The ACT's public education system supports more than 40,000 families and the ACT Government continues to invest to make sure every public school is a great school in our city.
Throughout 2022, the government has been building, expanding and modernising public schools as our city grows and as more families choose public education.
Highlights of the year include:
- Opening a new $43.9 million state-of-the-art school in Throsby to cater for 450 primary school students. Throsby School is the 90th public school and third zero-emission public school in the ACT.
- Expanding Gold Creek School to accommodate an additional 200 students with a new senior campus, raising the overall capacity to a little over 1,000 students.
- Modernising Campbell Primary School, delivering learning spaces to accommodate 450 kindergarten to Year 6 students, through a $18.8 million investment.
- Expanding Evelyn Scott School – Molonglo's first high school – which is now ready to accept up to 600 high school students in 2023. The addition of the senior campus completes the $70 million school and means preschool to Year 10 can accommodate more than 1200 students.
- Delivering 120 infrastructure upgrades to public schools across the city.
Minister for Education and Youth Affairs Yvette Berry said teachers, school leaders, principals and support staff have worked incredibly hard to support student learning in challenging circumstances.
"I know that families are grateful for the amazing work of their schools. During COVID-19 schools have been important points of community connection, as well as keeping teaching and learning at the centre," Minister Berry said.
"This year also saw the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the Education Directorate partner in a nation-leading taskforce to understand and respond to teacher shortages.
"Through all of this we continued to manage the ever-shifting COVID-19 landscape from the distribution of free rapid antigen tests for students and staff, management of exposures at our sites, as well as quickly and efficiently switching to short periods of remote learning periods as needed. We are closing out 2022 without any periods of remote learning for public schools in Term 4.
"It was an absolute pleasure to finish the year by celebrating staff and students at the Year 10 Excellence Awards and the Public Education Awards. I am continually inspired by the work contributed by both staff and students in improving education and our community," Minister Berry said.
"In 2023, we have so much to look forward to as we welcome more than 50,000 students back in term 1. We are also celebrating 50 years of ACT public education. Some of our schools will celebrate major milestones – including Telopea Park School, which will mark its 100th year.
"I'd like to thank students, parents, carers, teachers, school leaders and support staff for another amazing year."
