❓ Hon Bruce Donaldson raises concerns about increasing student numbers in northern suburbs senior high schools. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich acknowledges the pressure and states that while there's no capping policy, a new high school is planned.
AnsweredQoN 98Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS - NORTHERN SUBURBS
(1) Given the ever-increasing number of students attending senior high schools in the northern suburbs, is the government considering capping the number of students who may attend a school to ensure that quality education is maintained? (2) Has a senior high school been planned for the northern suburbs to address the problem of the growth in those areas as the suburban sprawl extends? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
(1) Given the ever-increasing number of students attending senior high schools in the northern suburbs, is the government considering capping the number of students who may attend a school to ensure that quality education is maintained? (2) Has a senior high school been planned for the northern suburbs to address the problem of the growth in those areas as the suburban sprawl extends? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for that question. The ever-increasing number of students is causing incredible pressure. Hon Bruce Donaldson will be aware that the government has allocated $1 billion to build 39 new schools during this term, which is a phenomenal commitment. There has been an incredible inflow of people to Western Australia from the eastern states and New Zealand. In addition, skilled migrants are looking for opportunities in Western Australia. I received a call yesterday about a 457 visa, by which people come to this state because of opportunities offered as part of the skilled migration program, and they have a right to place their children in Western Australian schools. All of these factors combine to create enormous pressure. Yes, I am aware that there is incredible pressure in the northern corridor. However, having said that, I assure the member that the pressure is just as great in the southern corridor and there is enormous growth pressure throughout the eastern corridor. It does not matter which way I turn, I am faced with that pressure. In terms of capping numbers, no, I do not have a policy. Certainly no-one has suggested to me that there should be a policy on capping numbers. However, we have a fairly fluid market with government, independent and Catholic schools. When one school is full, which is a decision made by the school principal and the school community, parents look at other alternatives. The government plans to build a new high school in the northern suburbs. There is also enormous pressure in the primary school area. As each cohort goes through primary school, somewhere is needed to move them from year 7, or if it is a middle school, from year 6 into year 7, through to years 9 and 10. We must be able to filter those students. There is enormous pressure. I recognise the problem, but there is no capping policy.
(2) Has a senior high school been planned for the northern suburbs to address the problem of the growth in those areas as the suburban sprawl extends? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for that question. The ever-increasing number of students is causing incredible pressure. Hon Bruce Donaldson will be aware that the government has allocated $1 billion to build 39 new schools during this term, which is a phenomenal commitment. There has been an incredible inflow of people to Western Australia from the eastern states and New Zealand. In addition, skilled migrants are looking for opportunities in Western Australia. I received a call yesterday about a 457 visa, by which people come to this state because of opportunities offered as part of the skilled migration program, and they have a right to place their children in Western Australian schools. All of these factors combine to create enormous pressure. Yes, I am aware that there is incredible pressure in the northern corridor. However, having said that, I assure the member that the pressure is just as great in the southern corridor and there is enormous growth pressure throughout the eastern corridor. It does not matter which way I turn, I am faced with that pressure. In terms of capping numbers, no, I do not have a policy. Certainly no-one has suggested to me that there should be a policy on capping numbers. However, we have a fairly fluid market with government, independent and Catholic schools. When one school is full, which is a decision made by the school principal and the school community, parents look at other alternatives. The government plans to build a new high school in the northern suburbs. There is also enormous pressure in the primary school area. As each cohort goes through primary school, somewhere is needed to move them from year 7, or if it is a middle school, from year 6 into year 7, through to years 9 and 10. We must be able to filter those students. There is enormous pressure. I recognise the problem, but there is no capping policy.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for that question. The ever-increasing number of students is causing incredible pressure. Hon Bruce Donaldson will be aware that the government has allocated $1 billion to build 39 new schools during this term, which is a phenomenal commitment. There has been an incredible inflow of people to Western Australia from the eastern states and New Zealand. In addition, skilled migrants are looking for opportunities in Western Australia. I received a call yesterday about a 457 visa, by which people come to this state because of opportunities offered as part of the skilled migration program, and they have a right to place their children in Western Australian schools. All of these factors combine to create enormous pressure. Yes, I am aware that there is incredible pressure in the northern corridor. However, having said that, I assure the member that the pressure is just as great in the southern corridor and there is enormous growth pressure throughout the eastern corridor. It does not matter which way I turn, I am faced with that pressure. In terms of capping numbers, no, I do not have a policy. Certainly no-one has suggested to me that there should be a policy on capping numbers. However, we have a fairly fluid market with government, independent and Catholic schools. When one school is full, which is a decision made by the school principal and the school community, parents look at other alternatives. The government plans to build a new high school in the northern suburbs. There is also enormous pressure in the primary school area. As each cohort goes through primary school, somewhere is needed to move them from year 7, or if it is a middle school, from year 6 into year 7, through to years 9 and 10. We must be able to filter those students. There is enormous pressure. I recognise the problem, but there is no capping policy.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for that question. The ever-increasing number of students is causing incredible pressure. Hon Bruce Donaldson will be aware that the government has allocated $1 billion to build 39 new schools during this term, which is a phenomenal commitment. There has been an incredible inflow of people to Western Australia from the eastern states and New Zealand. In addition, skilled migrants are looking for opportunities in Western Australia. I received a call yesterday about a 457 visa, by which people come to this state because of opportunities offered as part of the skilled migration program, and they have a right to place their children in Western Australian schools. All of these factors combine to create enormous pressure. Yes, I am aware that there is incredible pressure in the northern corridor. However, having said that, I assure the member that the pressure is just as great in the southern corridor and there is enormous growth pressure throughout the eastern corridor. It does not matter which way I turn, I am faced with that pressure. In terms of capping numbers, no, I do not have a policy. Certainly no-one has suggested to me that there should be a policy on capping numbers. However, we have a fairly fluid market with government, independent and Catholic schools. When one school is full, which is a decision made by the school principal and the school community, parents look at other alternatives. The government plans to build a new high school in the northern suburbs. There is also enormous pressure in the primary school area. As each cohort goes through primary school, somewhere is needed to move them from year 7, or if it is a middle school, from year 6 into year 7, through to years 9 and 10. We must be able to filter those students. There is enormous pressure. I recognise the problem, but there is no capping policy.
(2) Has a senior high school been planned for the northern suburbs to address the problem of the growth in those areas as the suburban sprawl extends? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for that question. The ever-increasing number of students is causing incredible pressure. Hon Bruce Donaldson will be aware that the government has allocated $1 billion to build 39 new schools during this term, which is a phenomenal commitment. There has been an incredible inflow of people to Western Australia from the eastern states and New Zealand. In addition, skilled migrants are looking for opportunities in Western Australia. I received a call yesterday about a 457 visa, by which people come to this state because of opportunities offered as part of the skilled migration program, and they have a right to place their children in Western Australian schools. All of these factors combine to create enormous pressure. Yes, I am aware that there is incredible pressure in the northern corridor. However, having said that, I assure the member that the pressure is just as great in the southern corridor and there is enormous growth pressure throughout the eastern corridor. It does not matter which way I turn, I am faced with that pressure. In terms of capping numbers, no, I do not have a policy. Certainly no-one has suggested to me that there should be a policy on capping numbers. However, we have a fairly fluid market with government, independent and Catholic schools. When one school is full, which is a decision made by the school principal and the school community, parents look at other alternatives. The government plans to build a new high school in the northern suburbs. There is also enormous pressure in the primary school area. As each cohort goes through primary school, somewhere is needed to move them from year 7, or if it is a middle school, from year 6 into year 7, through to years 9 and 10. We must be able to filter those students. There is enormous pressure. I recognise the problem, but there is no capping policy.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for that question. The ever-increasing number of students is causing incredible pressure. Hon Bruce Donaldson will be aware that the government has allocated $1 billion to build 39 new schools during this term, which is a phenomenal commitment. There has been an incredible inflow of people to Western Australia from the eastern states and New Zealand. In addition, skilled migrants are looking for opportunities in Western Australia. I received a call yesterday about a 457 visa, by which people come to this state because of opportunities offered as part of the skilled migration program, and they have a right to place their children in Western Australian schools. All of these factors combine to create enormous pressure. Yes, I am aware that there is incredible pressure in the northern corridor. However, having said that, I assure the member that the pressure is just as great in the southern corridor and there is enormous growth pressure throughout the eastern corridor. It does not matter which way I turn, I am faced with that pressure. In terms of capping numbers, no, I do not have a policy. Certainly no-one has suggested to me that there should be a policy on capping numbers. However, we have a fairly fluid market with government, independent and Catholic schools. When one school is full, which is a decision made by the school principal and the school community, parents look at other alternatives. The government plans to build a new high school in the northern suburbs. There is also enormous pressure in the primary school area. As each cohort goes through primary school, somewhere is needed to move them from year 7, or if it is a middle school, from year 6 into year 7, through to years 9 and 10. We must be able to filter those students. There is enormous pressure. I recognise the problem, but there is no capping policy.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for that question. The ever-increasing number of students is causing incredible pressure. Hon Bruce Donaldson will be aware that the government has allocated $1 billion to build 39 new schools during this term, which is a phenomenal commitment. There has been an incredible inflow of people to Western Australia from the eastern states and New Zealand. In addition, skilled migrants are looking for opportunities in Western Australia. I received a call yesterday about a 457 visa, by which people come to this state because of opportunities offered as part of the skilled migration program, and they have a right to place their children in Western Australian schools. All of these factors combine to create enormous pressure. Yes, I am aware that there is incredible pressure in the northern corridor. However, having said that, I assure the member that the pressure is just as great in the southern corridor and there is enormous growth pressure throughout the eastern corridor. It does not matter which way I turn, I am faced with that pressure. In terms of capping numbers, no, I do not have a policy. Certainly no-one has suggested to me that there should be a policy on capping numbers. However, we have a fairly fluid market with government, independent and Catholic schools. When one school is full, which is a decision made by the school principal and the school community, parents look at other alternatives. The government plans to build a new high school in the northern suburbs. There is also enormous pressure in the primary school area. As each cohort goes through primary school, somewhere is needed to move them from year 7, or if it is a middle school, from year 6 into year 7, through to years 9 and 10. We must be able to filter those students. There is enormous pressure. I recognise the problem, but there is no capping policy.
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