Schools evacuated in NSW due to bushfire risk after hundreds of closures
Nine schools have been evacuated in NSW on advice from firefighters after more than 600 closed their doors due to the risk in NSW and Queensland.
Nine NSW schools have been evacuated due to the bushfire threat gripping the state on advice from the Rural Fire Service.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said nine public schools — eight primary and one high school — were evacuated today located around the Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands, Hunter and north of Tamworth.
Ms Mitchell tweeted on Tuesday afternoon the evacuated schools are:
• Barrington Public School
• Bendemeer Public School
• Gloucester Public School
• Gloucester High School
• Moonbi Public School
• Nowendoc Public School
• Stratford Public School
• Stroud Public School
• Stroud Road Public School
We currently have 608 schools closed across NSW. We are evacuating 9 schools in the Upper Hunter and Tamworth areas including in Gloucester, Stroud, Bendemeer, Moonbi and Barrington. All information will continue to be updated on https://t.co/PdQe8DbVq8 #NSWfires @NSWEducation
— Sarah Mitchell (@smitchellmlc) November 12, 2019
“Safety is first and we need to evacuate to get the children out of there,” Ms Mitchell told the ABC at 1.30pm.
She said the department was “still waiting for advice” in relation to where the children were being taken.
“All schools do have an emergency evacuation plan,” she said.
“My understanding is that they are evacuating with assistance and advice from the RFS, but this is unfolding as we speak. We are doing what we need to get them into safe areas.”
More than 600 schools and colleges were closed today and the department earlier said parents and students should be prepared for non-operational ones to stay shut on Wednesday.
Asked whether the department should have been “more cautious” in leaving open the schools that were evacuated, Ms Mitchell said the fires in those areas “weren’t burning this morning”.
“We also took advice and closed as many as we thought was necessary as of this morning, but this is something that we are continually monitoring,” she said.
“These fires that we are talking about in these areas now weren’t burning this morning. We need to keep vigilant, keep watching and that’s what we are doing.”
She warned there could be further closures or evacuations throughout the day. “But we just don’t know,” she said.
— Sarah Mitchell (@smitchellmlc) November 12, 2019
The mass closures occurred during catastrophic fire conditions and emergency-level blazes.
“While some schools are temporarily non-operational due to localised fires, many others in high-risk areas are non-operational as a precautionary measure,” the department said today.
“Schools in some areas are being used as emergency evacuation centres at the direction of the Rural Fire Service.
“For schools that are currently operational, school pick-ups and drop-offs will continue as usual. “If your school is currently non-operational, it will likely remain so tomorrow.”
Parents may choose not to send their children to school if they have other supervision arrangements in place.
— NSW DoE (@NSWEducation) November 11, 2019
Parents were told on Tuesday they could choose not to send their children to school if they had other supervision arrangements in place.
Ms Mitchell said some schools, such as Bobin Public School on the NSW Mid North Coast, have already suffered “significant damage”.
The NSW premier has declared a week-long state of emergency after a catastrophic fire danger rating was issued for the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra/Shoalhaven regions for Tuesday.
Read the full list of government, independent and Catholic schools closed in NSW below.
SCHOOLS CLOSED ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 (as at 2.05pm):
Afterlee Public School
Aldavilla Public School
Alfords Point Public School
Annangrove Public School
Arcadia Public School
Arcadia Vale Public School
Avoca Beach Public School
Awaba Public School
Awabakal Environmental Education Centre
Bald Blair Public School
Balgowlah North Public School
Barkers Vale Public School
Barnsley Public School
Baryulgil Public School
Bates Drive School
Beechwood Public School
Bellbrook Public School
Bellingen High School
Bellingen Public School
Belltrees Public School
Ben Lomond Public School
Berowra Public School
Bilgola Plateau Public School
Bilpin Public School
Biraban Public School
Black Hill Public School
Black Mountain Public School
Blackheath Public School
Blacksmiths Public School
Blaxland East Public School
Blaxland High School
Blaxland Public School
Blue Haven Public School
Boambee Public School
Bobin Public School
Bomaderry Public School
Bomaderry High School
Bonnells Bay Public School
Bonnet Bay Public School
Bonville Public School
Booral Public School
Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre
Bowraville Central School
Brewongle Environmental Education Centre
Brisbania Public School
Brooklyn Public School
Bundeena Public School
Bungwahl Public School
Buxton Public school
Callala Public School
Camden Haven High School
Camden Park Environmental Education Centre
Captains Flat Public School
Cardiff High School
Cascade Environmental Education Centre
Cattai Public School
Caves Beach Public School
Central Mangrove Public School
Cessnock East Public School
Chandler Public School
Chatham High School
Chatham Public School
Chifley College Dunheved
Chifley College Senior
Cobbitty Public School
Coffee Camp Public School
Collins Creek Public School
Colo Heights Public School
Colo High School
Colo Vale Public School
Comboyne Public School
Comleroy Road Public School
Como West Public School
Congewai Public School
Cook School
Coolongolook Public School
Coopernook Public School
Cooranbong Public School
Copacabana Public School
Copmanhurst Public School
Coramba Public School
Corindi Public School
Coutts Crossing Public School
Cowan Public School
Crescent Head Public School
Crossmaglen Public School
Cundletown Public School
Dapto High School
Dapto Public School
Deepwater Public School
Dora Creek Public School
Dorrigo High School
Dorrigo Public School
Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre
Dudley Public School
Dundurrabin Public School
Dunoon Public School
Durrumbul Public School
Ebor Public School
Elands Public School
Ellerston Public School
Ellison Public School
Emmaville Central School
Empire Bay Public School
Emu Heights Public School
Engadine West Public School
Eungai Public School
Eureka Public School
Falls Creek Public School
Fassifern Public School
Faulconbridge Public School
Fennell Bay Public School
Fern Bay Public School
Field Of Mars Environmental Education Centre
Frederickton Public School
Freemans Reach Public School
Galston High School
Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre
Girrakool School
Glen William Public School
Glenbrook Public School
Glenreagh Public School
Glenvale School
Glossodia Public School
Goolmangar Public School
Goonengerry Public School
Grays Point Public School
Green Hill Public School
Grose View Public School
Guyra Central School
Gwandalan Public School
Hallidays Point Public School
Hannam Vale Public School
Harrington Public School
Havenlee School
Hawkesbury High School
Hazelbrook Public School
Heathcote East Public School
Helensburgh Public School
Henry Fulton Public School
Hernani Public School
Herons Creek Public School
Hill Top Public School
Hillside Public School
Holgate Public School
Hopetown School
Hornsby Heights Public School
Huntingdon Public School
Huskisson Public School
Illaroo Road Public School
Illawarra Environmental Education Centre
Illawong Public School
Jannali Public School
Jerrys Plains Public School
Jiggi Public School
Jilliby Public School
Johns River Public School
Kangaroo Valley Public School
Karangi Public School
Kariong Mountains High School
Katoomba High School
Katoomba North Public School
Katoomba Public School
Kemps Creek Public School
Kempsey East Public School
Kempsey High School
Kempsey South Public School
Kempsey West Public School
Kendall Public School
Kenthurst Public School
Kentlyn Public School
Kincumber High School
Kincumber Public School
Kitchener Public School
Krambach Public School
Kulnura Public School
Ku-ring-gai High School
Kurmond Public School
Kurrajong East Public School
Kurrajong North Public School
Kurrajong Public School
Kurri Kurri High School
Laguna Public School
Lake Cathie Public School
Lake Munmorah High School
Lake Munmorah Public School
Lansdowne Public School
Lapstone Public School
Larnook Public School
Laurieton Public School
Lawson Public School
Leura Public School
Lindfield Learning Village
Lisarow High School
Lisarow Public School
Loftus Public School
Long Flat Public School
Longneck Lagoon Environmental Education Centre
Lowanna Public School
Lucas Heights Community School
Luddenham Public School
Macdonald Valley Public School
Main Arm Upper Public School
Manly Vale Public School
Manning Gardens Public School
Maroota Public School
Marsden Park Public School
Martins Creek Public School
Marton Public School
Matthew Pearce Public School
Medlow Public School
Megalong Public School
Melville High School
Menai High School
Menai Public School
Merewether Heights Public School
Milbrodale Public School
Milton Public School
Mingoola Public School
Minmi Public School
Mitchells Island Public School
Modanville Public School
Moorland Public School
Morisset Public School
Mount Brown Public School
Mount George Public School
Mount Hutton Public School
Mount Keira Demonstration School
Mount Kembla Public School
Mount Kuring-Gai Public School
Mount Riverview Public School
Mount Victoria Public School
Mulgoa Public School
Mullaway Public School
Nabiac Public School
Nana Glen Public School
Narara Valley High School
Narranga Public School
New Lambton Heights Infants School
Nimbin Central School
Nords Wharf Public School
North Gosford Learning Centre
North Haven Public School
North Nowra Public School
Nowra Hill Public School
Nymboida Public School
Oakville Public School
Oatley West Public School
Old Bar Public School
Orama Public School
Orara High School
Orara Upper Public School
Otford Public School
Ourimbah Public School
Oxley Island Public School
Pacific Palms Public School
Palm Avenue School
Peats Ridge Public School
Pelaw Main Public School
Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre
Penrith Valley School
Penrose Public School
Pleasant Heights Public School
Point Clare Public School
Pretty Beach Public School
Putland School
Raleigh Public School
Repton Public School
Rollands Plains Upper Public School
Rosebank Public School
Rossmore Public School
Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre
Rukenvale Public School
Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre
Samuel Gilbert Public School
Sanctuary Point Public School
Sandy Beach Public School
Sandy Hollow Public School
Scarborough Public School
Scone High School
Sir Eric Woodward School
Somersby Public School
Springwood High School
Springwood Public School
St Georges Basin Public School
St Helens Park Public School
St Ives North Public School
Stanford Merthyr Infants School
Stanwell Park Public School
Sussex Inlet Public School
Swansea High School
Tangara School
Tanilba Bay Public School
Taree High School
Taree Public School
Taree West Public School
Telegraph Point Public School
Terrey Hills Public School
Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre
Tharawal Public School
The Beach School
The Channon Public School
The Hills School
The Risk Public School
Tinonee Public School
Tomaree High School
Tomaree Public School
Tomerong Public School
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Berkeley Vale Campus
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus
Tuggerah Public School
Tuntable Creek Public School
Turramurra High School
Tyalla Public School
Ulong Public School
Upper Coopers Creek Public School
Upper Lansdowne Public School
Urbenville Public School
Vincentia High School
Vincentia Public School
Vineyard Public School
Wakefield School
Wallacia Public School
Wamberal Public School
Warragamba Public School
Warrumbungle National Park Environmental Education Centre
Warrimoo Public School
Waterfall Public School
Wauchope High School
Wauchope Public School
Wentworth Falls Public School
Whian Whian Public School
Whitebridge High School
Wiangaree Public School
Willawarrin Public School
William Bayldon Public School
Wilsons Creek Public School
Wideview Public School
Windellama Public School
Windsor Park Public School
Wingham Brush Public School
Wingham High School
Wingham Public School
Winmalee High School
Winmalee Public School
Wirreanda Public School
Wisemans Ferry Public School
Woodenbong Central School
Wooglemai Environmental Education Centre
Woolgoolga High School
Woolgoolga Public School
Wooli Public School
Woronora River Public School
Wyong Creek Public School
Wytaliba Public School
Yarrawarrah Public School
Yarrowitch Public School
TAFE CAMPUSES
The following TAFE campuses are temporarily non-operational on Tuesday, November 12:
Coffs Harbour (Glenriegh Street)
Coffs Harbour Education Campus
Great Lakes TAFE
Hornsby TAFE
Katoomba TAFE
Kempsey TAFE
Kurri Kurri TAFE
Lithgow TAFE
Loftus TAFE
Macksville TAFE
Ourimbah TAFE
Port Macquarie TAFE
Richmond TAFE
Taree TAFE
Tomaree TAFE
Ulladulla TAFE
Wauchope TAFE
Wentworth Falls TAFE
Wollongbar TAFE
Wyong TAFE
Yallah TAFE
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
The following independent schools are temporarily non-operational on Tuesday, November 12:
AGBU Alexander Primary School
Alesco Illawarra – Vincentia Campus
Alesco Senior College – Coast Campus
Alesco Senior College – Raymond Terrace
Al-Faisal College, Campbelltown
Al-Faisal College, Liverpool (staff onsite)
Armidale Waldorf School
Aspect Central Coast (all schools including associated satellites)
Aspect Hunter School (main campus)
Aspect Macarthur School (Cobbitty)
Aspect Vern Barnett School, Forestville
Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School
Avondale School
Bellfield College, Rossmore
Belmont Christian College
Berowra Christian School
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula (Hare Krishna School)
Bishop Druitt College
Blacktown Youth College – Lawson Campus
Blue Mountains Grammar School
Blue Mountains Steiner School
Brightwaters Christian College
Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner
Casuarina School for Steiner Education Coffs Harbour
Central Coast Montessori Primary School
Central Coast Montessori School
Central Coast Sports College
Central Coast Steiner School
Charlton Christian College
Christadelphian Heritage College Sydney
Chrysalis Steiner School
Coffs Harbour Bible Church School
Coffs Harbour Christian Community School, Bonville Campus
Coffs Harbour Christian Community School, Curacoa Campus
Columba Cottage Early Leaning Centre/OSHC
Covenant Christian School
Craig Davis College
Darkinjung Barker College
Dunlea Centre
Farmhouse Montessori Primary School
Farmhouse Montessori School
Forestville Montessori School
Gaulston College
German International School Sydney
Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School
Green Point Christian College
Hawkesbury Independent School
Headland Montessori School
Hills Grammar School
Hinterland Christian College
Hunter Trade College
Inaburra School
Irfan College
John Colet School
Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School
Kempsey Adventist College
Kindlehill School
Kinma Preschool & Primary
Korowal School
Kuyper Christian School
Lakes Christian College
Lakes Grammar – An Anglican School
Lindfield Montessori
Lindfield Prep School
Lorien Novalis School
Macksville Adventist School
Macquarie College
Mamre Anglican School
Manning Adventist School
Manning Valley Anglican School
Margaret Jurd College
Mater Dei School
Medowie Christian School
Mountains Christian College
Nambucca Valley Christian Community School
Nautilus School Port Macquarie
Newington College – Lindfield Campus
Ngaruki Gulgul (NG) Central School
Northern Beaches Christian School
Northholm Grammar School
Nowra Anglican College
OneSchool Global NSW Illawarra Campus
OneSchool Global NSW Maitland Campus
OneSchool Global NSW Mount Victoria Campus
Oxford Falls Grammar School
Oxley College
Penrith Anglican College
Pete’s Place South Blacktown
Port Macquarie Steiner School
Queenwood School Tennis and Sports Centre
Rainbow Ridge School for Steiner Education
Richard Johnson Anglican School, Marsden Park
RIDBC Alice Betteridge School
RIDBC Garfield Barwick School
RIDBC Thomas Pattison School
SEDA College – Olympic Park Campus
Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School
Sherwood Cliffs Primary School
Shire Christian School
St Andrews Christian School
St Columba Anglican School
St Pauls Grammar School
St Phillip’s Christian College – Cessnock
St Phillip’s Christian College – Port Stephens
St Phillips Christian College DALE Young Parents Waratah
St Phillips Christian College DALE Young Parents Wyong
Sydney Japanese International School
Tallowood Steiner School
Taree Christian School
The King’s School, Tudor House (day students only)
The Lakes College
The Nature School
The Scots College, Glengarry Campus
TLK Alesco School
Toronto Adventist School
Trinity Grammar School Field Studies Centre
Tuntable Falls Community School
Warrah Special School
Wollondilly Anglican School
Wycliffe Christian School
Wyong Christian Community School
Yanginanook School
The following Catholic schools are temporarily non-operational on Tuesday, November 12:
Adventist Primary School – Toronto
Aquinas Catholic College, Menai
Catholic Early Learning Centre St Michael’s, South Blacktown
Catholic OUSH St Finbar’s, Glenbrook
Catholic OUSH St Michael’s, South Blacktown
Charlton Christian College
Chevalier College
Corpus Christi Primary, Cranebrook
Emmaus College, Kemp’s Creek
Holy Cross Catholic Primary, Helensburg
Holy Cross Catholic School, Glendale
Holy Cross Catholic School, Kincumber
Holy Family Catholic Primary, Menai
Holy Family Primary, Luddenham
Holy Name Primary School, Forster
Holy Spirit Primary, Abermain
John Paul College Coffs Harbour St Mary’s Campus
Loreto Normanhurst
Mackillop Catholic College, Warnervale
Mackillop College, Port Macquarie
Macksville Adventist School
Manning Valley Anglican College
Mary Help of Christians School, Sawtell
Marian College, Kenthurst
Mater Dei Special School
Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood
McAuley Catholic College
McCarthy Catholic College, Emu Plains
Mount St John’s School
Nagle College, South Blacktown
Newman Senior Technical College
Newman Senior Technical College, Port Macquarie
Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic School, West Pymble
Our Lady of the Nativity Primary, Lawson
Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Terrigal
Port Macquarie Adventist School
Rosary Park Catholic School, Branxton
St Agnes’ Primary School, Port Macquarie
St Agnes’ Primary School
St Aloysius Catholic Primary School, Chisholm
St Anthony’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Picton
St Bede’s Catholic College, Chisholm
St Bernard’s Catholic School, Berowra
St Brendan’s Catholic School, Luke Munmorah
St Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah
St Brigid’s Primary School, Raymond Terrace
St Brigid’s Primary School
St Canice’s Primary, Katoomba
St Clare’s High School, Taree
St Columba’s Catholic College, Springwood
St Columba’s Catholic College
St Finbar’s Primary, Glenbrook
St Francis Xavier Primary School, Woolgoolga
St James’ Primary School, Yamba
St John Bosco Catholic Primary, Engadine
St John Bosco College, Engadine
St John Fisher Catholic School, Tumbi Umbi
St John the Baptist Primary, Woy Woy
St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra
St John’s College, Woodlawn
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Como
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Dungog
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary
St Joseph’s Primary School, Bulahdelah
St Joseph’s Primary School, Charleston
St Joseph’s Primary School, Kilaben Bay
St Joseph’s Primary School, MacLean
St Joseph’s Primary School, Port Macquarie
St Joseph’s Primary School, Taree
St Joseph’s Primary School, Wauchope
St Joseph’s Primary School, Wingham
St Joseph’s Primary School, Woodburn
St Joseph’s Primary School
St Joseph’s Regional College
St Joseph’s Regional College
St Joseph’s School
St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre, Broadmeadow
St Madeleine’s Primary, Kenthurst
St Martin’s Catholic School, Davidson
St Mary’s Catholic College
St Mary’s Catholic School, Toukley
St Mary’s Primary School, Warners Bay
St Mary’s Primary School
St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Milton
St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Mittagong
St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Nowra
St Michael’s Primary School, South Blacktown
St Patrick’s Primary School
St Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville
St Paul’s Catholic College, Manly
St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Moss Vale
St Paul’s High School
St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah
St Peter’s Primary School, Port Macquarie
St Peter’s Primary School
St Pius X Primary School, Windale
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Bowral
St Thomas Aquinas Primary, Springwood
Tallowood School
Taree Christian College
Trinity Catholic College
Trinity Primary School, Kemp’s Creek
Tuntable Falls Community Primary School
Xavier College, Llandilo
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES
If you have any questions regarding the closure of an early childhood education service in your area, please contact the Early Childhood Education Directorate on 1800 619 113 or via email on ececd@det.nsw.edu.au from 7am to 7pm.
QUEENSLAND
Thornton State School in the Lockyer Valley was closed on Tuesday due to bushfire, according to the state’s education department.
Carbrook Animal Assisted Learning Centre and Mission Australia Early Learning in Fernvale were also shut.
For Queensland school closures, click here.