Increasing populations in Alexandria, Waterloo and Green Square have resulted in few local options for high school students. The move to relax the selective requirements for admission to the High School should go some way to alleviating the situation.
Adrian Piccoli, NSW Education Minister, is considering a proposal that will localise applicants for the Year 7 intake.
In the drive to establish a new school in the area, Independent MP Alex Greenwich has received overwhelming support from local parents, with 500 signatures added to a petition. He said:
“The minister has spoken to the principal and the principal has informed the minister he is committed to the proposal. It could allow local students easier entry by 2015.”
The change will be a victory for Alexandria students but not a total solution to the problem. Parents have been calling for the issue to be solved for some time now and this first step is positive, although the inner-city still requires a new comprehensive high school in order to satisfy local student numbers.
The Community for Local Options for Secondary Education (CLOSE) has endorsed the proposal, but insisted that it will have only a small effect in alleviating congestion. Residents committed to the building of a new school can get behind the push with public awareness campaigns, involving the use of poster printing and flyer printing.