Local families left in high school limbo

Local families have been left in limbo with news that Cammeraygal High School in Crows Nest has reached capacity and prospective students are instead being forced to enrol at Mosman High School.

 

Member for Willoughby Tim James said it was deeply concerning that the school needed to turn away students living within its catchment and called on the Minns Labor Government to immediately boost high school capacity for the community.

 

“All families should have the certainty of a place for their child at a local public high school,” Mr James said.

 

“Concerned parents have told me that Mosman High School is not local, is not a realistic option for their children and would cause enormous strain on their families through burdensome daily commutes.”

 

“It is unacceptable that the Minns Labor Government appears to have put the plans of the former Liberal Government to build a new high school in our area on the backburner.”

 

“This is a government that lacks a plan to build a desperately needed new local high school despite wanting to add thousands of new residents to the area. 3255 new dwellings are planned for Crows Nest and St Leonards alone under the Transport Oriented Development plans.”

 

“The Minns Government must immediately reveal how it will accommodate the extra students when the local high school is already at capacity. “

 

The former NSW Liberal Government committed to building a new K-12 Education Precinct in St Leonards, including a high school. Planning was underway with funds committed in previous state budgets.

 

“The current government has remained silent on progress on the new high school and has quietly pared back the plans to a solely K-6 primary school.”

 

“Frankly the Minns Government is treating our community with contempt by refusing to give any update on progress of the new high school.”

 

The Cammeraygal High School catchment includes suburbs such as St Leonards, Crows Nest, Cammeray, Northbridge and Castlecrag.

 

Cammeraygal High School was built by the former Liberal Government, opening in 2015. A major upgrade that boosted the capacity of nearby Chatswood High School was also delivered by the former government. 

 

“The Liberals had a plan to deliver the local school infrastructure necessary to cater for future growth. That local families are now having to send their kids to schools out of the area is a damning indictment on this government’s failure to plan and deliver public education locally.”

 

“This is urgent for our community.  Each year the government delays building a new high school will result in countless more students who will miss out on a local option for their high school education,” Mr James concluded.