Carpark classrooms as enrolments soar in Sydney's north shore schools - The Australian

DEMOUNTABLES are being placed on teacher carparks and classrooms are being radically refurbished to accommodate a surge in student enrolments at schools on Sydney's north shore.

Primary school enrolments across the area have increased by an average 5.5 per cent on 2012 numbers, or 474 students, and one primary school grew by 13 per cent.

According to draft enrolment figures compiled by the Northern Sydney Regional Council of Parents and Citizens Associations, comprehensive high schools in the area have grown by 159 students, which equates to 5.2 per cent growth.

Steph Croft, an executive member on the council, said schools which had critical capacity issues in 2012 have continued to have high growth this year and a number of schools cannot fit anymore demountable buildings on their land.

At three schools, the education department has moved classroom walls to divide two rooms into three smaller ones and at least eight schools have additional demountables this year, including two schools where they have been placed on top of the teacher carpark because there is no more room.

Double-storey demountable buildings were installed at two schools and the department is continuing to investigate leasing office space for other schools, she said.

"The DEC has made a huge effort and managed to squeeze everyone in for 2013, but we urgently need funding for at least one new primary school and comprehensive high school in the lower North Shore, and some multi storey school buildings in some of our other schools to ensure capacity for students going forward.''

"Some immediate options are needed for wonderful schools like Mosman High School and Artarmon and Chatswood Public Schools that are in high demand, and do not currently have the capacity to accommodate projected student numbers for 2014.

She said the DEC is working on interim solutions for Neutral Bay and Cammeray Public Schools and Killara High School, however Willoughby and Greenwich Public Schools, and Willoughby Girls High School are also now at maximum capacity levels, and a number of other local schools are very close to it.

"It is commendable that since the Government has become aware that there is a serious capacity issue in the schools on the lower North Shore, there have been moves afoot to address these issues. Agreement has been reached to acquire the UTS site at Lindfield from 2016, and this will alleviate capacity issues on the mid North Shore, however our P&Cs are hoping some solutions and funding will be announced shortly to address the critical primary and high school capacity issues further down the North Shore."

A response is being sought from the department.