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Update from the Board Chair

My name is Andrew Dwyer, and I have the privilege of serving as Chair of the Applecross Senior High School Board.

 

I am writing to update you on a matter that remains a high priority for the Board: the continued growth of our school and our advocacy for the infrastructure needed to support our students and staff.

 

As shared over the past year through open Board meetings, newsletters, and the School Annual Report, Applecross Senior High School has experienced significant enrolment growth. Since 2018, our school has welcomed approximately 400 additional students, along with the teachers and support staff necessary to maintain our high standards. 

 

This sustained growth is driven by several factors, including:

 

  • A strong local economy and growth in employment opportunities
  • Increased overseas and interstate migration following the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Rising housing density within our catchment area, particularly around Canning Bridge, Westfield Booragoon, and other urban infill developments
  • Our consistently strong WACE and ATAR results

  • The exceptional academic and co-curricular achievements of the entire Applecross Senior High School community

     

We are proud that Applecross Senior High School consistently ranks among the top six public schools in Western Australia, with outcomes that rival Perth Modern School. Our NAPLAN and ATAR results regularly exceed those of 'Like Schools' and often surpass selective programs elsewhere.

 

However, this success also presents challenges. Our enrolment growth has already exceeded the school’s designed capacity, and we are increasingly reliant on temporary demountable classrooms to accommodate students.

 

Over the past three years, the Board has supported the school’s engagement with the Department of Education to communicate our urgent need for new infrastructure. This advocacy has been comprehensive and sustained, including regular engagement with both State and Federal representatives and ongoing correspondence with members of Parliament. I have sent 15 letters to various Federal and State parliamentarians to ensure our community’s needs are clearly understood and remain visible in government planning.

 

Our efforts have included visits and meetings with:

 

  • The Hon. Roger Cook MLA, Premier of Western Australia
  • The Hon. Dr Tony Buti MLA, former Minister for Education
  • Ms Kim Giddens MLA, Member for Bateman
  • The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Federal Minister for Education

  • Mr Sam Lim MP, Member for Tangney

     

I have also met with the former Minister and Ms Giddens at Parliament House to reinforce the scale of our enrolment growth and infrastructure needs.

 

As a result of this combined engagement by the Executive and the Board's continued advocacy, in late 2024, the Department received $650,000 in funding to develop a Project Development Plan (PDP) for Applecross Senior High School—the essential first step toward a major upgrade. Once completed by late 2025, the PDP will hopefully form part of the State Budget development process between the Minister, Department, and Treasury.

 

This milestone reflects growing recognition of our needs. The Department is now planning for a student population of 2,500 within the PDP—a significant step forward. Unlike many schools, Applecross has no capacity to expand outward due to fixed boundaries, a heavily utilised shared oval, and environmental constraints, including a local government heritage listing, mature trees, and Black Cockatoo habitat. We also have pressing needs for enhanced gym facilities and to support the GATE Art program and the Music program. 

 

Preliminary concept drawings indicate that the Department understands our unique circumstances and is designing for the future, with the best use of land and space, and respecting the constraints. However, the Department will be using additional transportables in the short term to meet enrolment whilst it progresses planning for multi-storey building options to replace the transportables in the medium term.

 

On 24 September 2025, we were honoured to host the Hon. Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Education, who visited our school, met with students, and saw firsthand both our achievements and our physical constraints. The Minister’s engagement and understanding of our challenges were greatly appreciated.

 

Our request to the government is not for special treatment, but for infrastructure investment consistent with government policy and reflective of the vital role our school plays in delivering outstanding public education. The constraints are real, and the need is real. Through the combined efforts of the Board, the School Executive, and our extended community, we remain confident that our continued advocacy will achieve the best outcome for our students.

 

We will continue to keep you informed of developments as we progress discussions with the Department and government representatives. The Board remains fully committed to ensuring that Applecross Senior High School continues to provide excellence in education for today’s students and tomorrows.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Andrew Dwyer, Chair of School Board