Liberal MP Wendy Lovell urges government to reveal why Shepparton super school lost 500+ students

Call to find “lost students” after shocking data revealed enrolments at a troubled Shepparton high school have fallen by more than 500 since opening.

Liberal MP for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has urged the Victorian government to investigate why a major Shepparton high school has lost more than 500 students since opening.

In 2018, Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s four previous public secondary schools, Wanganui Park Secondary College, Mooroopna Secondary College, McGuire College and Shepparton High School, had a combined enrolment of 2645.

But in 2021, My School reported the super school had an enrolment of 2232, a number Ms Lovell said has since dropped a further 97 to 2135 in May 2022.

“Sources who have access to the current numbers have informed me that the current enrolment has dropped to as low as 2135,” she said.

“It’s a trend that keeps dropping and people keep informing me.”

Ms Lovell said her major concern was students becoming “lost to the education system” by dropping out and not substituting this with homeschooling or an apprenticeship.

“The loss of over 500 students from Greater Shepparton Secondary College since 2018 is extremely concerning and the Minister needs to investigate where these children have gone,” Ms Lovell said.

“It is clear the one school model does not suit all students and the community needs reassurance these young people have not been lost to the education system altogether.”

Ms Lovell said the loss cannot be explained by families leaving Shepparton or enrolling in nearby schools.

“We’ve certainly had more people moving to Shepparton than moving away and we have a housing shortage with people moving to the country since the pandemic,” she said.

“Before they closed the four schools and made this new school, the local grammar school and catholic school were very full.

“They’ve taken a few extra students but not all have gone there, and schools nearby haven’t increased in the hundreds.

“I don’t think all of those students have gone into work.”

Minister education James Merlino said Ms Lovell’s view was “dragging the Shepparton community down” and all Shepparton schools had faced a decrease in year seven enrolments.

“The Liberal and National parties have no alternative plan other than dragging the Shepparton community down – while they constantly trash-talk this school and dishearten its students, we’ll get on with our work to make Greater Shepparton Secondary College the best it can be,” Mr Merlino said.

He said some students who have left Greater Shepparton College have moved interstate or to other training institutions to complete specialised training programs.

While My School does not specifically show year seven enrolments, the data revealed that from 2018 to 2021 all secondary schools in Shepparton – except Goulburn Valley Grammar School, which had a decline in enrolments – increased student numbers by less than 100 each.

This drop in enrolment comes after Greater Shepparton College was involved in an online bullying scandal in April, where the Herald Sun uncovered more than 10 vile hate pages on TikTok, which brazenly targets students at the school.

My School Enrolment Figures, 2018 compared to 2021

Greater Shepparton College decreased from a combined total of 2645 (from previous four schools) to 2232.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School decreased by six from 694 to 688.

Notre Dame College increased by 65 from 1598 to 1663.

Shepparton ACE College increased by 21 from 61 to 82.

Shepparton Christian College increased by 80 from 179 to 259.