New schools lead Macarthur’s education transformation

We want the roads, we want the rail, but most of all; we want a world-class education system for our children.

(L to R) Noah Burridge 7, Ella Sant maria 6, Addison Kenny 6, Ava Miranda 5 and Katie Lowe 7 all smiles at Spring Farm Public School. (AAP IMAGE/Simon Bullard)

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We want the roads, we want the rail, but most of all; we want a world-class education system for our children.

The Macarthur region is set to see a mass of new schools constructed, particularly in the growth area of Camden and upgrades to existing schools to cater for the masses of young families.

The Camden area, where the population will expand from 88,258 people to just over 226,000, is expected to attract mostly young families to the area according to data from Id. The Population Experts.

Students at Mary Emmaculate Catholic Primary School, Eagle Vale with celebrating a crazy hair and mufti day fundraiser. (AAP IMAGE/Simon Bullard)

NEW SCHOOLS

A new high school has already been announced at Oran Park which will take in 2000 students while the existing Oran Park Primary School next door will be upgraded to provide new teaching spaces and facilities to deal with a growth in enrolment figures.

Camden State Liberal MP Chris Patterson at the site of the brand new Oran Park High School. Picture: Robert Pozo.

In the growth precincts of Catherine Fields, Leppington and Gledswood Hills, new primary schools are being planned with spaces up to 1000 students.

Among the region’s newest schools is Spring Farm Public School, which opened in January last year and has a capacity of 500 students.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes at St Benedict's Catholic College, Oran Park with acting principal Steve Lo Cascio, NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes, student Jackson Lewis (17), student Maddison Maher(17) and Camden State MP Chris Patterson.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said the State Government had earmarked the Macarthur region as a critical area for education infrastructure.

“There is a huge and exciting array of new schools planned and funded in Macarthur,” he said.

“In the next four years across the state, we have committed $2.2 billion in new schools and upgrades.”

Briar Rd Public School with students Levi McGuinness, Jade Hughes, Jenny Turnbull and Adam Bell.(AAP IMAGE/Simon Bullard).

Magdalene Catholic High School year 11 students who recently travelled to Brewarrina, a small town in outback NSW, known for its high rates of poverty. (AAP Image/Angelo Velardo)

“We have ensured there will be extra school spaces to accommodate for the huge growth in Sydney’s southwest in the near future.”

The Education Minister said the state government was also ensuring it looked to long-term education needs.

“I certainly anticipate the number of schools to reflect the population growth in the region,” he said.

“Over the next decade there is significant investment planned in the region’s education.

“The trajectory of assessment is at a higher level than what is independently assessed as necessary.”

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes and Camden State MP Chris Patterson with student Daniel Viskovich(14).

Mr Stokes said the recent announcement of a school at designated growth area Wilton Junction and the redevelopment of Picton High School ensured Wollondilly will enjoy significant benefits.

“Picton was the single biggest high school to receive funds in the State Budget for their redevelopment.”

The $100 million Picton High School redevelopment at the current school site is expected to begin next year and will update the school with state-of-the-art facilities and space for 2000 students.

Students Lily Silva (9 red dress), Alina Lovett (10 guitar), Faria Talha (10 mask), Cooper Willis (8 white T-shirt) with parents Rachel Dutton (32 dark clothes) and Tuhina Mahmud (31) at Leumeah Public School celebrating education week 2017. (AAP IMAGE/Melvyn Knipe)

L-R Alivia, Bianca, Fletcher, Mikayla, Liam at Woodland Road Public School, Campbelltown, celebrating Book Week/Education Week 2017. (AAP IMAGE/Melvyn Knipe)

In Campbelltown, the new Roy Watts High School will be built on the site of the current Hurlestone Agricultural High School and is expected to take in about 1080 students.

Campbelltown currently has an almost $10 million maintenance backlog but Mr Stokes said it is a priority they will not be forgotten.

“A big part of the budget announcement addressed the constant concern from older schools to ensure regular maintenance,” he said.

Elderslie High School Year 11 student Dylan Maclou chosen to be a senior executive in the NSW Dept of Education Secretary for the Day program.(AAP IMAGE/Ian Svegovic).

“There are always walls to be painted but we are doing all we can to address the backlog.

“Just about every school in Campbelltown will benefit in maintenance funding.”

Schools for students with special needs will also be accommodated.

A special needs school at the old Hope Christian College site at Narellan is expected to take enrolments in 2019.

“It is a very tricky area of education, as we aim to provide support for students with special needs while looking wherever possible to introduce the students into mainstream,” he said.

Mr Stokes said it would be important to plan the locations of news schools in the epicentre of new developments to encourage students to walk or ride to school.

(L-R) School captain Hannah Green, future student Connor Birkin, former student Shannon Haines and future student Abigail Ansen prepare to celebrate Narellan Vale Public School 20th anniversary. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

Leppington Primary School students perform at the official opening of new Coles Willowdale Shopping Centre. (AAP IMAGE / Robert Pozo).

“One of the things we did with education strategy was new design principles for new schools,” he said.

“I was recently asked at a Macarthur school about more parking for Year 12 students. The school’s view was that it wasn’t safe to ride to school, but we are looking at ways to encourage it.”

ST GREG’S JUNIOR SCHOOL COMING SOON

Joel Weekes inspects the work at the new St Greg's Junior School. (AAP Image/Angelo Velardo)

CONSTRUCTION of the new St Gregory’s College Junior School, at Gregory Hills, is on track for completion before Christmas.

Head of junior school Joel Weekes (pictured) said enrolments were full and 194 students would start at the school next year.

“Our builders have told us by the time Santa comes, we’ll have a new school,’’ Mr Weekes said.

There will be no further building at the school next year so the new students can settle in but the next stage of work would start in 2019 to double the school from one class to two classes in each grade.

Joel Weekes inspects the work at the new St Greg's Junior School. (AAP Image/Angelo Velardo)

Catholic Diocese of Wollongong professional assistant to the director of schools Tim Gilmour said Oran Park and Leppington would soon become home to about 300,000 people.

He said about 12 Catholic schools needed to be built in the Macarthur
region in the next 20 years to accommodate the booming population.

“The biggest challenge is we have to meet the needs for capital growth and to acquire land and funds to build more schools,’’ Mr Gilmour said.

Labourer Madis Albas works on the site of the new St Greg's Junior School. Gregory Hills. (AAP Image/Angelo Velardo)

“We will do everything in our power to ensure we meet that need.

“The big challenge is
acquiring land that is close to infrastructure, transport and community facilities.

“We always strive to establish schools that have an affordable fee structure and are innovative in terms of education.’’

In recent years,

Sydney Kings basketballer Angus Brandt attended St Gregs College Campbelltown.

St Justin’s Catholic Parish Primary School and St Benedict’s Catholic College have opened in Oran Park.

St Francis Catholic College, which is temporarily at Oran Park, will move to its permanent home at Edmondson Park next year.

Mr Gilmour also anticipated a strong need for a Catholic school in the Wilton New Town subdivision.

Mr Gilmour said the schools of the future would feature more flexible and agile learning spaces,
multistorey building designs and project-based and problem-solving learning.

NEARLY 20 PER CENT BOOST IN ENROLMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Macarthur Anglican School teacher Susan Byers with her Year 2 students. Pics Ian Svegovic

Enrolments in the region’s independent schools have been rising swiftly in the past five years.

Association of independent Schools of NSW chief executive Dr Geoff Newcombe said the transformation has been rapid.

“Most areas of metropolitan Sydney have seen significant population growth in recent years and the Macarthur region is no exception,” he said.

Leading childrens doctor Dr Bree Jimenez with students at Mater Dei School in Camden. (L-R) Thomas(11), Luke(11), Oliver(12), Cassie(11) and Clare(13).

“While just a handful of new independent schools have been established in the Macarthur region in the last five years (from 14 to 16 schools), enrolments have increased by nearly 20 per cent in that time.”

Independent schools include Macarthur Anglican School, St Patrick’s College Campbelltown and Mater Dei Special School.

Dr Newcombe said there would be continued high-level growth in coming years after restrictions preventing expansion of independent schools were removed.

5 year old Max Rivett who was a very teary boy at the start of his first day at school happily greets mum Kristy Rivett after a good day in the classroom at Broughton Anglican School.

“The association has been working with the NSW Government for over two years to address some of the issues anticipated as a result of the unprecedented population growth we’re expecting in the Sydney metropolitan area over the next 15 years,” he said.

“We’ve been looking closely at a range of options which, by ensuring independent schools can continue to enrol more students, will go a long way towards saving the NSW Government and the entire NSW community billions of dollars.”