NSW schools upgrades to include Jordan Springs, Seven Hills, Kyeemagh | Full list
Schools across NSW bursting at the seams will see $7.9 billion spent upgrading old classrooms, science labs and halls over the next four years but teachers say it’s not enough. See if your school is on the list.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The State Government has boasted a record investment in schools, with more than $7.9 billion allocated for developments and upgrades across NSW in the next four years.
Over the next financial year, the government has also allocated funding for 44 new and upgraded school projects, including allocations for 30 projects that were prioritised for planning and 14 new works in areas of high need.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said public schools had never been better funded as they were now.
“Our high growth areas are seeing more investment than ever before, with western Sydney alone seeing $2 billion investment and over $1 billion in growing regional areas over four years,’’ Ms Mitchell said.
“This investment takes our historic school building program to new heights with $7.9 billion being spent over the next four years on top of the $7 billion already invested since 2017.
“This Budget is turbo charging education in NSW, we are building more schools, creating a world-leading curriculum, upskilling and expanding our teaching workforce and ensuring every dollar goes towards students and their education.”
But NSW Teachers Federation deputy president, Henry Rajendra, said the Budget failed “to go far enough” and needed to address student enrolments, which he said were projected to increase 25 per cent over the next 20 years.
“Many schools in many suburbs, while they’re overcrowded, can only get worse,’’ he said.
“There needs to be a long-term plan matched with the necessary investment to ensure our communities are well serviced by the provision of local schools.’’
Mr Rajendra said the government needed to provide too more infrastructure to cope with the demands soaring populations placed on growing suburbs.
WHERE SCHOOL UPGRADES WILL BE DELIVERED – FULL LIST
EASTERN SUBURBS
Randwick Boys’ and Girls’ High School’s $5 million upgrade will go towards more classrooms and incorporating community accessible features but the allocation was slammed by Coogee state Labor MP Marjorie O’Neill and the school P and Cs.
The objections follow a report that said $60 million was needed to adequately upgrade the schools, with suggestions for Randwick Girls including a new lift, library refurbishment and food technology spaces, while for Randwick Boys, a Block K extension, a new covered walkway and refurbishment of the gym, science labs and general learning spaces, were suggested.
Randwick Girls’ High School has about 970 students while Randwick Boys’ High School has about 670 students. The State Government says both schools have capacity for over 1000 students.
WESTERN SYDNEY
Cranebrook High School’s $4.5 million upgrade is due to be completed by 2023 when three classrooms spaces, a covered outdoor learning space and a seminar room are planned.
Darcy Road Public School at Wentworthville will receive a $4.4 million boost long plagued by demountable classrooms, the government hopes to counter that with a $3.3 million upgrade for Girraween Public School.
At Schofields, Galungara Public School, which opened in term one, $14 million has been allocated to develop stage two, which has 19 learning spaces, a library, hall, canteen and sheltered outdoor learning area for 500 children.
Glenmore Park High School’s $12 million performing arts and learning centre is under development and will boast a 400-seat hall, a raised stage area with back-of-house holding rooms, change rooms and stores. The project is at the design stage.
The $23 million Mulgoa Rise Public School at Glenmore Park will be built at Forestway Drive.
Glenwood High School’s $11.2 million upgrade was announced in 2019 but it is still in the planning stages to update “core facilities”.
Greystanes Public School’s $7.1 million allocation will go towards 24 classrooms, an administration building refurbishment and a new admin block (Block L).
Construction work for Block M and the covered outdoor learning structure have finished. The project is due for completion in late 2021.
At Jamison High School in South Penrith, construction of a multi-purpose hall to provide indoor sports courts, equipment and storage rooms and toilets, is under way as part of the $9 million project.
The $50 million Jordan Springs Public School opened in July and the $12 million stage two works will go towards providing 27 flexible learning spaces, library, hall, two covered outdoor learning areas and more classrooms to support up to 600 students in the rapidly growing suburb.
Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School at Emu Plains has received $5.3 million upgrade for a new multi-purpose hall, indoor sports courts, sports and equipment storage rooms, when it is due to open in 2022.
Parramatta West Public School is transforming with $28 million for 20 permanent teaching spaces, a multi-purpose hall and new administration centre nearing completion.
Pendle Hill High School was allocated $39 million in the most recent Budget for a three-storey building with 14 learning spaces, lecture learning unit, new library unit and staff development space to be ready in late 2022.
At Richmond High School – Richmond Agricultural College, about $7 million has been allocated to the upgrade, which will include establishing a partially selective student intake and an agricultural education stream at the school.
The project proposal includes an upgrade to facilities with a focus on science, technology, environment and maths, and agricultural education.
At one of the suburbs with the highest densities in Australia, Wentworth Point will get Sydney Olympic Park High School, with planning under way for the second stage.
The $41 million high school is in strong demand — in December, Parramatta Council slammed the State Government and urged it not to repeat the mistakes it did with Arthur Phillip High School, the state’s first high-rise school in the Parramatta CBD.
“Arthur Phillip High School does not have a library, Arthur Phillip High School does not have playing fields at present,’’ Labor councillor Patricia Prociv said.
“They use Garside Park (at Granville). We need this school to have everything included in the school.’’
Seven Hills High School’s upgrade focuses on vocational training with $9 million set aside in the Budget to develop purpose-built facilities and courses that allow students to receive industry-standard training on site and pursue careers in community and health services, construction, plumbing, transport, logistics and warehousing.
The project was announced in August 2020 and the concept design has been finalised.
Wentworth Point Public School will receive a $2.1 million for its stage two upgrade, a much needed revamp to meet the demands for a suburb where the population is exploding. The suburb has 13,000, which is the size of Lithgow, and the Olympic Park peninsula is expected to blow out to 55,0000 in the next 20 years.
Wentworth Point Public School only opened in 2018 with 400 students and now has 520 pupils with five demountables.
Wentworthville Public School’s $39 million overhaul is due to open in mid 2022 when it will have 31 new permanent learning spaces, a new hall and library, a new special education area, administration and staff facilities and special program rooms.
NORTH SHORE
Chatswood primary and high school will be redeveloped to the tune of $250 million by 2023. In April 2020, School Infrastructure NSW released its vision to redevelop the rapidly growing schools into 150 new and refurbished classrooms for more than 3500 students between kindergarten and Year 12.
The multi-storey campuses will include changes to the campuses including bulldozing blocks of demountables, removing 62 trees and permanently relocating Chatswood Intensive English Centre to St Ives High School.
St Leonards Education Precinct’s first stage was given a $3.6 million boost for a new high school and public school. The most recent funding will include the delivery of the new primary school, which was first announced in the 18/19 Budget.
Stage two of the 4149 million Lindfield Learning Village upgrade is under way and is due to be ready by early 2022 when student facilities include revamping the existing buildings, a new kiss and drop and bus access, and converting the lecture theatres into drama and music teaching theatres. The upgrade will also include the selective virtual high school Aurora College to Lindfield Learning Village.
A new Environmental Education Centre in Middle Head, Mosman, to include an outreach centre, was pledged in 2018-19.
At Mosman High School, $19 million has been set aside for 16 classrooms, as well as a new library, multi-purpose gym and hall, library, outdoor rooftop play space and canteen.
The funding was announced in 2019 and was on public exhibition from April 8 to May 5.
Neutral Bay Public School will receive a $1.9 million upgrade.
North Sydney Public School’s $16.3 million upgrade is being fast-tracked as part of the government’s post-COVID recovery and includes 19 new classrooms, new administration, library, hall, covered outdoor learning area, canteen upgrade and a new entrance gate at Bay Rd, Waverton. The project is in its design phase.
ST GEORGE SUTHERLAND SHIRE
Cronulla High School will get a $2.3 million spruce up for “core facilities’’ but the project is still in its planning phase.
At Jannali East Public School, a $4.1 million school hall, to house a canteen, sports storage and out-of-school care facilities, is in the pipeline.
Engadine High School’s $8.1 million upgrade features a hall with a full basketball court, storage, and amenities but no time frame for the project has been confirmed.
Kyeemagh Public School, formerly Kyeemagh Infants School, is predicted to open in late 2021 after a $31 million government injection towards new classrooms, a library, hall, canteen and sheltered outdoor learning areas.
NORTHERN BEACHES
The Forest High School at Frenchs Forest will be relocated under a $8.4 million government allocation.
The Narrabeen Education Precinct was set aside $3.1 million in the 2021/22 Budget, three years after plans were announced for the project, which will include more specialist sporting facilities for community access and more classrooms for Narrabeen North Public School and Narrabeen Sports High School.
Manly Village Public School has secured $527,000 for its revamp.
Work started on the Mona Vale Public School’s $25 million revamp in June and will include a performance space to share with the community, new staff and administration facilities and improvements to accessibility.
SOUTHWEST SYDNEY
At Bankstown North Public School, $40 million will go towards 24 learning spaces, a new library and special programs rooms, new sports and assembly courts and new admin and staff areas under a project slated for completion in late 2022.
Birrong Boys’ and Girls’ High was allocated $4.9 million.
At Canterbury Boys’ High School, $7 million was allocated for a multipurpose hall. The funds will go towards the planning of a hall to include a stage, indoor sports court, equipment storage and toilets and back-of-house facility.
Canterbury South Public School will be upgraded to the tune of $35 million and slated for completion in late 2022.
Cecil Hills High School will be given a $4.6 million upgrade of “additional permanent teaching spaces and core facilities” that was first planned in the 2018-19 budget.
The $56 million Denham Court Public School is due to open on July 13 and designed to accommodate up to 940 students.
Fairvale High School at Fairfield West was allocated $40 million to replace the bini dome structure, provide 30 learning spaces including specialised classrooms for science, technology and food technology in Block K.
There will also be a multi-purpose hall under Block J where it will house a gym, stage and canteen. The project is listed for completion in late 2021.
Gledswood Hills Public School has been allocated $4.4 million for the stage two, which is to include 20 learning spaces and an extension to the existing carpark for The Hermitage Way site which will house 1000 students.
Harrington Park Public School’s $31 million upgrade is progressing towards the final project of 19 new hall and library, permanent innovative learning spaces, new staff and administration facilities and a new covered outdoor learning area. It is due to be completed in late 2022.
At Glenfield, the selective Hurlstone Agricultural High School’s second stage will comprise $8.6 million towards new and upgraded facilities with capacity for up to 180 boarders, modern farm and dairy facilities and collaboration opportunities with the new Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education, universities and industry.
Liverpool Boys’ and Girls’ High will transform with a $12 million upgrade.
Liverpool West Public School’s stage two upgrade will be given a $2.4 million boost, with works due to be completed early 2023.
Mainsbridge School at Liverpool will relocate to Warwick Farm Public School where special needs children will have new classrooms with quiet zones, a two-storey library and indoor hydrotherapy pool is planned while a multi-purpose hall and performance stage, sports field will be shared with Warwick Farm Public School.
At Milperra Public School, a $3.1 million hall will be built with a stage and storage area and the existing hall will be repurposed as part of a separate project. The project is still in the design stages.
If your children attend Oran Park Public School, $2.1 million has been allocated for the project’s second stage. The South Circuit school is to feature 24 learning spaces, an outdoor learning area, upgrades to administration and staff areas and landscaping under the completed $15 million additions.
At Passfield Park School in Minto, the special needs school is undergoing a $35 million redevelopment with 16 new teaching spaces, as well as a new library, hall, entrance and drop-off area, indoor sports facility and expanded 68-space carpark due to be complete in early 2022.
Picnic Point High School’s $14 million upgrade will include new computer, visual arts, general learning and music spaces, and an upgraded and expanded administration and staff facilities for the Kennedy St site. The project remains in the planning stage.
Picton High School’s $125 million overhaul continues through 2021 after students moved into new buildings in term two. The school’s 1500 students will have new classrooms, library facilities, special education facilities and a new admin areas.
Wilton Public School has been given a $14 million boost to upgrade its hall, library, canteen, covered walkway, admin office and will also receive new parking.
NORTHWEST SYDNEY
Cumberland High School, Carlingford, was promised a $7.1 million boost for more classrooms in the 2018-19 Budget.
The Macquarie Park Education Campus has been promised $16 million for a primary and high schools after funding was first pledged in the 2018-19 Budget.
Castle Hill Public School was allocated $3 million in the most recent Budget, and parents have called for urgent upgrades to address the demountables crisis.
A total of $61 million has been pledged for Carlingford West Public School. A final business case was lodged in July 2020, and in September 2020 the project was announced for delivery as part of the NSW Government Jobs and Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.
Eastwood Public School was allocated $8 million to include nine learning spaces and a toilet block but no start or completion date has been set.
Epping West Public School’s $6.9 million spruce-up proposes permanent and upgraded learning spaces but a time frame has not been confirmed.
John Palmer Public School at The Ponds will get a $14 million upgrade to “core facilities” but a completion date has not been set.
A $2.2 million upgrade has been planned for Matthew Pearce Public School at Baulkham Hills and will include additional fit-for-purpose learning spaces and upgraded facilities at the Astoria Park Rd site.
At Castle Hill, Samuel Gilbert Public School’s $32 million upgrade is slated for completion in early 2022 and includes the already-built Blocks N and P, while external works to create the new school entry are well advanced.
The final project will feature 25 classrooms, a new library, a hall for separate community use, new staff and administration facilities and removing demountable classrooms.
Tallawong Public School at Rouse Hill will receive a $13 million boost but the project’s delay has upset parents who joined the NSW Opposition to call for it to be fast tracked and alleviate the pressure on surrounding schools such as the The Ponds High School.
An Education Infrastructure NSW spokeswoman told NewsLocal a final business case was approved last year and planning works were under way.
INNER WEST, CENTRAL SYDNEY
Orange Grove Public School at Lilyfield has been promised a $2.1 million injection towards its upgrade.
Croydon Public School’s $35 million upgrade includes completed refurbished library and outdoor play space. Construction has started on Block N and $7.5 million was directed into the project at the most recent Budget.
By 2023, Darlington Public School’s $44 million revamp is due for completion. The Camperdown school will receive a new hall and library, as well as new staff and admin facilities and an upgraded canteen and sheltered outdoor learning areas.
Fort Street Public School at Millers Point will receive 24 classrooms, a new school hall and new library under a $16.4 million upgrade that is due to be completed by 2023.
At Marrickville, a preschool will be built on the grounds of Wilkins Public School and is expected to open soon.
REGIONAL AND RURAL NSW
Armidale Secondary College’s $121 million upgrade will be revamped further with a multi-purpose hall for 1500 students and is due to be completed early 2022. The new high school combines Armidale High School and Duval High School.
After funding was allocated in the 2019-19 Budget, Ashtonfield Public School’s $15 million revamp is due to be completed at the end of 2021, allowing demountable classrooms to make way for open space.
Under the upgrade, a two-storey building to house 12 classes, 14 extra staff parking spaces and an upgraded canteen, hall and library and planned.
At Bangalow Public School, $1.4 million was pledged in the 2019-20 financial year for eight learning spaces, the refurbishment of existing classrooms and administration space, and converting two spaces to create a larger library.
Bexhill Public School is earmarked for five permanent classrooms, an upgraded administration building, upgraded staff spaces in the former principal’s residence and revamped community hall as part of its $4 million allocation.
At Bletchington Public School in Orange, $25 million is due to deliver a double-storey block for 10 learning spaces, a hall upgrade, an Information and Communications Technology unit and upgrades of existing learning areas.
Bomaderry High School is earmarked for a $2 million upgrade under the “new major works’’ category.
The allocation follows teachers school stopping work in May over the government’s “failure” to address several leaking and dilapidated buildings at the school.
Braidwood Central School was allocated $3.3 million in the most recent Budget instalment for the $16 million project to comprise six general teaching spaces, music and drama specialist learning areas, refurbishment of two existing buildings and new covered walkways and ramps. Admin and staff facilities will also be refurbished and extended.
Brooke Avenue Public School at Killarney Vale East is due to be upgraded at the end of 2021 with a new building for flexible learning spaces and a sports court.
At Ulladulla, $13 million was allocated to relocate Budawang School to the former Shoalhaven Anglican School site at Milton.
In Bungendore, $34 million for a new high school was allocated in the 2019-20 Budget. As part of the high school, planning the Education Department is also upgrading facilities at Bungendore Public School, including three new permanent classrooms, a new playing field and amenities within the existing primary school.
Dapto Public School at Horsley is undergoing a $25 million revamp with 20 classrooms, a library and admin centre extension and a minor canteen upgrade due to wrap up this year.
A new primary school was promised for Googong in 2018 but a completion date has not been set for the $31 million project to include a library, covered outdoor learning area and admin facilities.
Hunter River High School at Heatherbrae has been promised $1.9 million for “fit-for-purpose learning spaces and core facilities” for up to 1100 students.
At Port Macquarie, Hastings Secondary College will receive $18 million for the redevelopment that includes a multi-sports facility to be shared with the PCYC.
The redevelopment comprises the Port Macquarie and Westport campuses. The Port Macquarie overhaul includes four new learning spaces, three supported learning areas, a new performing arts building, new technological and applied studies facilities and a redeveloped school entry.
The Westport campus comprises a relocated and upgraded administration office, three learning spaces and a new school entry.
Funding was announced in 2019. The construction tender for the main works has closed and the government anticipates it to be awarded soon.
Irrawang High School at Raymond Terrace has been allocated $1.5 million to deliver an upgrade for its 1200 students.
At Jerrabomberra, $25 million has been set aside for a new high school but Schools Infrastructure NSW has few details other than planning is under way.
Jindabyne Education Campus has been allocated $40 million to build a primary and high school, which will replace Jindabyne Central School. Its forecast for completion is early 2023.
On the far North Coast, Kingscliff High School’s $32 million upgrade is due to be ready by late 2022, with works on the new library, refurbished hospitality teaching facilities, a creative and performing arts building and sports pavilion and senior learning environment.
Meanwhile, primary school students at Kingscliff Public are to receive a $39 million upgrade with an extended school hall, student canteen, new library and admin centre. The project will feature a “more visually appealing and practical street entry’’ when it opens in late 2022.
At Bonny Hills, Lake Cathie Public School’s third stage, to be delivered by late 2021, is progressing. The overhaul will feature 17 “new flexible learning spaces’’, specialist learning spaces, a new school hall and a bus bay.
Lennox Head Public School students will receive eight new permanent teaching facilities, a new administration building, a new specialist learning space and out-of-school-hours support facilities. The upgrade is still in the design phase after several Aboriginal artefacts were discovered during due diligence investigations at the school site in 2017 and 2018.
Millthorpe Public School was earmarked for $15 million in 2019 for a two-storey learning hub, 10 classrooms, a new library, and upgrades to existing buildings. Heritage Block B is to be internally renovated.
Moruya High School has received $7.1 million for a support unit for students with disabilities and additional needs. The project will replace the existing demountables.
A $23 million primary school will be built at Murrumbateman over 1.5 hectares at Fairley St.
Murwillumbah Education Campus is a $21 million primary and high school with community health facilities.
The campus will bring together students from Murwillumbah Public School, Murwillumbah East Public School, Murwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School.
The campus masterplan for the campus has been finished and is one of the project’s four design phases.
A total of $1.3 million has been assigned to stage two works atMurrumbidgee Regional High School in Griffith. The project comprises Griffith High School and Wade High School as a single school operating over two sites named Murrumbidgee Regional High School.
The Griffith site includes the conversion of admin and staff areas into learning spaces, an elevator, converting an existing building into a new administration and staff collaboration area and new reception, and an outdoor deck.
The Wade site project includes the conversion of an existing building into a two-storey library with multipurpose learning spaces and performance and lecture area and a library upgrade with a new study area. An existing building will also be converted into a new canteen and flexible learning spaces while landscaping and outdoor furniture is also in the pipeline.
Muswellbrook South Public School was allocated $3.2 million in 2019 to upgrade its existing facilities.
The government set aside $5.6 million in this year’s Budget for the Newcastle Education Campus to include a new school in Newcastle and an upgrade to Newcastle High School with expanded community facilities to meet enrolment demand.
At 75 Warnervale Rd, Porters Creek Public School is under construction, with $38 million earmarked for capacity for 20 classes, an administration and staff building, a hall, library with two special program rooms and a mini sports field. The school will accommodate 460 students and allow for expansion.
The government has directed $2.5 million to Queanbeyan West Public School for a new hall and canteen.
Teven-Tintenbar Public School has been allocated $2.6 million for a communal hall space with sound system and storage facilities for sports equipment and chairs and accessible toilets.
The school will also get a new covered outdoor area and canteen.
Tweed Heads South Public School’s $25 million upgrade is slated for completion in mid 2022 when students will have access to a new library, canteen, improved playground and a “more visually appealing and practical street entry”.
Tweed River High School’s “skills upgrade” is on track for a finish date by late 2022 when there will be improved hospitality teaching facilities and a new commercial kitchen, specialist vocational education facilities, an expanded school support unit and a new library.
Stanwell Public School was allocated $4.4 million in the Budget for a new hall and canteen. Wollongong Council is assessing the development application.
Yanco Agricultural High School will receive a $1 million upgrade.
Young High School’s $25.5 million joint-use library and community facility is due for completion in mid 2022 and will include a library and community facility to be funded by Hilltops Council and the Education Department.
The 2.5-storey facility will be built on Young High School grounds and integrated with Carrington Park.
During school hours, some spaces within the library will be reserved for sole school use, and some spaces will be reserved only for community use. After school hours, most of the spaces will be available for community use.
The rebuild will also include improvements to other parts of Young High School.
What you need to know before you hire a tutor for your child
As more than four million Australian students get set to return to the classroom, tutors are already getting booked up fast with pupils keen to get a head start on their learning.
Read more
Behaviour expert’s old-school ‘script’ for classroom law and order
It’s a classroom configuration some school teachers still describe as “outdated”, but here’s why one of Australia’s leading behaviour experts believes there’s something to learn from the Victorian era of education.
Read more