Official unveiling of plans for middle school at Halls Head, Mandurah

28/5/99
The designs of Western Australia's first purpose-built middle school for students in years eight to 10, to be developed at Halls Head in Mandurah, have been officially unveiled today to parent, student and staff representatives.
Education Minister Colin Barnett, in the Peel region today to release the plans alongside those for the new Peel senior campus, said the $17.9 million Halls Head middle school would open in 2001 with its first students in years eight and nine.
Mr Barnett said under the Education Department's local area education planning decisions announced last year, there would be three middle schools in the Peel region from 2001, at Halls Head, Coodanup and Mandurah.
From 2001, all year 11 and 12 students in the region will attend the new senior campus.
"I am very pleased that planning and consultation for the $16.9 million stage one of the project is on schedule, with work due to begin this November to open for the 2001 school year," Mr Barnett said.
"The school, on land at the corner of Casuarina Drive and Honeysuckle Ramble, will be built to accommodate 800 students but is expected to have about 400 in its first year."
Stage one will see the construction of an administration centre, student services facilities, visual arts and media facilities, staff facilities and science laboratories, food and textile technology facilities, a canteen and covered area, technology and enterprise areas, general learning rooms, a library resource centre, auditorium and an education support centre.
The $1 million second stage of building program - the construction of six additional classrooms - will be complete for the start of the 2002 school year.
"Middle schools provide an opportunity to cater specifically for the needs of young students as they make the transition from primary school to the more mature environment of high school," Mr Barnett said.
"The middle schools in the Peel region will be modern and innovative and will see teaching methods focussed on the needs of students in years eight, nine and 10, first-class pastoral care to support students and an increasing involvement from parents."
Mr Barnett said strong links with the local community would be forged through the shared use of some of the middle school's facilities.
He said with the already outstanding amount of support from local community groups, the Halls Head middle school would be at the forefront of collaboration between the Education Department and a local community in the State.
"Negotiations have been under way with Mandurah City Council which has agreed to contribute $1 million towards the cost of constructing a community sports centre on the site," Mr Barnett said.
"The facility will incorporate two basketball courts built to international specifications, a gymnasium, creche, meeting rooms, change rooms and tiered seating overlooking the synthetic hockey field.
"In addition, the Mandurah Hockey Association will contribute $660,000 towards the hockey facilities, while the Mandurah Little Theatre will inject $250,000 of its own funds to the construction of a performing arts theatre.
"The school also plans to share the community recreational space to the north of the site and negotiations have begun with School Aged Therapy Services to provide a therapy centre on site.

"This type of community support, which has been ongoing every step of the way, is very encouraging and gives me every confidence that the middle school will be a true community education facility with constant support from people in the Peel region.
"It is this type of support that will make the Halls Head middle school not just a good, but an excellent education facility for students, staff and parents and the community in general."
The Halls Head middle school has been designed by Spowers Architects, which also designed Warnbro Community High School.
Media contacts: Justine Whittome, Minister's office, (08) 9222 9699

Inga Butefisch, Education Department of WA, (08) 9264 5348