New public combined primary and preschool to be built in Adelaide’s north

The premier stopped for a quick hit while revealing plans for a $70m primary and preschool in Adelaide’s north that would have space for more than 400 students.

The state government has announced plans for a new $70 million primary and preschool in Adelaide's north.

The campus, announced ahead of the state government’s budget in June, will cater for 400 students from Reception to year 6 – with a further 60 preschool placements.

The site for the new school has yet to be selected, but SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said it would cater for the area’s growing population.

“The state is undertaking unprecedented growth and we need to ensure we are ready, with schools in new developments, ready to go as families with young children move in – not 10 or 20 years later,” he said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas playing table tennis in front of Henley Beach Primary School students on Monday. Picture: Shashi Baltutis

A Premier Peter Malinauskas said the site of the school would cater for the area’s growing population. Picture: Emma Brasier

Minister Blair Boyer said the government was making “every school a great school in South Australia”. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Education minister Blair Boyer said it would be built on “a prime bit of land”.

“It’s around making sure that we put it in a spot where the community that lives around it, it is convenient for them,” he said.

The school is set to open in 2030 to cater for expected population growth in the area.

“It’s around giving certainty to those people who might be moving into the area, might have kids who they’ll be wanting to go to into preschool by 2030, or primary school, to know that they’ll have a really high quality public school offering,” Mr Boyer said.

“In terms of projected enrolment demand in the future, we’re going to need to have the existing schools full and this school on top of it.”

Also on Monday, the state government announced an additional $40 million would be spent on airconditioning and other upgrades at a range of primary schools across the state.

Mr Malinauskas was cheered by dozens of young students as he faced off against a Henley Beach Primary teacher before announcing the upgrades and new northern suburbs school.

Social media star and teacher Luke Springer, known to his millions of followers as “Mr Luke” was present as it was announced the state government would invest in his school with upgraded airconditioning.

Other schools set to receive funds included Karcultaby Area School, Banksia Park School and Mitcham Girls High School.

East Torrens, Kilkenny, Hewett and Goodwood primary schools were also on the list, as were Flagstaff Hill R-7 School, Underdale High and Coromandel Valley and Renmark West primary schools.

In April, The Advertiser reported Burnside Primary School’s Governing Council (GC) and Parents & Friends (P & F) Committee had called on the state and federal governments to chip in to replace five transportable classrooms and outdated toilet facilities.

That school was not listed for an upgrade.

Originally published as New public combined primary and preschool to be built in Adelaide’s north