More than one million students - including 84,000 preps - will return to classrooms this week across Victoria as 14 new schools open their doors as part of the Andrews Labor Government's school building boom.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Education James Merlino today officially opened the new Docklands Primary School and welcomed its first students.
The three-storey vertical school will cater for 525 students and includes a library, music and arts rooms, a competition-grade indoor court for basketball and netball, and outdoor learning terraces.
Docklands Primary School has more than 200 students starting this year, including more than 110 prep students, and is one of 14 new schools opening in 2021.
A co-located kindergarten has also been built on-site which will open in Term 1, 2021 with space for 66 kids. It will deliver both sessional and integrated kindergarten programs for three and four year-olds.
Every new Victorian primary school opening from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door, reducing the burden on parents and ending the dreaded double drop off. This includes all 10 primary schools opening this year.
Docklands Primary School is one of 14 new schools opening in 2021.
In the past five years, the Labor Government has invested more than $9 billion in more than 1,600 school upgrades - creating more than 10,000 construction jobs.
The Government is now ahead of schedule on its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 48 new schools opening between 2019 and 2022.
For more information on the Labor Government's school building boom, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Premier Daniel Andrews
"The first day of school is a big day every year - but particularly after the year we had in 2020. I thank every teacher, student and parent for their efforts last year and wish them well for the year ahead."
"We're building new schools across the state so every child has a great local school and a best start in life - wherever they live."
As stated by Minister for Education James Merlino
"We're in the middle of the biggest school building boom in our state's history - that's good for children and their education, and it's good for jobs."
New schools opening in 2021:
- Aintree Primary School
- Cranbourne West Secondary College
- Docklands Primary School
- Edenbrook Secondary College
- Edgars Creek Primary School
- Eynesbury Primary School
- Footscray High School - Pilgrim Campus
- Gaayip-Yagila Primary School
- Garrang Wilam Primary School
- Keelonith Primary School
- Oberon High School
- Orchard Park Primary School
- Ramlegh Park Primary School
- Riverbend Primary School
