SW schools feel squeeze

Primary school principals have called for the education department to immediately address high enrolment numbers in the district’s key growth areas as a number of schools approach capacity.

Geographe Primary School has 685 students enrolled and is fast approaching its capacity of 745.

“With a new subdivision of more than 100 lots looming in Peppermint Park, just down the street from school, we must think carefully about our future numbers,” principal Tim Baker said.

“The move to locate Year 7s in high school from 2015 will relieve some of the pressure, but the advent of the new subdivision will bring increased numbers.

“We are already feeling the squeeze, with every available room and space being occupied.”

Vasse Primary principal Brian Devereux said his school was already “choc-a-block” with classes being held in the library, a heritage room and the staff room to accommodate students.

Mr Devereux said they had yet to feel the influx of enrolments from the Vasse Newtown development, but were expecting it in the near future.

“We are expecting close to 80 kindergarten enrolments next year,” he said.

Dunsborough principal Garry Jones said there were no more available classrooms in the school, with several class sizes reaching maximum level.

However, the Department of Education has no plans to develop a new school in the region.

“Based on the student numbers being generated, current residential growth is not sufficient to ensure that a new primary school would be viable,” infrastructure executive director John Fischer said.

All three principals said they have looked at ordering transportable classrooms to alleviate pressure.

Mr Devereux said they ordered two extra transportable classrooms from the Department of Education last year to hold more students, but had yet to receive one.

“We’ve entered an agreement with the City to use the adjacent oval which could accommodate another six classrooms, but we are still waiting for them,” he said.

“The issue is State-wide. Enrolments are growing at a rate bigger than expected.”

Mr Fischer said they have received a request from one school in the City of Busselton for transportable classrooms.

“The Department has ordered new transportable classrooms to be constructed in time for the start of the 2014 school year to meet the demand at schools with increased enrolments,” Mr Fischer told the Times.

Mr Baker believed a solution could also lie in reducing his school’s intake size, as public schools must accept all enrolments from within their zone.