Budget 2018: New school for Westmead as annual enrolment grows by hundreds
AS ENROLMENT numbers at the state’s largest primary school continue to climb, the announcement of a new school for Westmead could not have come sooner.
Parramatta
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AS ENROLMENT numbers at the state’s largest primary school continue to climb, the announcement of a new school for Westmead could not have come sooner.
The State Government will invest $6 billion over the next four years to build 170 new and upgraded schools across the state.
Among the communities to reap the rewards from this week’s Budget announcements is Westmead, among the 20 suburbs where planning will now get a new primary school, in addiction to the existing one.
A NSW Department of Education spokesman said funds have been allocated to plan for the new school to assist in addressing enrolment demand.
The current Westmead Public School’s student enrolment numbers have steadily grown from 1165 in 2014 to 1565 this year, including a 157-student increase from 2017 to 2018.
Other schools with growing enrolments include Artarmon, Blacktown South, Bonnyrigg Heights, Caddies Creek, Chatswood, Dalmeny, Epping West, Girraween, Harbord, Harrington St, Hurstville, Matthew Pearce, Mona Vale, Oran Park, Parramatta, Quakers Hill and Riverbank public schools. They all have more than 1000 students.
A joint upgrade to improve facilities at Carlingford West Public School and Cumberland High School students is also part of the government blitz.
“There is more to do but we remain dedicated to our goal of offering first-class education facilities to every student in NSW,” Education Minister Rob Stokes said.
While Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was a proud moment making this unprecedented investment in schools.
Granville state Labor MP Julia Finn is rapt but cautious because there was little land left in westmead to build a new school.
“For years the school has been growing by the hundreds,” she said.
“I know they’ve floated the idea of buying one of the catholic schools but they’re bursting at the seams too.”
She said eating up green space to build a school was not the solution either.
“The area is constrained more and more. We need our parklands as the area grows. We don’t need parks fenced off for schools,” she said.
Ms Finn said she’s spoken with people who should be “kept in the loop” about these education developments, but it’s “come as a surprise” to them too.
“I just hope they’ve got enough space for the kids to run around.”