Changing demographics, a flow of students back into public
schools and the State Government’s $710 million class-size reduction policy are
all placing an extra strain on resources.
Most affected are schools in the high-density eastern- and
inner-city suburbs, where there is limited space to expand.
Bronte
Public School has had to
turn away pupils from outside its local area. “Demand is growing,”
principal Pam Crawley said.
“We are limited to [taking students from] within the
area and siblings simply because we don’t have any more space,” Ms Crawley
said.
She said an increasing number of people were eager to send
their children to local public schools.
“People value the fact their children are starting in
their local school and getting a sense of community,” she said.
Kensington Public School principal and Public School
Principals Forum spokeswoman Annie Jones has had to turn away up to 50 children
from kindergarten each year – and between 20 and 40 from years 1 to 6 – because
of a lack of space.
She does not want to take in any demountable classrooms
which she said would encroach on the playground area.
NSW Teachers Federation eastern suburbs and inner city
representative Michelle Rosicky said the schools experiencing a lack of room
tended to be older and had limited land.
“The problem is, in the eastern suburbs, if those
parents can’t get their kids into Coogee, Clovelly and Bronte [public schools]
they will send them to private schools.”
NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt said strong enrolments
were a positive sign for public schools.
“Significant enrolment growth at schools across Sydney’s eastern suburbs
is fantastic news and further proof that our record investment in public
education is working,” she said.