- Published:
- Tuesday 30 January 2018
Victoria’s first vertical government school opened its doors today, providing inner city families with a new state-of-the-art primary school, in another sign the Andrews Labor Government is building the Education State.
Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Education James Merlino and Member for Albert Park Martin Foley visited the new South Melbourne Primary School today.
The five-storey school designed by Architects Hayball Pty Ltd and built by ADCO Construction has modern teaching and learning spaces as well as facilities that the community can share so that the school is fully embedded in neighbourhood life.
The new school on Ferrars Street will cater for more than 500 students from Prep to Year 6.
Together with South Melbourne Park Primary School opening in 2019, the new schools will accommodate more than 1,000 students entering school over the next five years.
South Melbourne Primary School is one of 11 new schools opening across the state this week and one of 21 that have opened over the last two years.
In 2018, approximately:
- 972,700 students will attend a Victorian school
- 620,400 students will attend a Victorian government school, up from 603,500 students last year
- 543,200 primary and 412,200 secondary students will attend school
- 80,200 preps will start school, including 56,000 in government schools
- 72,900 year 7s will start school, including 40,700 in government schools
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Every Victorian child deserves access to a great school that prepares them to thrive in the 21st century so we’re getting on with the job by building new schools and upgrading existing facilities across the state.”
“The state’s first vertical government school will provide a stimulating learning environment that will unlock the kind of critical and creative thinking our young people will need for the future.”
Quotes attributable to Education James Merlino
“The Liberals closed inner city schools and we’re getting on with reopening them. We promised we would build new schools right across the state and the new South Melbourne Primary School is proof we’re getting it done.”
“The only thing Liberals do when it comes to education is rip money out of schools. When they were last in Government they cut billions from our classrooms and they’d do it again if they were given the chance.
Quotes attributable to Member for Albert Park Martin Foley
“This is a government that builds schools and supports public education. South Melbourne Primary School isn’t just supporting the educational needs of the students, but the community’s needs as well.”