St Ives High School parents push for transport overhaul to address enrolment boom, long commutes

An enrolment boom at one of the north shore’s largest high schools is fuelling calls for more bus services to alleviate students commute times of up to three hours a day.

An enrolment boom at one of the north shore’s largest high schools is fuelling calls for more bus services to slash students commute times of up to three hours a day.

Parents of St Ives High School students are pushing for Transport for NSW and private bus operator Transdev to add more services to the campus in response to rising enrolments which jumped from 1006 in 2018 to 1481 this year.

Demand for the existing bus services has been exacerbated by the relocation of the Intensive English Centre to the school as a result of the Chatswood High School redevelopment, which has added an extra 177 students to the school this year with the potential to welcome a further 123 new students.

Parents are calling for more frequent bus services to key transport hubs such as Gordon train station and St Ives, including outside the busy drop-off and pick-up periods.

Rob Peacock, who has children at St Ives High School, said capacity constraints had resulted in some students choosing not to attend after hour school programs.

“The services we’ve got aren’t keeping up the pace of enrolment and only cater for the pick-up window,” he said.

“A lot of students want to participate in extra-curricular activities but for some students it’s too hard because they can’t be driven by their parents and there isn’t adequate public transport.

“The school is growing at a rate of more than 10 per cent per year and it’s not just the school that needs the transport but all the other groups the use the campus such as the Northern Suburbs Basketball Association and Australian Girls Choir.

“Because of the catchment area students are travelling as far as Mount Ku-ring-gai and Berowra.

Student numbers have soared at St Ives High School

“At the moment students are having to catch a bus to Gordon or the St Ives shopping village, then another bus or a train to get home which can be a 90 minute journey each way.”

Transport for NSW in a statement said capacity issues had been partly addressed with extra bus services added to the campus earlier this year.

“In January 2022, St Ives High School received an additional five dedicated school bus services which operate between Gordon train station each school day,” a spokeswoman said.

“At the same time, one afternoon route 591 trip was also extended and now operates from St Ives High School towards Hornsby each school day.

“Since January 2022, bus operator Transdev has confirmed service levels to and from St Ives High School are meeting current demand.

A plans of the $19.6 million indoor sports centre at the school which is set to see more people come and go from the campus.

“Transport for NSW will continue to monitor services and adjust service levels as required.”

Mr Peacock said the extra services had been welcomed, but were still not enough to address the extra 475 students added to the campus over the last four years.

Demand is also expected to be fuelled by the development of a new $19.6 million sports complex at the campus which, once completed, will be open until 11pm and host community events and sporting activities.

Other solutions parents believe would address the issue including extending the 591 Hornsby bus via Waitara to St Ives to include a ‘St Ives High loop’ before terminating at St Ives shops, and more frequent 582 services to Gordon train station via Yarrabung Road.

The school currently covers two distinct catchment areas, including the local draw consisting of the suburbs of St Ives and St Ives Chase and the northern draw area taking in suburbs including Waitara, Hornsby, Asquith, Mount Colah and Mount Ku-ring-gai.