More than 400 excited students are settling in to their brand new classrooms at Oakwood Primary School in Mandurah.
The school's kindergarten and pre-primary facilities opened in 2018, extending to Year 6 this year to ease pressure on nearby Meadow Springs Primary School and Lakelands Primary School.
Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery officially opened the $18.3 million facilities which include 10 general classrooms, an art and craft room, activities area, canteen, music room, sports store and dental therapy room.
Students are also enjoying a covered assembly area and playing courts for outdoor activities.
The Minister also visited and officially opened the area's newest secondary school, Coastal Lakes College in Lakelands.
The college, funded through the Public Private Partnership model, opened this year with more than 200 students in Years 7 and 8. Stage one of the build included all specialist facilities.
Students are learning in state-of-the-art classrooms including wood and metal workshops, a food and textile studio, music rooms, visual arts studio, performing arts theatre, library, media studio, lecture theatre and 10 science laboratories.
The college is already building a reputation as an inclusive school with a specialist education area with treatment and therapy rooms, life skills room and a hydrotherapy pool for students with disability.
Set to become a hub for the community, the college will offer a range of extracurricular activities making use of the modern physical education area including a sports hall, fitness centre, and tennis and basketball courts.
Stage two will expand the college with more general classrooms in 2021 to cater for 1,450 students from Years 7 to 12, with specialist facilities for up to 85 students with disability.
As noted by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
"We are committed to building new schools for Western Australian families to meet the needs of growing communities.
"Since opening in 2018, Oakwood Primary School's reputation for providing a balanced and high-quality early education has grown and there is a strong community focus.
"The Lakelands community have been very involved in the planning stages for Coastal Lakes College, building relationships with community organisations and the local government to benefit students and their families.
"The impressive modern facilities will provide a high-quality learning environment to support students in all areas of their education."
As noted by Mandurah MLA David Templeman:
"Oakwood Primary School's motto is 'learning with heart', and I am sure all students will be inspired to excel in their new and modern facilities.
"This is part of a $468.7 million investment to build and improve WA public schools."
