Families in Ballarat will have access to two new stand-alone secondary schools in time for the 2019 school year, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
From next year, Ballarat Secondary College’s two campuses will be turned into two separate high schools: Mount Rowan Secondary College at the Mount Rowan campus in Wendouree and Woodmans Hill Secondary College at the Woodmans Hill campus in Ballarat East.
Minister for Education James Merlino today visited Ballarat Secondary College’s Mount Rowan campus to announce the changes and turn the first sod on the upgrade. Construction will begin at the Woodmans Hill campus in coming months.
The Labor Government has provided $18 million to support the establishment of the two new schools and build vital infrastructure, including a new arts/crafts space, canteen and student lounge at the Mount Rowan campus and upgrading classrooms, the VCE centre and manual arts wing at the Woodmans Hill campus.
The creation of the new schools will be accompanied by strategies to further develop quality leadership and teaching expertise, build strong partnerships with local communities, and boost results. These strategies are already underway and have shown promising early results in areas such as student outcomes and engagement.
Transition arrangements will begin shortly, including finalising principal appointments, so each campus can forge stronger links with its local community and develop a unique identity, which will lift school pride and improve student and family connectedness.
The change will mean each new school will have its own dedicated council that can focus specifically on their school’s strategic plan, goals and future direction.
The Labor Government is building the Education State so every Victorian student can get a great education and every community has access to a great local school.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“We’re supporting the community’s vision of creating two locally focused secondary schools for Ballarat families.”
“These schools service different communities and today’s announcement will allow the two secondary colleges to develop their own unique identity.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“The new Mount Rowan and Woodmans Hill Secondary Colleges will both be great local schools with first-rate facilities and teachers that students and parents can be proud of.”
Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“These changes will mean the schools and their staff will be able to forge their own individual identities and curriculums in partnership with local families.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020