Students in The Hills will learn in brand-new, permanent classrooms, months ahead of schedule, as Rouse Hill High School opens fast-tracked, modern facilities next week on Day 1, Term 4.
The multi-million-dollar upgrade will provide incoming Year 12 students with immediate access to permanent classrooms as they begin their HSC studies.
Rouse Hill High School's new facilities include a two-storey building featuring 11 permanent, modern classrooms and two science labs, increasing the school's capacity by 240 students.
The project is among a raft of school upgrades being delivered across The Hills, including at Cherrybrook Public School, and the recently completed upgrades at Castle Hill Public School and Matthew Pearce Public School.
The Minns Labor Government's $1 billion investment in new school infrastructure across The Hills also includes five brand new schools in Box Hill, Gables, and Bella Vista as well as three brand new public preschools.
Altogether the Minns Labor Government's new schools and upgrades are delivering more than 800 permanent, modern classrooms across The Hills and North West Sydney.
This is creating space for thousands more students after a decade of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals which left communities with demountable classrooms clogging up valuable play space.
Over 12 years, the Liberals and Nationals significantly underinvested in schools in The Hills and failed to deliver a single high school, despite student enrolment growth of 220 per cent across the North West putting pressure on schools.
The Minns Labor Government is investing a record $9.2 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, including $4.1 billion for Western Sydney, to continue delivering new and upgraded schools and ensure every family has access to a world-class public education, close to home.
In addition to ensuring students have modern classrooms and schools, the Minns Labor Government has transitioned more than 25,000 teachers and school support staff from uncertain temporary contracts to permanent employment.
This follows the Minns Labor Government's abolition of the Liberals and Nationals wages cap, delivering New South Wales teachers the biggest pay rise in a generation.
This reform is attracting teachers into public schools and helping retain those already there, with teacher vacancies at a 12-year low and the number of merged and cancelled classes in New South Wales halving since the election of the Minns Labor Government.
Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
"This is the largest investment in The Hills in a generation, ensuring more local families can access a world-class public education, close to home.
"We're building permanent, modern classrooms to replace the demountables dumped on school playgrounds in The Hills by the Liberals and Nationals, returning valuable play space to students.
"With the Minns Labor Government's $4.1 billion investment in new and upgraded schools across Western Sydney, we're delivering the infrastructure that local families need."
Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland said:
"Our local Labor team is getting on with the job of delivering for families in The Hills.
"North West Sydney has grown rapidly. This vital upgrade will support local students for years to come, ensuring they have the facilities they need to thrive."
Rouse Hill High School Principal Simon Kelly said:
"The entire school community is thrilled the upgrade has been delivered ahead of schedule, and we're looking forward to welcoming students into their brand new classrooms next week.
"The new classrooms and science labs will provide a high-quality environment to support our outstanding teachers and help our students in their learning."
