Clarkefield Primary School seeking more students to retain current teacher numbers

CLARKEFIELD Primary School is facing a battle to boost enrolment numbers, or it risks losing a teacher.

Clarkefield Primary School

CLARKEFIELD Primary School is facing a battle to boost enrolment numbers, or it risks losing a teacher.

Only 21 students are enrolled at the school this year. There are three grade 6 students leaving at the end of the year and no current students have younger siblings due to arrive in 2014.

School council president Janine Fisher said the school was desperate to enrol more students to retain its current 2.5 funded teachers. "We want at least eight more students next year or we could lose a teacher," Ms Fisher said.

She said having smaller classes with greater teacher interaction was a special environment for children, and one the school's parents were determined to protect.

"People don't know what a great school this is but we need families in Sunbury to start thinking about bringing their children here."

Acting principal Julie Soutter said current student numbers were the lowest for at least a decade, with ten of the school's students hailing from Sunbury.

"The school is only 10 minutes north of the commuter town and (it's) an alternative to larger school campuses there," she said.

"We have a beautiful big playground, library a part-time science and arts program, physical education, music and lunchtime programs."

The Clarkefield school, on the Melbourne-Lancefield Rd, was first established in 1890. The school received a five-module $320,000 extension to facilities in the 2009-2010 state budget, and a gymnasium in the federal government's BER funding program.

Next Monday it will host a visit from the Wild Action Zoo from 2-3pm. All pre-schoolers and their parents in the area can attend free.

Details: 5428 5121