Sydney school catchment zone shake-up confirmed: See where your kids can enrol

In a major step towards universal access to co-ed schooling, the NSW government has locked in changes to the catchment zones of 20 Sydney schools. SEE THE NEW BOUNDARIES.

The Minns government has locked in its first major step towards comprehensive co-ed schooling for every family in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Parents across NSW will soon be able to enrol their children in their nearest co-ed public school, even if it outside their child’s current catchment, with Sydney’s inner-west locked in to lead the statewide changes.

From next year the catchments of 20 schools in the inner-west will be rezoned, allowing parents to enrol their children in nearby co-ed schools, if they don’t want them to attend one of 17 single-sex public schools.

Until now, children in a catchment with only single-sex public schools available have been unable to get a public co-ed education, without applying for a special ‘out of area enrolment’ exemption.

Residents of Nottinghill Road in Lidcombe, for example, had little choice but to enrol their daughters at Birrong Girls High School and sons at Birrong Boys, but from 2025, they will have either Bass High School or Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School in their catchment.

In Monterey in Sydney’s south, families stuck with either Moorefield Girls or James Cook Boys will now be able to enrol their kids at Kogarah High School, where the boundaries have been dramatically shifted.

At Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design, which will now encompass Old Canterbury Road, most of Summer Hill and Ashbury, relieving principal Gina Dracopoulos says there’s already been “great excitement” from local parents.

“We’ve already had families from our new feeder schools come to the front office asking about enrolling their children with us,” she said.

“There’s obviously great excitement about the changes and we look forward to welcoming these students from 2025.”

Confirmation of the redrawn catchments marks a major milestone in the Minns’ government’s bid to give every family in NSW access to a co-ed school, making good on an early election promise.

Education Minister Prue Car said the changes were made “in consultation with local communities” amid increasing demand for mixed-sex education.

“There is growing interest in coeducation, and no family should have to face leaving their local area to access a coeducational high school,” she said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, Deputy Premier Prue Car and NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar (left) at Canterbury Girls High School. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen said the changes follow a long-term campaign from parents in her electorate.

“Life is co-ed, and parents and students should have access to a co-ed school option,” she said.

“Inner West families have been campaigning for this change for years.”

Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design’s catchment area has expanded across Summer Hill and Ashbury. Picture: Supplied

Draft boundary adjustments were initially released to the affected schools, parents, staff and students for consultation late last year, and received only 40.2 per cent positive feedback.

The proposal garnered negative feedback from over a third of the 300-odd parents, students and local community members consulted, while a further 24 per cent had mixed or neutral views.

Feedback was also provided by 75 staff members, however their views haven’t been disclosed.

The final catchments take into account community concerns and the catchments for single-sex schools remain unchanged, meaning no one who still wants to attend their local public boys’ or girls’ school will miss out.

Birrong Boys' High School and its sister school will no longer be the only option for local families who would prefer a co-ed school.

“We thank the community for their feedback and this has been incorporated into the final boundaries,” Ms Car said.

Enrolments in single-sex schools, both public and private, have been shrinking over the years as parents seek more inclusive – and more convenient – options, prompting schools in the non-government sectors to change their enrolment policies.

Among the schools preparing to open their doors to the opposite gender in the coming years are $42,000-per-year GPS boys’ school Newington College, the similarly pricey eastern suburbs institution Cranbrook and systemic Catholic school St Mary’s Cathedral College in the Sydney CBD.