Randwick high schools merger: Student leaders calls for new campus in Sydney’s east
Student leaders say a merger of Randwick Boys’ and Girls’ high schools would be a “failure” if a promised new high school campus isn’t delivered in Sydney’s east.
Southern Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Student leaders say a merger of Randwick Boys’ and Girls’ high schools would be a “failure” if a promised new high school campus isn’t delivered in Sydney’s east.
The NSW Government has allocated $42m for a “modern, fit-for-purpose” Year 7 to 12 co-ed school for students of Randwick Boys and Randwick Girls High School, to be completed by 2025.
Education Minister Prue Car said the transition reflected the preferences of the majority of parents and would help increase the range of subjects and extra-curricular opportunities for students.
Incoming vice-captain of Randwick Girls’ High School, Chelsea Evans, described the lack of clarity about plans for a brand new high school as a “failure” of the NSW Government in delivering its promise to the school community.
Ms Evans recognised concerns had been raised by some members of the Randwick Girls community in the wake of the planned school merger, but said it was not her intention to dismiss students at the boys school.
“As Randwick girls, we don’t want to create division and we certainly aren’t calling anyone inferior,” Ms Evans said.
But she said gaining a co-ed option did not mean the problem of a lack of public school choice had been resolved.
“Parents and caregivers chose to send their children to our school and now that choice is being taken away,” she said.
Incoming school captain Ruby Borer said she felt “exceptionally disappointed” at the outcome.
She said she had attended a press conference in November where Ms Car, Coogee Labor MP Marjorie O‘Neill and then Opposition Leader Chris Minns “promised choice” and said they would “deliver on promised upgrades to both Randwick Boys and Girls High School’s while simultaneously building a new public co-ed high school if elected in March”.
The announcement of the high school merger has been welcomed by state and federal MPs, including Ms O’Neill – who has fiercely advocated for more high school choice in her electorate – along with Wentworth federal MP Allegra Spender and Sydney state MP Alex Greenwich.
The decision followed a public consultation where six proposals were canvassed, including an option to extend the intake areas of existing coeducational high schools to offer families the option of single-sex or coeducation.
Former 1992 Randwick Girls’ High School captain Sandi Kolbe said she welcomed the upgrades that would benefit students at both Randwick schools, but claimed the government must also show plans for a new school location.
“A new co-ed high school would meet population needs and ensure choices for all parents and their children,” Ms Kolbe said.
“We continue to call on the government to provide the choices it committed to: upgrades to both Randwick Girls and Randwick Boys and a new coeducational high school.”
Proposed locations for a new public high school in Sydney’s east includes the Waverley bus depot and the Edgecliff commercial district, which is part of a draft masterplan to be redeveloped with 500 new apartments and community space.
Nude model’s jawdropping $3m loss
Nude model Dina Broadhurst has finally sold her luxury home after months and months of to-ing and fro-ing.
Serial drink-driving ex-NRL star charged with refusing breath test
A former NRL star who was previously married to radio host Kate Ritchie has been charged with refusing a breath test after a late night incident in Sydney’s east.