Fastest growing schools in Canberra revealed
A population boom in Gungahlin has led to a surge in enrolments at Franklin Early Childhood School which has topped a list of Canberra’s fastest growing schools.
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The Canberra schools that are booming have been revealed.
An analysis of federal government data has revealed the schools in the Canberra region where student numbers have risen the most in the past five years.
Between 2013 and 2018, enrolments at Franklin Early Childhood School have surged by 500 per cent, faster than any other school in the area.
According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority’s 2018 data, enrolments have grown from 30 in 2013 to 180 in 2018.
The numbers are even more staggering if preschoolers are included, which takes the roll call from 75 in 2013 to 384 this year.
The second fastest growing school was Neville Bonner Primary School, where the student body increased by 338.9 between 2013 and 2018.
Enrolment numbers grew from 150 in 2013 to 658 in 2018.
Over those five years Canberra Christian School had the third biggest enrolment boom in the area with 109 more students at the school in 2018 than in 2013 — a 322.9 per cent increase.
Franklin Early Childhood School principal Kate Flynn has lived in Gungahlin for about 15 years and has seen first hand the skyrocketing population growth in the area, which has jumped from 31,000 residents in 2006 to more than 71,000 currently and is expected to rise to 83,000 by 2020.
“I remember when the hill in Ngunnawal was dirt with a For Sale sign on it and when Big W was a carpark,” she said.
“With the light rail two blocks away, Franklin has become a very appealing suburb and all the schools in the area have experienced big growth, which is exciting and brings richness to the community.
“We are very full but we’ve been lucky because we also have Palmerston and Harrison as our local schools to assist with enrolments and our expansion plans will allow us to take on extra students in the coming years.
“The growth has been big but it’s been anticipated so we’ve been able to actively manage our enrolments.”
In its 2019-2020 budget, the ACT Government announced a $52.2 million investment over four years to expand schools across the city with a specific focus on the Gungahlin area.
Included in the package is $29.5 million over the next three years to increase the capacity at Franklin Early Childhood School to 600 students.
In 2013 the school had four preschool classes, one kindergarten and one Year 1 class.
This year there are six pre school classes, four kindergarten, three year one classes, three year two classes and two year three classes.
This year was the first year they had a Year 3 class and the school will go right up to Year 6 by 2022.
An ACT Government spokesman said the budget also included $6.4 million to increase the permanent capacity of the Gold Creek School Senior Campus by about 200 extra places by 2022 as well as initial funding for the planning and construction of two new schools for Gungahlin.
“To meet increased demand across Canberra, the ACT Government is also investing $8.5 million over the next two years in flexible, high-quality transportable classrooms where required, which will see up to an additional 350 places in schools across the city,” the spokesman said.
“The Directorate continues to plan strategically for student growth across Canberra, not only in new suburbs but also urban infill areas like the inner north, Belconnen and South Canberra.”
FASTEST GROWTH SCHOOLS: 2013 TO 2018
Franklin Early Childhood School: 500.0 per cent change
Neville Bonner Primary School: 338.9 per cent change
Canberra Christian School: 322.9 per cent change
Mawson Primary School: 134.3 per cent change
Communities@Work Galilee School: 121.6 per cent change
Maribyrnong Primary School: 101.6 per cent change
Giralang Primary School: 80.8 per cent change
Taylor Primary School: 79.2 per cent change
University of Canberra High School Kaleen: 72.0 per cent change
Yarralumla Primary School: 56.8 per cent change