Corpus Christi College Maroubra’s five-year proposal to increase student population to 1100

An eastern suburbs private school is asking a Sydney council to increase its student population over the next five years, following the relocation of a neighbouring primary school.

Corpus Christi College Maroubra, formerly Champagnat Catholic College.

Following the movement of its primary school to a nearby site, an eastern suburbs private school is asking a Sydney council to increase its student population by 400 pupils over the next five years.

Sydney Catholic Schools and Corpus Christi College Maroubra, formerly Champagnat Catholic College, have submitted a development application with Randwick Council in a bid to “increase” its student and staff numbers.

The proposal would see the expansion of the secondary school into the former site of Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School which has “relocated to another nearby Catholic Primary School site”.

It has seen 210 primary school students removed from using the site and a loss of 26 staff.

As part of a previous development application, the current limits imposed on Corpus Christi, caps the secondary student population to 700 students and staff to 70.

Subject site at Corpus Christi College Maroubra

“The expansion of the high school into the former primary school campus would include the occupation of Blocks A, B and C which are currently vacant,” the applicant said.

As a result of demand, Corpus Christi said the “proposed student intake is expected to progressively grow from the current 2023 cohort of approximately 650 students”.

Over the next five-year period, the applicant forecasted about 1100 students would be enrolled at the school – without current restrictions – over the next five-year period.

Sydney Catholic Schools executive director Tony Farley said there had been an increase in demand for Catholic education across Sydney.

“Population growth in the Botany-Randwick area has led parents to look for schools that provide quality facilities, excellent education and opportunities in sport, the arts and faith development that will set their children up for success in life,” he said.

“Our schools are an essential part of the social fabric of these communities and they work hard to be one of the reasons why people love living in the area.”

The expected growth would also require 20 further staff “to support the anticipated growth”.

After the departure of the primary school students and staff, the net increase across the site would only be 190 students with a net loss of six staff, if the development is approved by council.

In arguing the positive social impacts of increasing the student population, the applicant said “schools are a vital part of any healthy and thriving community” and if Randwick Council were to approve the request, it would “allow the school to function as an important civic place for parents, teachers and students”.

The applicant also noted it would improve “the accessibility of an existing school campus to a broader section of the community”.