The north-west region of the city has seen significant population growth in recent years, but public school capacity has not kept up with the demand. Many lower-fee private schools have been established in response to the booming population, and about 60 percent of families in the Hills Shire are couples with children. Despite a crackdown on out-of-area enrolments, parents are still “school shopping” and moving suburbs to ensure they are in the catchment area of their preferred school. With expected population growth in the next decade, there is uncertainty around enrolment zones, and better planning is needed to address these issues.
Approximately 27 schools in Sydney are currently running below 60 percent of their enrolment cap, with the majority being high schools. The Ponds High School in the city’s north-west has become the largest public high school in NSW, with 2200 students. The school, which opened in 2015 with 183 students, is expected to peak at 2430 students in 2028. Principal Jenny Weal noted the challenges of dealing with limited space due to the presence of 48 demountables on the school grounds. She also highlighted the benefits of a larger school, such as offering a variety of extracurricular activities and subjects to students.
The NSW Education Minister, Prue Car, acknowledged the government’s investment of $3.5 billion to upgrade 51 schools and build 24 new schools in western Sydney. The government’s recent enrolment growth audit found that the needs of families in booming suburbs had been overlooked in the past. Carlingford West Public School, which is 1400 students over its enrolment cap and has 75 demountables, is undergoing construction of new classrooms, a hall, library, and play area. Additionally, a new primary and high school is being built in the north-west suburb of Melonba to alleviate pressure on Northbourne Public School.
Despite efforts to address the issue of school capacity, challenges remain in ensuring that public schools become the first choice for parents. A roundtable was held during the term break with education partners to discuss enrolment policy and ways to meet the needs of schools. The government is examining ways to increase enrolments in public schools and make them a more attractive option for parents. With 5000 demountables currently in use at public schools across NSW, there is a need for continued investment and planning to address the growing population and demand for quality education in booming suburbs like the north-west and south-west regions of the city.
