Gold Coast’s fastest growing schools revealed

Private schools are tipped to save the northern Gold Coast but there are fears they may not be enough to prevent a schooling crisis.

PRIVATE schools are tipped to save the northern Gold Coast but a Queensland Teachers’ Union head fears they may not be enough to prevent a schooling crisis.

It comes as Pimpama State Secondary College was revealed to be the fastest-growing school in the city with a 438.6 per cent enrolment boom between 2013 and 2018.

Latest reports show significant student growth will occur in Pimpama (9500), Helensvale (11,000) and Coomera (26,000) putting huge demands on schools and sporting grounds.

New mapping produced by Education Queensland shows the three high growth suburbs will need an additional 11 primary and five secondary schools.

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Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon believes the education sector is handling the growth after the former Newman Government created a separate planning division.

“We’re handling it very well. The reality is we have another state school on the drawing boards for 2021, and a new high school is being built, the Foxwell State Secondary College,” Mr Crandon said.

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“All my schools are under 100 per cent full at the moment. We’re quite comfortable.”

But Mr Crandon believes all levels of government must help independent schools secure cheaper land in the Coast’s north.

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Gold Coast schools have grown the most in pupil numbers in the last five years, with second on the list being LORDS (Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School) with a 171 per cent increase. L to R: Elliot Scholz 17, Lachie Mulcahy 11, Joshua Dunne-Demo 17, Clachere Beard Head of the Arts, Faith Lee 17, Mia Van Engelen 11 and Jenna Venter 17. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I know the private sector is looking but struggling to find affordable land in the northern Coast. There’s room for another four private schools there,” he said.

“I personally think that is something that can be done there. It’s something I’ve brought up with the Shadow (Education) Minister. It’s important that the private sector gets support from the government.”

But Queensland Teachers’ Union President Kevin Bates said he believed new schools opening might not be enough to combat the swell in student numbers.

“They only gain one year level each year,” he said.

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Schools are exploding around the city as the area population booms. Picture Glenn Hampson

“They open with Year 7, then the next year they have Year 7 and 8, so they actually don’t reach their full size for about six years.

“Those new schools are critical because they’re creating options, but more importantly they’re not creating additional capacity. There’s positives about it but it’s about getting ahead.”

Mr Bates said the issue was going to be an ongoing challenge.

“Over the next decade we will be seeing a massive number of additional teachers in our schools and also a major growth in students.

“There will have to be significant additional schools being built year on year and additional teachers hired year on year. We’re on track at the moment but we need to be very aware of this issue to be sure we don’t fall behind.”

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The latest Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority figures show student numbers at Pimpama State Secondary College have increased from 295 to 1589.

The second-fastest growing school on the Coast was Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School (LORDS), where the student population increased by 171.2 between 2013 and 2018. Enrolment numbers grew from 219 in 2013 to 594 in 2018.

LORDS Acting Principal Kellie Hardke said she was surprised to see the school make the list.

“You hope the school will grow steadily, that means we can offer more programs and there’s lots and lots of positives with that level of growth,” she said.

“But we also have to make sure we are growing with the number of students, so we have good quality programs in place as we increase in student numbers.”

Over those five years Tamborine Mountain College had the third biggest enrolment boom in the area with 278 more students at the school in 2018 than in 2013 — a 151.1 per cent increase.

FASTEST GROWING SCHOOLS

Schools with fastest growth between 2013 and 2018:

Pimpama State Secondary College: 438.6 per cent increase.

Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School: 171.2 per cent increase.

Tamborine Mountain College: 151.1 per cent increase.

Arcadia College: 104.3 per cent increase.

Coomera Rivers State School: 85.7 per cent increase.

Pimpama State School: 76.1 per cent increase.

King’s Christian College: 53 per cent increase.

Ingleside State School: 52.9 per cent increase.