Staff and students at Darcy Road Public School are returning to a transformed school on the first day of Term 4 which is nearly five times the size of the original school, following a fast-tracked completion of the major redevelopment.
This project, a Minns Labor Government election commitment, has seen nearly every existing building removed and replaced with brand new, state-of the-art facilities - the largest upgrade the school has seen since it opened in 1955. The original school hall will be retained, with an extension, refurbishment, and additional landscaping due for completion by late 2026.
This major upgrade increases the school's permanent capacity from 255 to 1,000 students and will see all demountables removed from the site by the end of this year, freeing up more than 3,600 square metres, or eight basketball courts, of play space for the students.
Two new multi-storey buildings featuring 45 new permanent classrooms, new administration facilities, library, canteen and covered outdoor learning area (COLA) are now complete and open almost four months ahead of schedule.
For over a decade, the former Liberal National government neglected public schools in Western Sydney and failed to upgrade Darcy Road Public School, despite promising to do so. Before the upgrade, two thirds of the school's student population were being taught in demountables - 13 of which were installed by the former government alone.
The upgrade to Darcy Road Public School is among 16 new schools and major upgrade projects being delivered across the greater Parramatta region, that will see more than 200 demountables removed and replaced with more than 300 new, permanent classrooms.
Projects being delivered in the greater Parramatta region include:
- Carlingford West Public School upgrade
- Cumberland High School upgrade
- Darcy Road Public School upgrade
- Dundas Public School upgrade
- Ermington West Public School upgrade and new public preschool
- Girraween Public School upgrade
- Melrose Park - new high school
- Melrose Park Public School redevelopment
- Newington Public School upgrade
- Northmead Public School upgrade
- Parramatta East Public School upgrade
- Rydalmere Public School upgrade
- Rydalmere East Public School upgrade
- Telopea Public School upgrade
- Wentworth Point Public School upgrade (Stage 2)
- Westmead Public School upgrade.
These upgrades will provide capacity for almost 7,000 additional students in the area.
The Minns Labor Government is also building three new public preschools in the Parramatta region, offering 280 places per week for the area's youngest learners. The public preschools will be co-located with Melrose Park Public School, Ermington West Public School, and Oatlands Public School.
The NSW Government's record $9 billion school infrastructure Budget for 2025-26 includes $3.9 billion for new and upgraded schools across Western Sydney.
Premier Chris Minns said:
"Students at Darcy Road Public School have been learning out of uncomfortable temporary facilities for far too long.
"Upgrading this 70-year-old school, adding brand new permanent classrooms and removing demountables will be a game changer for the school community.
"We want teachers and students to have access to high quality schools, and I am proud we're delivering on that promise."
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning and Western Sydney Courtney Houssos said:
"The Minns Labor Government has fast-tracked and delivered world-class education facilities for the Darcy Road Public School community because we believe Western Sydney families deserve world-class education facilities.
"Demountables should only be used as a temporary measure, but under the former Liberal National government they've become a permanent fixture at far too many schools in Western Sydney and across the state.
"There's more to do, and we are working hard to undo the mess left behind by the Liberals.
"With every teacher vacancy filled and every demountable removed, the Minns Labor Government is building better public schools for our children."
Darcy Road Public School Principal Trudy Hopkins said:
"Our new classrooms, library, canteen and admin facilities are a game-changer for our students and staff - who now have the space and modern tools they need to achieve their best.
"Our students are excited to be learning out of their brand-new classrooms today and to have more play space at the school once all demountables are removed.
"This is an exciting milestone for our entire school community, and we look forward to the final stage of the upgrade nearing completion next year."
