Education Minister Blair Boyer expects Findon Technical College to be ‘full on its first day’ despite only two-thirds enrolment

Enrolments at a new technical college, set to open next year, have not yet reached capacity – despite a $1.2m advertising campaign to entice students.

Enrolments at a new technical college in Adelaide’s west, set to open next year, have not yet reached capacity – despite a boost from a $1.2m advertising campaign to entice students to enrol.

Education Minister Blair Boyer revealed latest enrolment figures at Findon Technical College “have jumped” to 81, still only two thirds of the 120 places for year 10 and 11 students available.

Applications opened in May and by early August, there were 43 spots at the college filled.

Mr Boyer said he anticipated the college would be “full on its first day” and the numbers show it is still “on track” to achieving the target.

“There is a real buzz among students, families, and school staff ahead of its opening,” Mr Boyer said.

“Findon Technical College will make this fantastic public school better than it has ever been.”

Findon High School Principle Kathleen Hoare, Premier Peter Malinauskas and Education Minister Blair Boyer at Findon Tech College. Image/Russell Millard Photography

So far 15 of the applications have come from students currently attending Findon High School, which will share a site with the technical college.

“This shows that families are voting with their feet to enrol in our new, state-of-the-art technical college,” Mr Boyer said.

Earlier in the year a $1.2m campaign to attract students to the all five technical colleges was launched, including television advertising, which came from the federal government’s Gonski allocation, designed to support schools.

Speaking in front of a budget and finance committee hearing, Education Department chief executive Martin Westwell admitted it was “unusual” for the department to use Gonski funding to advertise but maintained it was necessary.

Opposition education spokesman John Gardner slammed the “very slight outcome” of attempts to attract students to the school.

Opposition education spokesman John Gardner. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

“I don’t have any problem with investing money into improving public education facilities but this is a very slight outcome given the government’s rhetoric,” Mr Gardner said.

“Given this is the first of five technical colleges the government clearly needs to learn lessons in how to attract students.”

Despite the criticism of enrolment numbers, Mr Gardner said he wants the school to reach capacity and for the government’s investment, almost $209m for five colleges, “to be realised”.

The other technical colleges will be located at the Heights School, the Tonsley Innovation precinct, Port Augusta and Mt Gambier.

The college will have programs such as Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering which features topics including industrial maintenance, welding and computer-aided design.

Originally published as Education Minister Blair Boyer expects Findon Technical College to be ‘full on its first day’ despite only two-thirds enrolment