New secondary college to be set up in Geraldton

7/8/96

Young people in the Mid-West of Western Australia will receive better education opportunities following the creation of a new secondary college in Geraldton.

The new college was announced by Education Minister Colin Barnett in Geraldton today. Geraldton's two existing senior high schools, Geraldton Senior High School and John Willcock Senior High School, will merge to form one multi-campus college, in a three-year program starting first term next year.

"The new secondary college will provide broader education choices for students in keeping with changing social trends and workplace requirements," Mr Barnett said.

"This will ensure that young people completing their secondary education are better prepared to move to higher levels of learning, such as a university or TAFE college, or are better equipped to move directly into the workforce.

"The structure of the new college ensures there will be a focus on the specific education needs of senior and middle school students."

The structure of the college was recommended after an extensive four-year consultation process with principals, teaching staff, union representatives, WACSSO and P&C representatives, and the general community. The recommendation for the merger accepted by the Minister was made by the Geraldton Secondary Education Consultative Committee (GSECC).

The principal of the new college will be current John Willcock Senior High School principal Kathy Ritchie. The college will have one P&C Association and one school council.

Mr Barnett said that the GSECC recommended the name Batavia Coast College for the new college and while he strongly supported this name, a final decision would be made after community consultation.

A senior school campus for about 650 year 11 and 12 students would be located at the Carson Terrace site, currently Geraldton Senior High School. Two middle school campuses for years 8, 9 and 10 would also be created. One would be located at the Highbury Street site, currently John Willcock Senior High School, for about 800 students, and a further 450 students would attend Carson Terrace.

Students boarding at Geraldton's two hostels would attend the Carson Terrace campus.

Mr Barnett said that funding would remain to at least current levels and teaching staff numbers would not be reduced. He said that staff would be used more effectively and there would be a wider choice of subjects for students.

Currently 25 per cent of students at Geraldton Senior High School and 40 per cent at John Willcock Senior High School were not able to study their first choice subjects in Years 11 and 12. The new college would allow at least 90 per cent of students to study their first choice subjects.

Middle school students would be divided into smaller learning communities which would enable students, teachers and parents to know each other well without the restrictions of an upper school timetable. All students from each primary school entering year eight would attend the same secondary campus.

Mr Barnett said it was crucial that young people in the Mid-West received an education that would best equip them to fill growing employment opportunities in the region.

"The Government is committed to upgrading facilities and programs for students in WA and to providing the best quality of education for young Western Australians," he said.

"In Geraldton, the Education Department will conduct an assessment of existing facilities to determine what other improvements or new buildings will be necessary to ensure the college will be able to provide the best facilities for Mid-West students.

"The new college is a unique step for education in the Mid-West and will place Geraldton at the forefront of secondary schooling in WA."

Mr Barnett congratulated the representative groups who made the recommendation, saying they faced a challenging task in reaching agreement on the direction for secondary education in Geraldton.

Media contact: Justine Whittome - 222 9699