Enrolment offers start for Inner City High School
Enrolments at Sydney’s new public high school are being snapped up, as work continues on the $135 million Surry Hills facility.
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Families itching to secure their children’s places at Sydney’s new public high school have begun to receive their enrolment offers.
Work on the $135 million Inner City High School is said to be “on budget and on track” for the inaugural Year 7 class to start in term one, 2020.
The Surry Hills facility, a refurbishment of the former Cleveland Street Intensive English High School, will eventually house 1200 students across 47 classrooms over 14 storeys.
A ceiling of 180 students has been put in place for its first Year 7 class, with priority to be given to applications coming from within the school’s controversial catchment area.
“Recently, major services diversions (stormwater, power, and sewage) have been completed in Prince Alfred Park as well as footpaths and turf are being reinstated,” a Department of Education spokesman said.
“Refurbishment works in three existing heritage buildings along Chalmers and Cleveland streets are progressing in preparation for day one term one, 2020.”
Residents and Newtown state Greens MP Jenny Leong have criticised the inclusion of wealthy eastern suburbs such as Edgecliff and Woollahra in the school’s catchment, while suburbs “across the street” such as Darlington, Zetland, Waterloo and much of Redfern were excluded.
“It stinks of discrimination,” Ms Leong said in February.
The State Government allocated $68.8 million to works at the Prince Alfred Park site in this year’s Budget, which will fund the construction of its centrepiece 14-storey tower.
“Main tower basement excavation works are complete and construction is at ground level,” the spokesman said.
“Formwork for the building lifts is about 10 metres above ground and can be seen from a distance.”
Work on the tower is scheduled for completion in 2021.
The school has so far avoided significant issues encountered by Sydney’s other high-rise school development — Parramatta’s Arthur Phillip High School — which has prompted Planning Minister Rob Stokes to backflip on the government’s push for more projects.
Initially slated to open in January, 2019 and cost $100 million, Arthur Phillip’s budget has ballooned to $250 million and students are expected to move in next year.
