Shorten’s primary pledge

“Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club has made a huge contribution to participation in the local community and it’s only fair that they receive the support they deserve,” he said. WHITTINGTON Primary pupils were all smiles yesterday, as they prepare to move out of portables and into new $6.6 million facilities.

The school is preparing to open in the modern space for the first term of 2019.

In a further boost, the Federal Opposition has promised it extra operational funding under a $14 billion package to improve public schools around the nation.

Classes have been operating out of portables for the past year, after the school’s 1970s classrooms made way for the improved facilities.

“It is a much-needed upgrade, which has been a long time coming,” principal Craig Smith said. “It’s really exciting for us.” A key focus of the new State Government-funded facilities will be greater music and art opportunities.

They will also better cater to the school’s 170-strong cohort, which has almost doubled in the last five years.

Labor’s Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said she was proud to help deliver the new development but wanted to see a proposed adjoining health and education hub realised.

“It’s not over yet; there’s the community hub that we want attached to the school as well — we’re working hard on having that,” she said. “This community deserves good quality education facilities.”

The multi-use hub had secured State Government support but was overlooked by Geelong’s council.

Mr Smith was also pleased to learn of Federal Labor’s proposed funding support.

Education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek visited the school to reveal it would receive an extra $300,000 under the first three years of a Shorten Government.

“That’s an indication of the sort of extra funding you can expect longer term as well.”

Whittington Primary’s stronger budget could deliver more subjects, specialist teaching or professional development, Ms Plibersek said.

Labor has committed to investing $14 billion in public education over 10 years, and has created a website revealing how much extra funding every state school would gain.

Labor’s deputy leader also visited Bellarine Secondary College, to detail the additional investment for its Drysdale ($1.01m) and Ocean Grove ($660,000) campuses.

Ms Plibersek said the funding formula was based on the number of students and relative need of each school.