High school promise key to region’s growth

Fastest-growing municipality welcomes education plans, says Tony Foster

DESPITE the concentration on poker machines in the state election campaign, perhaps the biggest winners will come from the Liberals’ promise to improve education opportunities for young Tasmanians, particularly those living in outlying and regional communities.

The Hodgman Government campaigned on extending its policy of years 11 and 12 in high schools, as well as developing new high schools in rapidly growing areas such as Sorell and Brighton.

Education statistics show the policy, introduced in the past four years, is already increasing retention rates.

No doubt the high school promise struck a chord with voters who want the best for their children. Having access to year 11 and 12 studies close to home can only encourage more young to complete pre-tertiary education.

I am confident the Government’s commitment of $30 million for a new high school in the Brighton township, catering for years 7 to 12, proved popular and certainly influenced a number of votes on polling day. Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has been incredibly supportive and must be congratulated.

Brighton municipality is among the fastest growing in Tasmania and over the next decade is predicted to grow faster than any other local government area in the state. The Demographic Change Advisory Committee predicts the population will grow 55 per cent in that time and could be as high as 26,000 by 2032.

While much of this growth will be around the Brighton township, it will spread throughout the municipality and regional surrounds.

A key to harnessing this growth and meeting community expectations is education close to where people live. Brighton Primary School, with almost 700 pupils, is among the largest in Tasmania. But the region’s potential is being constrained by the lack of a high school at Brighton.

Brighton Council is a strong believer that improving education outcomes can play a major role in enhancing social and community outcomes.

The original Jordan River Learning Federation initiative provided an opportunity for a revolutionary educational model from zero to year 12. Unfortunately, this concept has been diluted over time.

While Jordan River Learning Federation caters very well for children in Bridgewater, Gagebrook and Herdsmans Cove, each year virtually all grade six leavers from Brighton, bypass the Learning Federation to attend schools in Glenorchy and central Hobart.

Regrettably, its active promotion to Brighton families over many years has failed and each school day, hundreds of extra vehicles travel south taking children to private and government schools outside the municipality.

A high school in Brighton, progressively offering years seven to 12, which has been a priority of Brighton Council for many years, will also serve the Southern Midlands and Central Highlands.

The absence of a high school has constrained growth and discouraged young families from moving to Brighton. Brighton Council looks forward to working with Mr Rockliff, who will hopefully be reappointed to the portfolio, to progress the development.

Brighton has an excellent primary school and the Farm School is doing amazing work with young people. It is critical we capitalise on this and have a focus on rural education. We need to build on our primary school base and work towards a high school to year 12, possibly with boarding options, that can also cater for the Midland — Highlands regions. We could encourage TAFE and University of Tasmania to consider programs such as agriculture training and VET options, taking advantage of the specialist knowledge at the Farm School and the wildlife expertise of Bonorong Park.