Investigation finds 40 per cent of northern beaches schools are at or over capacity

FORTY per cent of northern beaches schools are at or over capacity and are “bursting at the seams”, according to a Labor spokesman.

FORTY per cent of northern beaches schools are at or over capacity and are “bursting at the seams”, according to a Labor spokesman.

Data obtained via Freedom of Information laws by Labor from February this year assess the amount of classrooms available.

It shows 17 of 42 schools are at 100 per or higher for “classroom utilisation”.

Greg Donnelly MLC, at Brookvale earlier this year. Picture: Troy Snook

Labor’s MLC for the northern beaches, Greg Donnelly, said the government had let infrastructure fall behind needs.

“Children on the northern beaches are being crammed into classrooms like battery hens because the Baird Government can’t keep a promise,” he said.

An Education Department spokesman said 100 per cent utilisation “does not mean that a school cannot take more students”.

“It means that all of the school’s teaching spaces are being used,” he said.

Half the schools in the Davidson electorate were at, or over, capacity, but just one of six on the peninsula.

Davidson Liberal MP Johnathan O’Dea said there was “no doubt” the Baird Government had delivered “enormously more than Labor” in northern Sydney.

Across Manly, Wakehurst and Pittwater electorates 16 of 36 schools were at or over capacity. Wakehurst has four of the 16, Manly seven, and Pittwater five.

Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard said schools were “generally doing well attracting families and new students and that presents challenges” but “no P & C group or principal has raised any issues in regards to the schools in Wakehurst”.

Pittwater MP Rob Stokes said planning was well in advance for upgrades, with land already allocated for a future school at Ingleside.

Mr Stokes said the government had planned for future growth with the purchase of property next to Mona Vale Public School.

“Currently we are supporting the development of a new dramatic arts facility at Barrenjoey High School and always looking for new opportunities,” he said.

The Education Department’s spokesman said it was “making significant investment to meet the demand for public education.”

“An upgrade to increase capacity at Harbord Public School is under construction and anticipated to be complete in 2017,” he said.

Harbord Public School last year unveiled $8m plans to add more classrooms to cope with growth. Picture: Annika Enderborg.

Schools at or over capacity were:

· Allambie Heights Public School;

· Balgowlah Heights Public School;

· Forestville Public School;

· Killarney Heights Public School;

· Manly Vale Public School;

· Manly Village Public School;

· Manly West Public School;

· Narraweena Public School;

· Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Snr;

· Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls; and

· Seaforth Public School.

— Avalon Public School

— Bilgola Plateau Public School

— Narrabeen Lakes Public School

— Mona Vale Public School

— Narrabeen North Public School

— Wakehurst Public School