An elected Minns Labor Government will build a new public high school in Leppington to cater for the rapidly growing suburbs of Leppington, Denham Court and Austral.
 
The school will be built as part of NSW Labor’s ‘Growth Areas Schools Plan’, which will deliver new and upgraded schools in the fastest growing areas of New South Wales.
 
Population growth over the next 20 years will see an additional 300,000 people call South West Sydney home – with the suburb of Leppington having grown from 3,500 people in 2016 to more than 9,400 people in 2021 over just 5 years.
 
Denham Court Public School only opened in late 2021 and less than two years later the government has limited in-area enrolments at the school due to enrolment growth.
 
Labor will build the high school in its first term to prevent a repeat of the current NSW Government’s school building delays which have left schools delivered too late in South West Sydney. 
 
The public high school will complement a future selective high school in Leppington, which was promised by the NSW Government in 2019 but has still not been built.
 
Under NSW Labor’s ‘Growth Areas Schools Plan’, Labor has already announced new schools for:
 

• Carter Street precinct, Sydney Olympic Park
• Googong
• Gregory Hills & Gledswood Hills
• Jordan Springs
• Leppington
• Medowie
• Melrose Park

 
As part of this plan, Labor is also fast-tracking projects promised by the NSW Liberal Government that have not been delivered, including Marsden Park High School and the Darcy Road Public School upgrade.
 
There’s a clear choice at the next election when it comes to education in New South Wales.  

More of the same chronic teacher shortages, underfunding of schools and under delivering of school infrastructure under Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals.
 
Or Labor’s plan for a fresh start in education, which includes:

• Converting 10,000 casual teachers to permanent positions to reduce the reliance on temporary teachers;
• Cutting admin hours for teachers by 5 hours per week;
• Banning the use of mobile phones in all NSW public schools to reduce distraction, cyberbullying and improve education outcomes; 
• Ending the failed overseas recruitment program and redirecting resources towards recruiting NSW teaching students into schools; 
• Expanding co-ed school access for all families so every parent has the choice of where to send their children; and
• Labor’s Growth Areas Schools Plan’ which will deliver new and upgraded schools in growing areas across New South Wales.

The Liberal’s have had 12 years to ensure enough schools are being built to cope with population growth, and they have failed.

Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:

“Areas like Leppington are taking the bulk of Sydney’s population growth, but the NSW Liberal Nationals government still haven’t delivered the schools these growing communities need.

“My dad was a school teacher. I know how important strong public education is. But it starts with having enough schools to cater for students in growing areas.

“That’s why Labor’s plan will prioritise the fastest growing suburbs for new and upgraded schools.” 

Quotes attributable to Prue Car, NSW Deputy Labor Leader and NSW Shadow Minister for Education and Early Learning:

“Every time Dominic Perrottet announces a new school between now and March, parents have a right to be sceptical that it simply won’t by delivered. This is a Government’s whose best days are behind them.

“In contrast Labor’s Growth Areas Schools Plan will deliver for communities who the NSW Liberal Government have been let down, from Camden and Leppington to Marsden Park and Googong.

“After 12 years in government, the NSW Liberals and Nationals do not have the ability, ideas or willingness to fix their school planning failures.” 

Quotes attributable to Anoulack Chanthivong, NSW Member for Macquarie Fields:

“A local public high school in Leppington is one of the biggest issues raised by local residents, but after 12 years in government the Liberals have stopped listening.

“Labor has been listening to the community and will deliver the schools that the region needs.”

Quotes attributable to Nathan Hagarty, NSW Labor Candidate for Leppington:

“South West Sydney has been crying out for schools, and families have been left frustrated by the failure of the current NSW Government to build enough schools to cater to our region’s growth.

“Residents in Leppington, Denham Court and Austral want a world class local high school and I’m pleased to announce a Minns Labor Government will deliver it.”
CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
 
PRUE CAR MP
NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADER
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING
 
ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG MP
NSW MEMBER FOR MACQUARIE FIELDS
 
NATHAN HAGARTY
NSW LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LEPPINGTON