Footscray Learning Precinct
Footscray Learning Precinct
As many of you will be aware, when the Labor government came into power in late 2014 there was a commitment to developing a Footscray Learning precinct with $15 million pledged for the first stage of the project.
The aim of the precinct is to have greater links between all stages of learning from early learning through to tertiary levels, and to provide greater learning opportunities for inner west students at all of these stages. The overarching and ambitious aim is also ‘to provide a long term vision for world class education in the inner west.’
Some progress has now been made in developing the concept, particularly in the area of secondary education. The Department of Education and Training (DET) has now put forward a proposal for which they are seeking feedback as part of the community engagement process.
Proposal for Secondary Sector
The proposal for the secondary sector is to have three school sites
Footscray City College - a senior school Years 10-12
Gilmore College for Girls - a junior school Years 7 – 9 (coeducational)
A new school on Pilgrim Street on VU land - a junior school Years 7 – 9 (coeducational)
(opposite the southern end of VU Nicholson St campus)
As well as building the new school, the proposal includes the updating and refurbishment of FCC and Gilmore. A STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Centre is also proposed for location on the VU Ballarat Road carpark site.
It is envisaged that the two junior schools will each have a year 7 intake of 150 students, giving a total Year 7 – 9 enrolment of 450 on each campus. This, of course, means that FCC will have an enrolment of approximately 900 feeding in from the two junior schools, once both are operational.
FCC has the capacity for approximately 1100 students, however this multi-campus model would make provision for at least 1800 students. As much as we are happy with our school, this provides 700 more secondary places, an increase that would not be feasible on our site alone.
The proposal also has the potential to provide greater opportunities for students, particularly at the senior end where an exciting and extended range of curriculum options could be offered. However, having two separate junior campuses would make it imperative to ensure equity of resourcing and consistency of curriculum.
Given the potential for considerably enhanced opportunities for students, FCC council endorsed the concept presented by DET on the proviso that all three sites are campuses of one cohesive secondary school.
It is worth mentioning also that the FCC Council has had the opportunity to have some earlier input to the feasibility study which explored a number of options particularly for the secondary area. We (FCC Council) prepared a document on our thoughts about the precinct and its possibilities, which is included in this newsletter. The Councils of Gilmore and Footscray City Primary also had input and submitted documents.
The current timeline for the development of the three school concept proposes planning stage with architects working on the concept 2017 – 2018 and staged implementation of the masterplan 2018 - 2020. This suggests the impact on our current students and even those enrolling in the near future, will be minimal, although there is the possibility of some building works on site if refurbishment were to take place.
Have Your Say
If you are interested in reading more about this proposal and having some input please go to www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/Footscray You can contribute to the discussion space and complete a survey on this site.
You can also contribute via Facebook and Twitter
@VictorianSchoolBuild on Facebook
@ VicSchoolBuild on Twitter
You can contribute via these online options until the 30th November
Community Consultation Session
29 November at 19:30–20:30
Marsha Thomson's Office
204 Nicholson Street, Footscray
