Demountables surge as parents fight to get kids into prized public schools

Parents are going to ­extreme measures to cheat ­enrolment rules at already overcrowded schools, seeing dozens of demountables plonked onto campuses across Sydney over two years to deal with the student surge.

Schools across Sydney have added dozens more demountables in the space of just two years to deal with a surge in students, as parents go to ­extreme measures to cheat ­enrolment rules at already overcrowded schools.

A bid by the Department of Education to curb ballooning student numbers at popular public schools by shrinking catchment areas has failed to work, with parents prepared to commit enrolment fraud.

Real estate agents say some parents are forging lease agreements to pretend they are local. Others rent property in the enrolment zone but do not actually live there.

It comes after The Daily Telegraph last week revealed some public school students had less space to play than NSW prisoners.

Now it can be revealed Carlingford West Public School has seen demountables surge from 51 in 2020 to 93 this year.

Demountable Classrooms seen at Carlingford West Public School. Picture: James Gourley

At Riverbank Public School in The Ponds, an extra 13 have been added to the playground over the same period, while an additional 12 have been erected at Castle Hill High.

Epping West and Chatswood and Glenwood high schools have also seen a ­dramatic increase in the ­number of demountables.

Riverbank Public School are in demand.

Glenwood High School and

Carlingford West has become so popular with parents because of its outstanding ­NAPLAN results that the school is now demanding parents of prospective kindergarten students prove they have been renting in the catchment area for more than a year.

Margot Brattoli from Showcase Realty Carlingford said ”parents will go to any lengths” to get their kids into the school.

“I have had people forge a lease,” she said.

Kristine Tan, with her daughter Alicia La Vinh, 10, who attends Carlingford West Public School. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“There are some who will make an offer (on a rental property) and say look, we’re not going to live in it ... but we will give you $400 a week.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman said many of the additional demountables were being used while extra classrooms were being built.

NSW Labor education spokeswoman Prue Car said the government had failed to manage enrolment growth.

“It’s a planning nightmare,” she said.