School zones change as new facilities roll out

More than a dozen school zones have been tweaked for 2024 to make way for new schools. See the full list here.

More than a dozen school zones have been changed for 2024 as boundaries are tweaked to make way for new schools.

Fourteen school zones have been rejigged in changes released by the state government as parents in Tarneit, Officer, Aintree and other suburbs welcome new facilities.

There are also adjustments to Hazelwood North Primary School giving students residing in Hazelwood North in the Latrobe Valley, particularly along Clarkes and Sagars roads, the right to enrol at the school.

The changes to school zones have also been made to reflect school reorganisations, including establishing Orbost Community College — merging of Orbost Primary School, Orbost North Primary School, and Orbost Secondary College — effective from 2024.

School zones have been changed to make way for new facilities. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said the changes would make enrolling in school easier for new parents.

“Starting school is an exciting and important milestone for any family, that’s why we’re making the process simpler, easier and fairer with standardised dates and forms for enrolment in all government primary schools,” she said.

“We’re well on target to open 100 new government schools by 2026, with this year’s update to Find My School showcasing more local school options and providing all the information parents and carers need at their fingertips.”

But Liberal education spokesman Matthew Bach said school catchments should be scrapped, labelling them from the era of the “horse and cart”.

“They are based on the sexist – and wrong – assumption that mum is at home with the kids, and deny parents’ choice,” he said.

“It might be easier for bureaucrats to plan, with rigid and arbitrary lines on a map. But the current system completely fails to meet the needs of modern families. Given Victorian families are paying the most in the country for a state education, the least they deserve is basic choice.

The state opposition says school zones should be scrapped.

“Of course there needs to be structure to the way we apply to, and then access, state schools. Best-practice models operate overseas that both allow this structure and parental choice. That’s where we should be headed.”

Every child has the right to enrol at their designated neighbourhood government school or, if there are sufficient places, at another government school of their choice.

This has not changed for 2024, although the right of schools to cherry pick out-of-zone students with aptitude in particular subjects has been de-prioritised.

Schools that do not have room to take all students who apply from outside their zone from next year will prioritise students with a sibling at the same permanent address who are attending the school at the same time, and all other students in order of closeness of their home to the school.

In exceptional circumstances, a student may be enrolled in a school based on compassionate grounds.

New schools opening in 2024

Tarneit, Officer, Aintree are getting new schools.

• Aintree Secondary School (interim name)

• Aintree Specialist School (interim name)

• Alexander Boulevard Primary School (interim name)

• Black Forest East Primary School (interim name)

• Brookfield Primary School (interim name)

• Lockerbie Central Primary School (interim name)

• Lollipop Creek Secondary School (interim name)

• Lollipop Creek Specialist School (interim name)

• Merrifield South Primary School (interim name)

• Officer Brunt Road Primary School (interim name)

• Riverdale Secondary School (interim name)

• Tarneit North Primary School (interim name)

• Truganina North Primary School (interim name)

• Truganina North Secondary School (interim name)