❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Education regarding the adequacy of the generic primary school building plan (450 students) given increasing enrolments. The Minister acknowledges the issue but defends the current plan, citing enrolment decline over time and the use of transportable classrooms, while also noting a potential future review.
AnsweredQoN 846Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS —
PRIMARY — GENERIC BUILD PLAN
846. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
Given all new primary schools are built from a generic plan
to accommodate 450 students and many of our primary schools now have enrolments
of well over 800 students, will the government revise the primary school
generic building plan to cater for the influx of students into new schools;
and, if not, why not?
PRIMARY — GENERIC BUILD PLAN
846. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
Given all new primary schools are built from a generic plan
to accommodate 450 students and many of our primary schools now have enrolments
of well over 800 students, will the government revise the primary school
generic building plan to cater for the influx of students into new schools;
and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
An analysis of historical trends indicates that the
enrolments at new primary schools tend to decline as the suburb matures over
time. This situation will be accelerated in 2015 and beyond after year 7
students have transferred to secondary schools. During periods of peak
enrolment, transportable classrooms are used to supplement the permanent
classroom accommodation at schools. The planning for new primary schools is
based on the need to accommodate 450 students in the long term. In this way,
the potential underutilisation of facilities is minimised. Notwithstanding
this, the Department of Education recognises that it may be necessary to review
the generic brief in the future or in specific circumstances, and will give
this due consideration.
question.
An analysis of historical trends indicates that the
enrolments at new primary schools tend to decline as the suburb matures over
time. This situation will be accelerated in 2015 and beyond after year 7
students have transferred to secondary schools. During periods of peak
enrolment, transportable classrooms are used to supplement the permanent
classroom accommodation at schools. The planning for new primary schools is
based on the need to accommodate 450 students in the long term. In this way,
the potential underutilisation of facilities is minimised. Notwithstanding
this, the Department of Education recognises that it may be necessary to review
the generic brief in the future or in specific circumstances, and will give
this due consideration.
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