Barker College: Student numbers to increase as government approves $150m school expansion

Enrolment numbers at one Sydney’s top private schools are set to increase by almost 300 extra students – despite opposition from neighbours and two nearby schools.

Enrolment numbers at one Sydney’s largest private schools are set to surge by almost 300 extra students after a major redevelopment of the campus was given the green light.

The Department of Planning has approved a $150 million redevelopment of Barker College – paving the way for new facilities including an aquatic centre, tennis courts and an arts centre to be built at the Hornsby campus.

The redevelopment includes lifting the school’s enrolment cap by 258 students to 2850 pupils – making it one of the largest schools in Sydney’s north.

New facilities to be built as part of the development include new teaching facilities and a sporting complex featuring an indoor pool and rooftop tennis courts.

Students would also have access to a new performing arts and exams centre that would be built south of the main campus.

The $150 million redevelopment of the school has been approved.

Plans stated the project would modernise outdated facilities including the current pool which dates back more than 25 years.

“Retaining the current facility would mean that the pool would need to be more frequently closed for upgrades, causing disruption in programming as well as resulting in significant maintenance cost to the school,” the plans stated.

The approval comes after submissions from residents and two nearby schools raised concerns over aspects of the development including traffic impacts and noise.

A concept photo of the development.

St Leo’s Catholic College principal Anthony Gleeson said the school’s expansion could “result in a significant impact on traffic for the local road network”.

Similar concerns were raised by Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School principal Jacinta Crowe who said parking constraints could see cars “overflow” on surrounding road network.

The Department of Planning – in approving the development – found the impacts of the development could be “appropriately managed to an acceptable level”.

School enrolment capacity will increase as part of the development.

“The project will provide a range of benefits for the region and the state as a whole including development of new school infrastructure to provide flexible learning spaces,” the department stated.

“Weighing all relevant considerations, the project is in the public interest.”

The school’s development plans stated the new facilities would “further enable the college to offer a high-quality standard of coeducation across all years into the future.”

“It will also further enable (the school’s students) to be resilient and adaptable within a supportive, safe and functional environment,” the plans added.