Murwillumbah school merger divides Tweed community ahead of 2023 State Election

A controversial move to merge four Tweed schools has come closer to fruition as parents fret about their children’s fate, but the plan could end up scrapped entirely. Here’s why.

Concept art for the Murwillumbah Education Campus.

A controversial move to merge four Tweed schools has come closer to fruition as parents fret about their children’s fate, but the plan could end up scrapped entirely if Labor has its way.

Students at Murwillumbah and Wollumbin high schools have already began learning at a former Wollumbin High campus as a new mega campus is built on the Murwillumbah High School site as part of NSW Education’s school merger.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

Due to open in 2024, the Murwillumbah Learning Community is set to bring students from Murwillumbah Public School, Murwillumbah East Public School, Murwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School together onto one site in a bold move by the government.

NSW Teachers Federation deputy president Henry Rajendra said: “There was no room for negotiation or reconsideration and educators were told ‘Here’s what we’re doing, consider yourselves consulted’.”

Tweed parents have expressed concerns about existing behavioural and other issues at some schools impacting the other institutions.

Tweed parent Emma Peel said “It‘s going to be close to a bloodbath with our two local high schools merged”.

She said she pulled her son out of one of the schools and that those in the merger “were bad enough without merging them into one big mess”.

An artist impression of the Murwillumbah Education Campus.

Another parent, Tanya Rankin, said she “can’t begin to imagine what it will be like with so many troubled kids being together in one space”.

She was also worried about existing issues at schools including “kids fighting daily in the grounds” and “no policy on phones”, as well as catering to students of all ability levels at a bigger school.

However, parent and teacher Sonya Mareewas confident the mega school would be a success.

“If everything proceeds as planned, and promised, it will be fantastic for the area,” she said.

Minister Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said it was an exciting time for families in Northern NSW as the Liberal and Nationals Government delivered a brand-new education campus in Murwillumbah.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin. Picture: Danielle Smith

She said the initial stages of the divisive merger marked “an important milestone for the school community as students begin to develop school culture and friendship.”

Labor’s Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, whose electorate includes Murwillumbah, has strongly opposed the merger ahead of the NSW State Election on March 25.

She said Ms Mitchell signing off on the demolition of the former Murwillumbah High School in December was inappropriate weeks out from an election.

“I have secured commitment from NSW Labor that if elected to government in March they will keep all four Murwillumbah Schools open, and will not stand in the way of upgrading Murwillumbah High School” she said.

“This can be done without closing down Wollumbin High School, Murwillumbah Public School and Murwillumbah East Public School”

Concept art for the Murwillumbah Education Campus.

Ms Saffin promised consultation would happen under a Chris Minns Labor government.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: “The new campus model offers students in Murwillumbah educational opportunities that would have not otherwise been available to them”

“Having both the primary school and high school on one site will increase collaboration and professional learning opportunities for staff, ease transitions from primary to high school (and) provide opportunities for peer leadership and mentoring”