‘Devastated’: Glenwood trade school closure shocks students, parents
Trades Norwest Anglican Senior College will close its doors for good next year, due to a lack of government funding. Read the full story here.
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Students and parents say they are devastated at the expected closure of Trades Norwest Senior Anglican College due to financial concerns.
The Glenwood school announced earlier this month that it would close the school in stages until the end of the 2020, with a lack of government funding and declining students numbers cited.
Board of The Anglican Schools Corporation chairman Philip Bell said current Year 12 students would not be affected, while Year 11 students would have the option to finish their studies at the school next year or transfer. Year 10 students, however, will need to transfer elsewhere.
“There is no other credible option to keep the college open,” Mr Bell said.
“This is not a decision that has been made lightly or quickly — we have undertaken a dedicated and thorough process focused on trying to identify a solution.
“This is the end of an era and we can assure you that no stone was left unturned to try to save the college.”
Julie Overton, mother of Year 12 student Josh, said the closure had come as a “huge shock”.
She said that while her son was not the worst affected, he would not be able to finish the final year of his carpentry apprenticeship at the school.
“He will need to transfer for his 13th year,” Ms Overton said.
“He would’ve been able to attend the school one day a week to finish his TAFE qualification, but now he will need to transfer.”
She said parents and students were “dumbfounded” by the announcement.
“Those in Year 10 are in a really awkward situation,” she said.
“The Year 10s transferred to this school knowing they wouldn’t get a Record of School Achievement (ROSA).
“Once you’ve made that decision not to have a ROSA, you can’t go back.”
Ms Overton said the school had been a godsend for her son, who transferred in Year 10 after becoming disillusioned with mainstream schooling.
Despite the school closing in 2013, it reopened the following year under a new model, however, the school’s financial woes came to a head in a 2017 review.
Mr Bell said plans to merge the school with another Anglican college were explored, but fell through due to lack of synergy.
Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said the closure was of “great concern”.
“Governments need to get involved and back this school as these schools fulfil a really important function in connecting young kids doing a trade to business,” Mr Borger said.
“This is a great concern and we need to understand what is wrong with the model that Trades Norwest feels the need to close.
“From an industry perspective, we need more of these schools, not less.”
Mr Borger said the chamber had lobbied the State Government for two additional trade schools in western Sydney in the March election.
“It’s important governments work with the school to keep it open,” he said.
“We’re in the middle of a building boom and one of the biggest issues for business is how we can get access to the right people.
“If you don’t have the right training delivered, you won’t have access to those skills.”
Ms Overton also feared the closure would harm western Sydney businesses.
“A component of the trades school is that two days a week, Josh is put with a local small business which builds additions to houses,” she said.
“This is going to affect small businesses of western Sydney looking for apprentices.”
The school said affected staff would be assisted in finding work at another Anglican college.
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