Seven high schools in w. suburbs to take on new planning process

September 23, 1997

Seven high schools in the western suburbs will be among the first schools in the State to take on board the new Local Area Education Planning process, launched today by Education Minister Colin Barnett.

Addressing students, staff, parents and principals from the western suburbs at Churchlands Senior High School this morning, Mr Barnett said the coming months would be exciting times for school communities in the area.

The high schools in the area are: Carine Senior High School, Perth Modern Senior High School, Scarborough Senior High School, Churchlands Senior High School, City Beach Senior High School, Swanbourne Senior High School and Hollywood Senior High School.

Mr Barnett said the western suburbs were one of a number of areas seen as a priority for future education planning. Other high schools in the metropolitan area and Peel would also begin planning immediately and planning already under way in Albany, Esperance and Kalgoorlie would continue.

The Minister said that while there were no decisions at this stage on the future of high schools in the western suburbs, it was clear that a reorganisation of the provision of education was needed.

"As a local member and as Education Minister, I believe that high school education could be provided more effectively in the western suburbs," he said.

"Enrolments in the area, on average, are falling with student numbers ranging from around 360 students to nearly 1,000. The enrolment of one secondary school has fallen more than 50 per cent in the past 10 years and this means the range of programs on offer to students is limited.

"In western suburbs high schools last year, there were more than 50 mixed year 11 and 12 classes and 73 classes with fewer than 10 students studying an upper school subject. This is clearly not the best use of education resources.

"A good example of effective education planning can be seen in Geraldton where, following the merger of two high schools, the number of mixed year 11 and 12 classes dropped from 38 to three. As well, the percentage of students able to study their first six subject choices has risen from as low as 60 per cent to 96 per cent.

"Local area planning is about the smarter use of our education resources. It is not about cost-cutting.

"Out of the planning process may come the decision to close or merge schools. If this happens, money from the sale of land will be redirected into local schools and other schools around the State. This money will not be lost from the education system.

"In the western suburbs, for example, based on current and projected enrolment numbers, I believe that Swanbourne and City Beach senior high schools should merge and Scarborough Senior High School should probably close. A significant amount of money from the sale of the school land would be redirected into other schools in the area to provide much improved educational opportunities and facilities.

"However, let me make it clear that there are no decisions at this stage to close any school in the western suburbs. This, along with all other options, needs to be considered and discussed by the wider community.

"The discussions need to take into account a range of issues, such as transport facilities, curriculum, staff and student numbers and specialist facilities which the community may want to introduce into a reorganised school system.

"School communities have to be realistic about the future of education in their area. They have to look at what is currently being provided, what they would like provided and ways and means of achieving this within the parameters of the education system in their district.

"I encourage everyone with an interest in education in the western suburbs to become actively involved in the local area planning process. There must be lively community discussion on this issue but I stress that the debate must be sensible and rational with a view to what is best for the future of students in the immediate and longer term."

Mr Barnett said staff resourcing of high schools in the western suburbs, based on anticipated enrolment numbers for 1998, would be maintained next year while the local area planning process proceeded.

The Western Suburbs Drafting Committee - consisting of the two District Directors, the seven high school principals and P&C presidents, student representatives and representatives from the primary schools and their P&Cs - would be announced soon to begin the formal planning process.

Plans would be workshopped among the wider school community for feedback before recommendations were put to the Education Department before mid-1998. A final decision on the future of the western suburbs secondary schools would be made by the Minister for Education, on advice from the Director-General of Education, after all feedback had been taken into account.

Media contact: Justine Whittome (08) 9222 9699