limits. The quality of schooling for in-catchment students is surely compromised when overcrowded,’’ one parent wrote.

“Build more schools in other catchments. Not easy but not a new unexpected problem either.’’

Finding sites for new schools in the inner-west has, however, been problematic.

Education Minister Grace Grace last week confirmed a new primary school, promised during the 2020 state election campaign, would not be built at the old Toowong bowls club because of flood concerns.

A previous plan to co-locate it at ISHS was also withdrawn after a strong protest campaign.

Indooroopilly State High School will stop new out of catchment enrolments from next year. Picture Tara Croser

ISHS executive principal Michael Hornby.

Local state Greens MP Michael Berkman posted that he was surprised at the announcement.

“This is huge news for Indro and I’m sure it’s disappointing news for parents of some prospective students in 2024 and beyond,’’ he said.

“Families and students gravitate to ISHS and understandably so.

“It’s amazing progressive school with unique excellence and language immersion programs as well as specialised support for kids with specific needs.

“I’d love to see it kept that way - with the State Government stepping up to provide facilities to increase capacity.’’

Local LNP Councillor James Mackay said he would “continue working closely with the school community to keep improving road safety around the school’’.

“We’ll also work to help encourage more students to use public and active transport to reduce congestion,’’ he said.

Mr Berkman said a survey conducted by his office showed many out of catchment students travelled by train, with much of the road congestion near the school generated by parents dropping off students at nearby private schools.

The Enrolment Management Plan Consultation meeting, which is open to everyone, starts at 7pm in the new Multi-Purpose Hall on Ward St.