Two new schools for northern suburbs

24/3/00
The State Government will make a $30 million investment into education in Perth's fastest-growing northern suburbs with the development of two modern new schools in the next four years.
Education Minister Colin Barnett today announced a new $15 million middle school for students in Year 6 to 10 would be built at Kinross, north of Ocean Reef, and a new $15 million senior campus for Year 11 and 12 students would be built further north at Mindarie.
He said the middle school would open in 2002 with Year 6 and 7 students and progress through to Year 10 in 2005.
The senior campus would open in 2003.
"These schools will service the needs of the children of the many families who have settled along the northern coast in recent years," Mr Barnett said.
"The middle school is expected to have about 600 students by 2005 while the senior campus is anticipated to have about 500 students."
Mr Barnett said the decision to build the new schools was the result of much time and effort invested by local school communities in the local area education process - managed by the Education Department of WA. The process is designed to give parents and staff a say in how best to provide for the future of education.
He said the commitment to the Mindarie and Kinross areas came after others given by the State Government to Peel/Halls Head, western suburbs, Cannington/Maddington, Belmont/Kewdale and Goldfields under local area education planning.
More than $100 million was being invested by the State Government into new secondary schools, capital improvements and state-of-the-art facilities in these areas.
"I am pleased with the keen interest shown by parents, school staff and local communities in the local area planning process for the area and thank them for their efforts," Mr Barnett said.
"Strong enrolment growth is giving us an opportunity to make the future of secondary education very exciting and innovative with a mix of secondary schools which will provide a full and relevant complement of educational opportunities.
"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 secondary school.
"The new Kinross middle school will be modern and innovative and will focus teaching methods on the needs of adolescent students, offer first class pastoral care and increasing involvement from parents.
"The senior school will promote a more mature learning environment for students focussing on offering relevant education opportunities for students - whether they want to head into university, training or the workplace."
Mr Barnett said Kinross Primary School would be established as a kindergarten to year five school from 2002.
He said planning and design for the new schools would be finalised with the school community involvement this year and construction of the middle school at Kinross would start in December this year and open in 2002. Work would start on the senior campus in September 2001 and open in 2003.
Clarkson Community High School would remain a senior high school for years 8 to 12 students.
Year 11 and year 12 students from the Kinross area in the future would have a choice of attending the Mindarie Senior Campus, Clarkson Community High School, Ocean Reef or Belridge senior high schools .
Year 8 to 10 students from Currambine and Joondalup - north of Moore Drive - would be able to attend the new Kinross Middle School, Clarkson Community High School, Ocean Reef or Beldridge senior high schools.
"The education plan for the northern suburbs district confirms the State Government's commitment to providing first-class education facilities as and where they are needed," Mr Barnett said.
Media contact: Diana Callander 9222 9699