A Minns Labor Government will invest $176 million in funding towards delivering new schools and school upgrades for the city’s growing North West.

As part of Labor’s Growth Areas Schools Plan, Labor will:

• Build a new high school for Schofields and Tallawong;
• Upgrade The Ponds High which is 78 per cent over capacity and has 44 demountable classrooms; and
• Build an on-site preschool with a new Nirimba Fields Primary school.

Labor’s schools plan for the North West will be completed within the next term of government and bring school capacity to meet existing as well as expected future demand.

Under the Liberals: schools not keeping up with growth

The number of residents in the north west has grown by more than 50,000 people over the last decade:

• The Ponds has grown from 2,900 in 2011 to more 16,300 people, a more than five-fold increase in the last decade.  
• Schofields has grown from 3,800 in 2011 and now has over 15,000 residents – four times larger than a decade ago. 
• The new suburbs of Tallawong and Nirimba Fields now have over 6,500 and 1,600 people respectively.  
• Kellyville Ridge has grown from 8,300 in 2011 to now housing over 11,000 people.  

Overall, the population of these suburbs has more than tripled over the last decade but the school infrastructure has not kept up.

For example The Ponds High School, which services The Ponds and Kellyville Ridge, is 78 per cent over its enrolment capacity and needs demountables to support 2,000 students.

Nowhere is the Liberal and National’s underinvestment in education infrastructure more apparent than in Sydney’s North West. 

Despite record population growth, the Perrottet Government has not made the required investment in public education that Sydney’s North West requires. 

The Government previously promised a new primary school for Tallawong before the 2019 election which is still in the planning phase with no construction having commenced.   

The promised primary school in Nirimba Fields has also not begun construction, with the suburb having no school and no co-located preschool despite families moving in.  

NSW Labor will invest in the missing education infrastructure that communities need, but the Liberals and Nationals have failed to deliver after 12 years in government. 

Labor’s fresh start for schools & education in NSW

NSW Labor’s ‘Growth Areas Schools Plan’ will deliver new and upgraded schools in fast-growing areas across New South Wales, including new schools and upgrades for:

• Medowie – new high school
• Carter Street precinct – new primary school
• Melrose Park High School
• Gregory Hills & Gledswood hills – new high school
• Jordan Springs High School
• Preschool and primary school in South Nowra
• Googong – new high school
• Jerrabomberra High School – Stage 2
• Leppington – new high school
• Upgrade Randwick Boys and Girls High Schools
• Upgrade Eagle Vale High School – sports high school conversion
• Upgrade Northmead Creative & Performing Arts High School
• Upgrade Northmead Public School
• Upgrade Dundas Public School
• Upgrade Darcy Road Primary School
• Upgrade Cammeray Public School
• Upgrade Northbridge Public School
• Upgrade Kogarah Public School
• Upgrade Sutherland Public School

It forms part of a broader and comprehensive education plan under Labor:

• 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.

Quotes attributable to NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns:  

“My fear is that families are moving into suburbs like Schofields, Tallawong, Nirimba Fields and The Ponds on the promise of local schools for their children, but the NSW Liberal National government has not delivered them.” 

“Instead, families in these suburbs are having to spend hours in traffic dropping kids off to schools in other suburbs.

“We need a fresh start for NSW, and that means schools and hospitals that are ready and running for when people move into their new homes – not decades later.” 

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

“Suburbs like Schofields and The Ponds have exploded over the last decade but the Liberal and National government has not delivered the infrastructure to keep up.

“This is clearly a sign that after 12 years in government, we need a fresh start for north west Sydney.” 

Quotes attributable to NSW Labor candidate for Riverstone Warren Kirby: 

“I’ve seen first hand the rapid population growth in western Sydney yet I fail to see the Liberal-National government deliver the infrastructure to keep up with this growth.

“Parents moving into new housing establishments in Tallawong, Schofields, The Ponds and Nirimba Fields keep asking me why the schools they were promised haven’t been delivered. This is why we need a fresh start for north west Sydney and I am proud that a Minns Labor government will deliver the infrastructure these suburbs need.”

CHRIS MINNS MP 

NSW LABOR LEADER

PRUE CAR MP
NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADER
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION