Swanbourne & Hollywood senior high schools to amalgamate

24/6/98

A modern, state-of-the-art secondary college, focussing on the unique needs of students in middle and senior school campus environments, will be built in the western suburbs to open in 2001.

Education Minister Colin Barnett today announced that the State Government would channel $20 million into building a secondary college on the site of the current Selby Centre, bounded by Selby and Lemnos Streets and Stubbs Terrace in Shenton Park.

The decision will see Swanbourne and Hollywood senior high schools amalgamate to establish the new secondary college, expected to have around 1200 students. Both schools will remain until the college opens in 2001 when Swanbourne and Hollywood SHS students will transfer to the new campus.

"The creation of the new secondary campus in the western suburbs to replace Swanbourne and Hollywood senior high schools is very exciting and will be a dynamic learning environment for students in the area," Mr Barnett said.

"It will be first class, with all of the modern facilities our students deserve. I believe parents will consider the secondary college to be a real alternative to non-Government education in the area in terms of the quality and choice of educational opportunities it will provide."

Mr Barnett said the centrally-located Perth Modern SHS would gain from the creation of the new secondary college, with the acclaimed ballet program, Intensive Language Course (ILC) and English as a Second Language (ESL) program from Swanbourne SHS transferred to Perth Modern to complement existing courses at the school.

Total funding of $800,000 will be channelled into Perth Modern SHS to build a ballet studio, other general building improvements and provide support for the ILC and ESL programs.

"I am delighted that such an innovative outcome has been achieved for students at Swanbourne, Hollywood and Perth Modern schools," Mr Barnett said.

"They will benefit in every way when the transition of courses and campuses occurs and the decisions deserve wide community support to ensure the implementation is successful."

Mr Barnett said that with the focus on secondary education now set, the District Directors (Schools), Jan Little and David Carvosso, would begin wide community consultation on details of implementing the decisions.

The following will take place:

·         the existing Swanbourne and Hollywood SHSs will continue until December 2000;

·         in 2001, a new $20 million western suburbs college will open on the current Selby Centre site and Swanbourne and Hollywood students will move to the new college;

·         year 7 academic talent program (ATP) students intending to attend Swanbourne will instead enrol at Hollywood SHS from next year;

·         the Intensive Language Course and English as a Second Language program will remain at Swanbourne until December 2000, to transfer to Perth Modern SHS for 2001; and -

·         a new ballet studio will be built at Perth Modern SHS to be completed for the 2000 school year and ballet students will transfer at this time.

Mr Barnett said the site of the new secondary college was ideally placed to be accessed by a wide variety of transport options and would attract students from all over the western suburbs.

"Design of the new campus will begin immediately with the middle and senior campuses separated by shared sporting facilities," he said.

"The middle school will allow education to be focussed on the specific needs of these young students as they begin in a mature high school environment, will see a renewed focus on teaching methods, a high level of pastoral care and an the increasing involvement of parents.

"The senior campus will explore an exciting range of academic and vocational education programs second to none in the area. The links between Hollywood SHS and the University of Western Australia will be developed at the new college.

"I am confident that the secondary college could well emerge as Western Australia's first university senior high school."

Mr Barnett said the Local Area Education Planning process had encouraged many positive and constructive ideas from schools and the wider community to be discussed and considered. There would now be a two month implementation planning period, including wide consultation with school communities, to develop strategies to manage the change.

"The amount of time and effort given by students, parents, schools and the general community to the process is admirable and I thank everyone for their contributions," he said.

"I would also like to particularly acknowledge and thank the District Directors (Schools), Jan Little and David Carvosso, for their tireless efforts in managing the process for the Education Department at the local level.

"It is through such dedication from everyone involved that we have been able to announce such exciting outcomes for the future of secondary education in this area. I encourage the whole community to support the decisions and be involved in seeing them turn into reality."

Media contacts:

Justine Whittome, Office of the Minister for Education, (08) 9222 9699

John Clune, Education Department of WA, (08) 9264 5111

Jan Little, District Director (Schools), (08) 9400 3300