New era for John Curtin College of the Arts

Students at John Curtin College of the Arts are learning in state-of-the-art facilities following a $13.

  • John Curtin College of the Arts gets new building and facilities upgrade

  • $13.3 million investment delivers modern environment for historic college  

Students at John Curtin College of the Arts are learning in state-of-the-art facilities following a $13.3 million upgrade funded by the State Government.

In Fremantle today, Education Minister Peter Collier officially unveiled an $11.1 million teaching block and a $2.2 million refurbishment of windows and toilets.

The new building is among 29 capital works projects, worth $229.6 million, built as part of the State Government's move of Year 7 to secondary school this year.

"The 250 new Year 7 students who started their secondary education at the college last month are learning specialist subjects in these modern facilities," Mr Collier said.

The building includes five maths classrooms, two science laboratories, four dance studios, one general classroom, a student activity area and staff and student toilets.

The Minister, who started his teaching career at the college in 1981, said the expanded and revamped facilities provided a new lease of life for the campus.

In addition, Mr Collier said a commitment he made in 2012 to upgrade outdated parts of the college had now been delivered. 

"During a tour of the college more than two years ago, it was made clear to me the old toilets and leaking windows were substandard and in need of attention," he said.

"I am delighted to see they have undergone extensive refurbishment, bringing them up to a modern standard that befits the State's premier arts college."

       Fact File

  • John Curtin College of the Arts is an Independent Public School

  • 1,465 students are enrolled from Year 7 to 12

  • WA schools receive the highest per student funding of any State in Australia

  • They are funded at an average $18,875 a year - the national average is $15,703

  • Across the board, WA teachers are the highest paid in the nation

  • For more information, visit http://biggerpicture.education.wa.edu.au/ 

Minister's office - 6552 6300