Gold Coast schools ‘bursting at seams’ due to population boom

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SOME Gold Coast public schools are “bursting at the seams” as the city’s education sector wrestles to keep pace with the population boom.

The latest enrolment data from Education Queensland shows the student population has spiked up to 45 per cent in four years at schools as 800 extra children enrol each year.

The city’s student population has increased 11 per cent in the past five years, far outstripping the statewide average and prompting the State Government to spend more than $240 million on infrastructure on the Coast over two years.

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800 extra children enrol every year.

Numbers have exploded in the city’s booming northern corridor, where new schools have been earmarked. However, some inner-city schools are awaiting a funding lifeline as they near capacity.

“We are keeping up with the need — just,” said Jodie McFadden, the representative of the Gold Coast Teachers Union. “It feels like we are bursting at the seams.

“It is great news we have a new high school opening next year in Coomera and one planned for Pimpama and these new schools are very, very needed but I would suggest existing school facilities are often lacking.

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“Established schools do need more classrooms and additional facilities.”

One of those established schools, Palm Beach State, grew 13 per cent last year and, on its current growth, will reach capacity within a year. No State Government funding has been forecast.

It is a similar situation for Currumbin State School, which is at 91 per cent capacity.

This year alone, an extra 800 children enrolled on the Coast, meaning 29 of the city’s 65 state schools were at 80 per cent capacity or more.

Ms McFadden said a majority of Gold Coast schools were already on management plans, which restricted enrolment to its catchment area only.

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Nearly 30 of the city’s 65 state schools were at 80 per cent capacity — or more.

“It is not uncommon for temporary classrooms to be arranged before long-term funding is made.”

The State Government is spending $165,352 this financial year on demountables for at least seven schools.

Ms McFadden said the boom was putting pressure on teacher numbers and the Queensland Government estimated an additional 3700 teachers would be needed in the next four years.

“A schools census is taken at Day 8 and funding for staff is allocated, which means those schools which continue to grow throughout the year struggle to get additional staff needed,” Ms McFadden said.

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Nan Bahr, the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Dean of Education at Southern Cross University, said parents shouldn’t be concerned about the Coast’s mega schools.

“A larger school population also means more variety for students, and more chances to craft their education to their needs.”

Minister for Education Grace Grace, who last month turned the first sod on the new $64 million high school at Coomera, said the Government was aware of the Gold Coast’s needs.

“The Department of Education constantly monitors enrolment data and population trends to ensure our state schools can deal with any anticipated increase in enrolments,” she said.

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“New schools will be built if population growth warrants it like, for example, in Coomera and Pimpama and at Coomera East, where we opened Picnic Creek State School in 2018.”

The minister did not rule out building up at inner-city schools.

“These are decisions made on a case-by-case basis.

“Parents should not be concerned in enrolments if their child’s school is approaching the school’s built capacity. The Palaszczuk Government is investing $240 million on new and expanded schools across the Gold Coast to ensure schools can continue to cater for enrolment growth and will continue to invest in the future.”