Carlingford West Public School, Epping West Public School lead enrolments figures

STUDENT numbers at primary schools in the northern district have climbed more than 6 per cent this year and the reopening of the former Ryde High School cannot come soon enough.

STUDENT numbers at primary schools in the northern district have climbed more than 6 per cent this year and the reopening of the former Ryde High School cannot come soon enough.

There were 12,711 students enrolled in 24 primary schools in the area in February, according to NSW Department of Education stats.

That is 785 more students than the 11,926 who attended these schools last year.

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Carlingford West Public School (133) and Epping West Public School (101) recorded the biggest increases.

The P&C president of Epping West, Ben Yee, said the school was running smoothly except for traffic issues and a proliferation of demountables in recent years.

He said the school was on a priority list for new buildings.

Kent Road Public School at Eastwood has seen the biggest growth over the last five years (271 additional students), and is another school introducing demountables to meet the high demand.

The Education Minister last year announced the former Ryde High School site on Smalls Rd would be reopened as a primary school as part of a plan to address increased students numbers.

This followed a Northern District Times campaign for a new school following readers’ concerns.

A spokesman for the Department of Education said it monitors demographic and population trends to ensure education requirements are met.

It uses strategies to manage fluctuating enrolments including temporary classrooms, increasing the size and function of schools, and introducing new schools when existing ones have met development potential.