School growth in class of own
PRIVATE schools are tipped to save the northern Gold Coast but a Queensland Teachers’ Union head fears they may not be enough to prevent a schooling crisis.
It comes as Pimpama State Secondary College was revealed to be the fastestgrowing school in the city with a 438.6 per cent enrolment boom between 2013 and 2018.
Latest reports show significant student growth will occur in Pimpama (9500), Helensvale (11,000) and Coomera (26,000), putting huge demands on schools and sporting grounds.
New mapping produced by Education Queensland shows the three high-growth suburbs will need an additional 11 primary and five secondary schools.
Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon says the education sector is handling the growth after the former Newman government created a separate planning division.
“We have another state school on the drawing board for 2021 and a new high school is being built, the Foxwell State Secondary College,” he said. “All my schools are under 100 per cent full at the moment. We’re quite comfortable.” Between 2013 and 2018
Pimpama State Secondary College: up 438.6 per cent.
Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School: 171.2 per cent increase.
Tamborine Mountain College: up 151.1 per cent.
Arcadia College: 104.3 per cent increase.
Coomera Rivers State School: up 85.7 per cent.
Pimpama State School: 76.1 per cent increase.
King’s Christian College: 53 per cent increase.
Ingleside State School: 52.9 per cent increase.
But Mr Crandon believes all levels of government must help independent schools secure cheaper land in the Coast’s north.
“I know the private sector is looking but struggling to find affordable land in the northern Coast. There’s room for another four private schools there.”
But Queensland Teachers’ Union president Kevin Bates said he believed new schools opening might not be enough to combat the swell in student numbers.
“They only gain one year level each year,” he said.
“They open with Year 7, then the next year they have Year 7 and 8, so they actually don’t reach their full size for about six years. They’re creating options, but ... not creating additional capacity.
“Over the next decade we will be seeing a massive number of additional teachers in our schools and also a major growth in students.
“There will have to be significant additional schools being built year on year and additional teachers hired year on year.
“We’re on track at the moment but we need to be very aware of this issue to be sure we don’t fall behind.”
The latest Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority figures show student numbers at Pimpama State Secondary College have increased from 295 to 1589.
The second-fastestgrowing school on the Coast was Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School (LORDS), where the student population rose 171.2 per cent between 2013 and 2018, with enrolments up from 219 to 594.
LORDS acting principal Kellie Hardke said she was surprised to see the school make the list.
“You hope the school will grow steadily, that means we can offer more programs and there’s lots and lots of positives,” she said. “But we also have to make sure we are growing with the number of students, so we have goodquality programs in place.”