Department of Education releases revised catchment for new Inner City School

Families of Redfern and Darlington have been left in a state of uncertainty for months — but there is light at the end of the tunnel for some, after the Department of Education revised the boundaries for the new Inner City High School catchment.

Jenny Leong with resident Dylan Regtop and his children, Olive, 4, and Dexter, 7, outside the school ON Cleveland St, Redfern. Picture: Quentin Jones

• Safety concerns at Green Square
• Dramatic fashion store ram raid caught on CCTV

Families of Redfern and Darlington have been left in a state of uncertainty for months — but there is light at the end of the tunnel for some after the Department of Education revised the boundaries for the new Inner City High School catchment.

Jenny Leong last week hit out at the Education Minister, saying the draft catchment area for the new Inner City High School “stinks of discrimination”.

IN OTHER NEWS

The new Inner City High School, which will provide 47 secondary teaching spaces and accommodate up to 1200 students, has commenced its enrolments for year seven for the 2020 school year.

The Newtown Greens MP said the Education Minister announced a review of the catchment for the new school, but failed to meet his own deadline.

She said wealthy eastern suburbs had been included but public housing areas have been cut out.

The Department of Education have now revised the boundaries for the catchment.

“The revision will be a welcome win for some — but there still remains a number of unanswered questions,” Ms Leong said.

State Newton MP Jenny Leong wants answers from the Department of Education. Picture: John Appleyard

“Communities and families living in Redfern, some of whom live literally across the road from the new school are now in the catchment, which is great news for them.”

However, families living in Darlington are still excluded.

Ms Leong said she wants to know how the review was conducted and who was consulted “given no parents we spoke to were contacted.”

“We have been working with parents and concerned community members about this since the discriminatory catchment was announced in late December and have been increasing the pressure on the Minister and Premier about this since then,” she said.

“As you can imagine, many parents have been in contact with my office concerned that their Year 6 children will soon be commencing transition to high school programs, and they don’t know what their local high school will be.

Families living around Redfern and Darlington have been left in limbo, after the Education Minister announced a review of the catchment for the new Inner City High School, but has failed to meet his own deadline, according to Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP.

“Clearly this pressure is working, but there are still lots of unanswered questions and genuine concerns which is why we need to ensure flexibility and transparency around this new high school in our area.”

Ms Leong said residents need genuine consultation, not maps on websites.

She said it must service the Surry Hills, Chippendale, Redfern and Darlington community “for whom this will be their closest high school,” Ms Leong said.

Father-of-two, Dylan Regtop from Redfern, can see the school from his bedroom window.

His children were initially excluded from the catchment, but following the review, can now attend the school.

IN OTHER NEWS

US SEX RABBI COMING TO SYDNEY

A SUPERSTAR IS BORN

HILLTOP HOODS HELP YOUTH AFFECTED BY CANCER

“We’re happy, it’s way more inclusive than what it was,” he said.

“It’s a good start, I think they can do better.”

What frustrates him most is the breaking apart of the community.

“The catchment area has divided a community,” he said.

“It didn’t really go any deeper into Darlington.
“Poor old Darlington have been left out.”

Mr Regtop said he would like to see the two local public schools, Bourke Street Public and Darlington Public, act as a feeder for the high school.

“It shouldn’t be about where you live, it should be about where your children go to school,” he said.

“If they go to school in the local area they should go to the local high school.

“They will be ripped apart from half of their friends.”

Mr Regtop said there wasn’t any consulting done and is disappointed parents weren’t included in the conversation.

“To me it’s just poor insight and bad planning,” he said.

The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.

A public meeting will be held at 4pm on Sunday March 3 at Redfern Town Hall regarding the new high school.