The ACT Education Directorate provided this explanation of how it deals with enrolment pressures on Canberra's public schools, including those listed as closest to capacity.
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The directorate's priority enrolment areas (PEAs) ensure that children of compulsory school age will be accommodated at their local public school.
The directorate monitors student enrolments through the February and August school census against the capacity of individual schools to ensure that children living within the school's PEA can be accommodated.
The directorate's one and five-year enrolment projections allow the directorate to respond to short and medium-term enrolment pressure. The directorate also works closely with individual school principals and school network leaders to identify enrolment pressure.
The directorate has a number of possible strategies to address enrolment pressure including:
- reducing out-of-area enrolments;
- applying facility or program flexibility;
- minor facility changes (re-purposing spaces);
- reducing the PEA boundary;
- planning for a temporary capacity increase (adding transportable buildings);
- planning for a medium term capacity increase (adding modular design buildings);
- planning for a permanent capacity increase (school expansion);
- changing the structure of the school; and
- planning for a new public school in the region.
When constructed, schools are designed to accommodate a specific number of children through the provision of classroom spaces. The requirements for classroom spaces and the ratio of children to spaces are in accordance with standards, building codes, best practice and requirements for learning and teaching.
The directorate sets, monitors and updates school capacity figures with consideration of the age of the children, the number of children per classroom space, curriculum delivery requirements, special education provision and tenants located on the school site.
The directorate's enrolment projections are estimates of forward enrolments based on a range of inputs at a point in time. Inputs include birth rates, current enrolments and proposed residential land release plans. The 2013-2017 enrolment projections, compiled in 2012, do not show any school as being over capacity. They are intended to show schools which may be close to capacity in the future. They provide the directorate with guidance in monitoring demand for schooling and promote an efficient and timely planning response.
North Ainslie Primary School
The school is currently using six classrooms to deliver special education or Introductory English programs. There is a classroom flexibility allowance that can cater for 75 additional students (three classrooms). Therefore, the capacity can be raised to 475 if required.
Internal works have been approved to increase the capacity and this work will be completed by term 1, 2015.
Hughes Primary School
Two new classrooms were created in 2013.The school therefore has sufficient space.
Garran Primary School
The school is using one room for special education. There is a classroom flexibility allowance that can cater for 75 additional students (three classrooms). Therefore the capacity can be raised to 550 if required.
The school is also managing out-of-area enrolments to reduce the enrolment pressure.
Mount Rogers Primary School
A space previously used by an external tenant has been returned to the school. Therefore the school has sufficient space.
The Canberra College
The enrolment total includes students enrolled in the CCCares program currently located at the Stirling campus. These students currently do not attend the Woden campus. The new CCCares facility currently under construction at the Woden campus will be completed ready for the start of 2015 and will accommodate all of the CCCares students.
Ngunnawal Primary School
The school is using a classroom flexibility allowance that can cater for 75 additional students (three classrooms). Therefore the capacity can be raised to 600 if required.
Two double (total of four classrooms) transportable classrooms will be in place for term 1, 2015. Therefore the normal capacity will be increased from 525 to 625 (4 classes by 25 students/class).
Duffy Primary School
Seven new modular classrooms were added in 2014. The school has sufficient space.
Telopea Park School
The school accommodates students from kindergarten to year 10. The K to year 6 section being a French immersion program and does not have PEA. The school manages enrolments within the capacity quota.
The Year 7 to 10 section is a bilingual program. There are additional classrooms allowed for this program but are not included in the total capacity figure. The school has sufficient space.
Macgregor Primary School
New school expansion works were completed by the start of 2013. This increases the capacity from a three to a four stream (i.e. four classes/year group) school. The school has sufficient room.
Southern Cross Early Childhood School
The school is using a one classroom flexibility allowance. There is no PEA for early childhood schools. The school therefore manages its enrolments within the capacity figure.
Lyneham High School
Three classrooms are being used for special education and are not included in the capacity figure. The school is using other program flexibility and limiting out of area enrolments to manage the enrolment pressure.
Kaleen Primary School
The school has a three room flexibility allowance for 75 additional students. Therefore, the capacity can be raised to 575 if required.
Macquarie Primary School
The school can use the two room flexibility allowance for 50 additional students. There is also one classroom currently used for special education that can be added to the school's capacity. Therefore, the capacity can be raised to 425 if required.
Amaroo School
Two double (four classroom) transportable classrooms will be in place in term 3, 2014. Therefore, the capacity will be increased to 1722. Planning is also under way for a new P-10 school in North Gungahlin.
