Liberal Candidates for Coogee and Vaucluse, Dr Kylie von Muenster and Kellie Sloane, are encouraging Eastern Suburbs families to participate in the upcoming consultations on the future of local public secondary education.
In early 2023, the Perrottet Government will invite the local community to have their say on a range of options that will deliver more public education choices. An independent external agency will be engaged to conduct the consultation process and canvass local views on three options:
1. Retaining single-sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High Schools.
2. Retaining single sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School and extending the intake areas of existing co-educational high schools to provide families with the option of single-sex or co-education.
3. Merging Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School to create a new co-educational campus.
Dr von Muenster welcomed this consultation as it will give local families an opportunity to guide the Government's decisions on local schooling.
"I am very excited to be running as part of the Perrottet team, as this Government has shown a real commitment to taking local views and needs into account when making important decisions," Dr von Muenster said. "Speaking to people across the local community it becomes clear that they really appreciate opportunities to guide these choices that will have a sizeable impact on future generations."
Ms Sloane said that getting kids into a good local school is a high priority for all parents.
"Every parent wants to see their kids start off on the right foot, and getting a good education is a critical part of that. While a lot of families make their home here because of our unique character and beautiful setting, many also move here for our great schools," Ms Sloane said. "This consultation will allow the community to put their views forward on the best way to accommodate the schooling needs of our kids."
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government wants to make sure that this consultation captures the views of the whole of the Eastern Suburbs community.
"We want to engage constructively with the local school communities to ensure that we identify and plan for the best option for public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs," Ms Mitchell said.
"Consultation will take place throughout Term 1 in 2023, with a report to be finalised for consideration by government in mid-2023."
The independent consultation will focus on parents, students and the wider community, with a particular emphasis on families of potential future students. It will look at short, medium and long term options to ensure the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney have strong public education options for future generations.
Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton said it's important we start consultation with parents and have a plan moving forward with one of the three options.
"This process is about securing the future of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs and making sure that local families always have access to a high quality public education options.
"I look forward to working with our school communities during this process when consultation gets underway early next year."
Based on the current population projections, local schools are able to accommodate current and future student demand through utilisation of existing schools. However, the Department will continue to explore opportunities to future-proof the provision of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs.
