As students head back to school on the first day of Term 3, the NSW Government is getting on with the job of putting students into permanent classrooms and giving teachers a stable future.
Premier Chris Minns, Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car, and Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby inspected progress on a major upgrade to John Palmer Public School in Sydney's north-west growth area today, as they welcomed students and teachers back to the classroom.
By the end of this year, 20 demountable classrooms will be removed from the school, and a new 3-storey building will house 8 new teaching spaces.
The school will also have a new library, additional support learning spaces, an expanded hall and improved outdoor play and learning space.
The school's capacity will increase from 917 to 1012 students, and the upgrade will also add new staff facilities and new amenities.
The Premier, Deputy Premier and local MP also took time to read books with students as part of the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge.
It comes as the government pushes forward with its election commitment of converting 16,000 teaching and support staff roles from temporary to permanent positions.
In under 4 months, more than 8500 teachers and support staff have accepted offers to convert their temporary contracts into permanent roles.
Across NSW, students at 4 upgraded schools also launched back into learning on the first day of Term 3 in new and upgraded classrooms following the completion of works, including:
- Darlington Public School: The upgrade has delivered a new 3-storey building with 19 learning spaces and 3 preschool classrooms, as well as new core facilities.
- Edmondson Park Public School: A second upgrade has delivered 16 additional teaching spaces, a preschool, play areas, and landscaping.
- Mosman High School: The upgrade has delivered 16 new learning spaces, a library, multipurpose gym and hall, among other core facilities and outdoor upgrades.
- Young High School: The major upgrade includes a new joint use library and community facility, funded under a partnership with Hilltops Council, which houses a range of specialised learning spaces and facilities to benefit the whole of the Hilltops community.
Students at Chatswood Public School can also look forward to the completion of their school upgrade, which includes 60 permanent classrooms, in week 3.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
"On the first day of Term 3 it is great to see children will soon be out of demountables at this north-western Sydney school.
"This major upgrade will make a world of difference for students, improving how they learn every single day of the school week.
"We are also so happy to see thousands more teachers and support staff are taking up our offer to convert from temporary to permanent roles."
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
"It is so exciting to be here with the premier and local member Warren Kirby, as the government gets ready to get these students out of demountables and into permanent classrooms.
"The number of demountable classrooms ballooned under the former government's 12-year term by more than a third, and we are committed to addressing this issue.
"We are also so excited that more than 8500 temporary teachers and support staff have embraced our election commitment and are taking up permanent positions.
"This government knows how important it is to secure the careers of our educators, so we can safeguard our children's futures.
"The first day of term is always a great day and I wish the students and teachers here at John Palmer Public School and across the state a happy and successful term of learning."
Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said:
"This school upgrade is vital for local families in The Ponds, and it has been keenly watched by our community.
"I am so delighted to hear it will be completed by the end of this year."
John Palmer Public School Principal Lisa Crawford said:
"I'm so happy to welcome NSW Premier Chris Minns, Deputy Premier Prue Car and local MP Warren Kirby here to John Palmer Public School today.
"It's so exciting for the students and our whole school community to watch our new school buildings being built.
"We are very proud of our school, and we look forward to celebrating the completion of these works and moving into our new facilities."
