Increased student numbers, new classrooms planned in north shore school upgrades

Schools across the north shore are in line for major upgrades in the coming year. We take a look at some of the biggest projects and what they’ll mean for students, parents and residents:

Some of the largest schools on Sydney’s north shore are set to look very different in coming years with major upgrades in the pipeline for public and private campuses across the region.

New classrooms, rooftop playgrounds, sports facilities and a dance academy are among the features of the multimillion projects that also includes replacing demountable classrooms with new facilities and boosting enrolment capacity to reduce school overcrowding.

The North Shore Times takes a look at five of the projects currently in the works:

PYMBLE LADIES COLLEGE

A concept plan of the project.

Demountables will be replaced with new classrooms, a dance academy and after-hours school care centre under planned upgrades at Pymble Ladies College.

The school has released a proposal to redevelop a south eastern section of the campus into a five storey building it said would “provide a better environment” for its 2259 students, 120 boarders and teachers.

The project is the first step in further planned expansions of the college due to take place in coming years.

Plans show the project features junior school classrooms, science, technology, engineering and mathematics labs, along with health and wellbeing facilities such as consulting rooms.

There would also be a dance academy, out of school hours care facilities, an early learning centre and new outdoor learning spaces.

The school said the proposal would not involve an increase in student or staff numbers. Plans show the early learning centre, dance academy and holiday care program would also be available for broader community use.

MOSMAN HIGH SCHOOL

The project includes upgrading landscaping works.

Plans for upgrades to Mosman High School were unveiled this month in a move to upgrade outdated facilities and boost enrolment capacity at the campus.

The project includes 16 new classrooms, a library, a multipurpose gym/hall, outdoor, rooftop play areas, an arts plaza, canteen and new staff facilities in new buildings along Military Rd.

The upgrade would boost the school’s enrolment capacity by 100 students to 1200.

The project is open for public feedback.

A concept image of the development.

Plans show construction works would involve knocking down the existing building on Military Rd along with tree removal and partial demolition of other buildings at the site.

A report to next week’s Mosman Council meeting stated the project would provide “improved teaching and sporting facilities” for the community, but raised concerns over the five storey height of the project and potential parking impacts in the town centre.

Schools Infrastructure NSW said construction would begin 2022, pending project approval.

LINDFIELD LEARNING VILLAGE

The upgrade is due for completion next year.

The second stage of the Lindfield Learning Village is currently in the works with the project set to accommodate up to 750 students.

This upgrade will include refurbishing the former UTS site into purpose-built classrooms for engineering, visual and performance art, music and film, and other facilities.

The redevelopment also includes upgrades to the existing theatre and sports hall.

The Lindfield Learning Village has been described as Sydney’s “school of the future” and features flexible learning spaces to support student wellbeing.

The Department of Education said the development would also “focus on specialised expertise and wellbeing support” to transition students between school and the workplace.

The proposed catchment area for the project was released this month, showing it will take in suburbs such as Chatswood, Chatswood West and Roseville.

The development is expected to be completed by term one next year.

RIVERVIEW

The school is in line for a major upgrade.

St Ignatius’ College Riverview would have a new five storey building with classrooms, a multipurpose hall, canteen, pastoral care areas and outdoor learning areas as part of the redevelopment proposal for the 141-year-old campus.

The $40 million expansion would be built on tennis courts to the east of the college and include “flexible learning spaces”, a gallery, and rooms dedicated for chemistry lessons, physics along with a bio-lab.

The expansion would be built on tennis courts to the east of the college and the sequencing of the development would ensure the ongoing operation of the school during construction.

The project remains under assessment by the Department of Education

NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOL

An overview of the upgrade project.

More than 130 extra students are set to be accommodated at North Sydney Public School as part of an overdue upgrade for the Pacific Hwy campus.

The Department of Education has released details to replace “significantly undersized” and deteriorating classrooms with new facilities that would boost the school’s capacity from 869 to 1000 students.

Three school blocks including the existing hall and five demountable classrooms will be demolished to make room for two new buildings along with refurbishments to four other school building blocks.

In all, there would be eight new classrooms at site – bringing the total to 44 – along with a new hall, administration facilities, covered outdoor play areas, and a refurbishment of the library.

Detailed plans are expected to be released this year.

OTHER PROJECTS

A concept plan of the Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College development.

Major upgrades of Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College were given the green light in December with the project set to include rooftop sports facilities, science labs, hanging gardens and outdoor learning spaces for its 1200 students.

The redevelopment of Chatswood Primary and High Schools was also approved in January, with the $153 million development to cater for more than 700 new students and address overcrowding at the existing sites.

The developments will include 29 new classrooms at Chatswood Public School and 42 at the high school.

Upgrades are also planned for a list of other schools across the region including at Neutral Bay Public School, and there also plans for a new primary school in St Leonards to cater for the suburb’s booming population growth.