21/11/02
Langford Primary School's 88 students will relocate to nearby Brookman and Riverton primary schools next year, after a decision to close the school because of declining numbers.
Education Minister Alan Carpenter announced today he had endorsed a recommendation formed by the school community that Langford Primary School and adjoining Langford Education Support Centre should close at the end of the 2002 school year.
"Parents and other stakeholders, including staff, the local council and teachers' union, have been part of this decision," Mr Carpenter said.
"The school community believes students will benefit in larger schools where they will have greater access to specialist staff, programs and facilities.
"I'm confident the Langford students and their parents will be very pleased with their new schools and I would like to express my appreciation to the Riverton and Brookman school communities for welcoming the Langford children."
The school will start moving equipment, resources, records and memorabilia across to the new schools this term and students will start classes at their new schools in term one, 2003.
Mr Carpenter said the Langford Primary School land and buildings would be sold via a public tender process.
"To cater for their new students, improvements will be made to Brookman Primary School, which now has 266 students, and the education support unit at Riverton Primary School, which currently has nine students," he said.
The decision to close Langford Primary School and Langford Education Support Centre was made after a Local Area Education Planning process looked at the futures of Parkwood, Brookman and Langford primary schools and Langford Education Support Centre.
The process began in 1999 but was put on hold in 2000 to allow local councils to complete redevelopments which were expected to affect the schools' demographics.
The process resumed in June this year with the public consultation phase.
A consultation committee convened six meetings and information meetings were held for the parents of the schools as well as teachers at Brookman and Langford schools.
A public workshop was attended by 53 people, and consultations were held with the local member, Sheila McHale MLA, a State School Teachers' Union WA organiser and Gosnells City Council representatives.
"At the end of this process, the committee made a recommendation to close Langford Primary School," Mr Carpenter said.
"That recommendation has been endorsed by the Director General of Education, Paul Albert, and myself."
Mr Carpenter said an implementation committee with representation from Brookman, Langford and Riverton primaries and Langford ESC would now be formed to facilitate the transition as smoothly as possible.
Minister's office: 9213 6800
