Home buyers in the Hornsby area want a co-ed high school

A week after the Advocate launched its campaign for a co-educational public high school, a real estate agent has shared their frustrations.

Residents of Berowra have to travel to Turramurra for a co-ed high school.

HORNSBY state Liberal MP Matt Kean has committed to speaking with Education Minister Rob Stokes about a co-ed public high school.

Last week the Advocate featured a front page story calling for a co-ed school in the local area.

There was a large reaction online with hundreds of residents urging the State Government to consider a new coeducational school to cater for the suburbs of Mt Colah, Mt Kuring-gai, Berowra, Cowan and Brooklyn where students must travel to Ku-ring-gai High School in North Turramurra.

Principal of Belle Property Hornsby, Daniel Dennis said half of the region’s potential buyers raise concerns about the lack of public secondary schooling.

“The lack of public high schools is something that is not only brought up with potential buyers in the region on a regular basis, but also from vendors selling,” Mr Dennis said.

Asquith Girls is the closest school for many but not co-ed.

“This comes down to the vast increases in population across the region, the level of high and medium density housing continues to grow which places increase stress on local infrastructure.”

Mr Dennis said the distance students in the region are required to travel to public high schools is also a concern to vendors and potential buyers across all areas of the shire.

“For buyers and vendors in the northern suburbs of the shire such as Mt Colah, Mt Kuring-gai, Berowra and Cowan, they see their only option for public schooling as Asquith Girls and Asquith Boys or travelling to Ku-ring-gai High School at North Turramurra,” he said.

Hornsby state Liberal MP Matt Kean said he was “inspired by the passion of our community when it comes to the education of our children”.

“It is a passion I share,” he said. “I recognise that many families would like to see more done and I will take this up directly with the Minister for Education.”