A NEW P-9 school in Tarneit is expected to ease the squeeze at surrounding primary schools next year. But it will not be able to reduce pressure on the area’s high schools for a couple more years.
Tarneit Central P-9 College is being built next to Tarneit Senior College and will open next year.
Principal Peter Devereux said the school would take students in grades prep-6 in its first year. “There has been no commitment from the government for the second stage yet so it could be a year or two before the next stage is added,” he said.
“Secondary schooling will depend on demand but there will be a full primary program available from next year.”
It follows concern from parents that the school would not be open on time or be able to accommodate enough children.
As reported by the Weekly, Wyndham’s schools are filling up, with the council predicting an extra 39 new schools will be needed by 2031 to keep up with rapid population growth.
Mr Devereux said construction at Tarneit was ahead of schedule. An enrolment ceiling of 250 had been set for its first year, but there would be space for 450 pupils by the end of the first term. “Baden Powell College is bulging at the seams so this is going to take the pressure off. [The new P-9 school at Truganina] won’t be built for a few years so we will pick up that area.”
An information evening will be held on Tuesday at Tarneit Senior College. -Laura Little
