Proposal for a year 7-10 Junior Campus
Northern Beaches Secondary College
at Beacon Hill High School.
Submission to Hon. Carmel Tebbutt
Minister for Education and Training
and
Mr Andrew Cappie-Wood
Director General of Education
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 1
Introduction
The Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee has identified a key opportunity to enhance public education delivery on Sydney’s Northern Beaches at a very moderate cost to the State Government.
The Committee is recommending that a year 7-10 Junior campus with supplementary services is established at Beacon Hill High School.
There is a clear and pressing need for a Junior campus with current demographics indicating an increase in births and pre school children in Warringah.
The Proposal
It is proposed to refurbish the existing Beacon Hill High School premises to create a year 7-10 Junior Campus to complement the new Freshwater year 11-12 Senior Campus.
The existing six Beacon Hill High School buildings are in a sound condition and refurbishment can be carried out at reasonable cost.
The existing school includes a Multi Purpose Centre with stage and indoor sporting facilities (which is currently used by the adjoining Primary school), two playing fields, large quadrangle, basketball and netball courts, modern science and Library block.
The current school building layout is both functional and well suited to create a year 7-10 Junior Campus.
Key objectives:
The main objectives of creating a year 7-10 Junior Campus on the site are:
To establish a fresh alternative in Secondary education on the Northern beaches with a landmark year 7-10 Junior campus.
To facilitate the transition of students between primary and secondary education
To arrest the current transfer of students from Government primary schools into Private secondary Schools.
To establish a benchmark year 7-10 junior Campus which will attract students back into government schools from the private education sector
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 2
Site Description
Beacon Hill High School comprises approximately two hectares of land with dual access points off Tristram Road.
The existing improvements comprise six brick and concrete buildings, adjoining playing fields, a Multi Purpose Centre, outdoor netball and basketball courts and a carpark. The site has a favourable north aspect and adjoins a natural bush reserve and creek on the northern boundary.
The site is strategically located next to Beacon Hill Primary School (which also incorporates a pre-school childcare facility) providing a unique opportunity for students to progress from pre-school to high school on the one campus.
As the high school site adjoins this well patronised primary school, this is a distinct advantage for a year 7-10 campus.
There are regular public bus services along Tristram Road and nearby Warringah Road which is a major thoroughfare servicing the Northern Beaches. A traffic-calming device at the western end of Tristram Road restricts flow through traffic, which provides a quiet and safe street environment for students.
Learning environment
The Beacon Hill High School site has numerous favourable attributes.
• A learning environment, which is a social hub within the local community • Easily accessible by surrounding residents - preferably by walking • Located in a residential area, rather than an industrial or commercial area • An existing Multi Purpose Centre • Outdoor and Indoor sporting facilities • Primary school on adjoining site • An attractive setting, with many trees • A pleasant view from classrooms with favourable northerly aspect • Brick construction, built to last • Natural features nearby including a creek and bushland. • Near a creek corridor, used for recreation • Buildings with good solar access and natural ventilation • A campus style - pedestrian precinct
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 3
Catchment Area
Prior to closing, Beacon Hill High School drew students predominantly from Narraweena Primary, Allambie Heights Primary, Brookvale Primary, Dee Why Primary and the adjoining Beacon Hill Primary schools.
Year 6 students from the primary schools currently disperse into both Government schools and private high schools with a number of students travelling a considerable distance to private schools outside the local collegiate.
A year 7-10 Junior Campus at Beacon Hill will reverse the trend of primary school students enrolling in private schools outside the collegiate. This trend has been demonstrated at the Freshwater Senior Campus and will occur at the proposed Junior Campus.
Three out of four of the existing public high schools on the southern peninsula that cater for years 7-10 are at or near capacity. This includes Mackellar Girls, Manly Selective, and Cromer co-educational.
There is a gap in the district for a junior high school due to the combined loss of two local high schools being Freshwater (year 7-10) and Beacon Hill (year 7-12).
We have attached a map, which demonstrates the current void in secondary high schools on the southern peninsula. (Appendix 1)
Manly Selective High School has emerged into a regional high school and not a local high school as a high proportion of students live OUTSIDE the local area.
Balgowlah Boys and Mackellar Girls are complementary schools, which provide single sex education.
A parent seeking to enrol their 12-16 year old child in a co-ed school in the local collegiate will not consider Balgowlah Boys or Mackellar Girls and cannot enrol in Freshwater (year 11-12) or Manly Selective (pre exam requirement). Their choice is therefore limited to Cromer (which our enquiries disclose is capped at 900) or Forest which is not in the collegiate and is too far away if you reside in the southern end of the peninsula.
By establishing a year 7-10 Junior Campus students would have an attractive alternative to commence their secondary education on the Northern Beaches.
BEACON HILL HIGH SCHOOL is the ONLY remaining facility, which could be used to establish a year 7-10 junior campus in this geographical area and at minimal cost.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 4
Demographics
We have analysed the Australian Bureau of Statistics census data for children age 0-9 between years 1991 & 2001 (most recent census statistics available). This is the catchment age group reflecting the future demand for secondary education.
The information is summarised as follows:
Number of Children by Year by Age Group (Manly & Warringah)
Growth Growth over 5 over 10 Year Years Years Age Group 1991 1996 2001 1991- 96 1996- 01 1991- 01
0-4 9,145 9,722 10,612 6% 9% 16% 5-9 8,726 9,078 9,862 4% 9% 13%
Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census of Population count from 1991 to 2001
This data contradicts previous demographic assumptions. The number of children in the nominated 0-9 age groups has in fact increased.
A simple overall analysis of the data is that the 0-4-age group increased by 16% between 1991 and 2001 whilst the 5-9 age group increased by 13% over the same period.
As a matter of interest, the10-14 age group also increased by 5% between 1996 and 2001 (based on ABS Census of Population for Manly Warringah).
Over the period 1991 to 2001 the cumulative annual growth rate for 0-4 age group and 5-9 age group is 1.6%, and 1.3% respectively. If this growth were to continue on a straight line basis to 2030 the 0-4 age group would grow to 16,815, and the 5-9 age group to 14,343.
Based on this data there are not enough government school places for enrolments of this age group in the Manly Warringah area to support these numbers.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 5
More recent data is available in the NSW Mothers and Babies reports (2002 to 2004), which are annual publications by the Department of Health. The reports record the number of births on a Council area basis and confirm this growth trend is continuing in Manly Warringah. The following chart for the growth of 0-4 age group estimates based on this data is highlighted below.
Manly Warringah 0-4 Age Group Growth Projections (ABS Census 2001 Stats. & NSW Mothers & Babies Report from Dept. Health)
12,000 ren ild h C f 10,000
er o Actual and Estimate mb u N
8,000 1991 1996 2001 2002 2003 2004 Year
From the above, the estimated number in the 0-4 age group in Manly Warringah for 2004 is in excess of 11,000.
In fact, the “State of Warringah Report 2005” published by Warringah Council states that the total number of children for the 0-5 age group in 2004 was 11,567. This group will then flow through to the school age group of 5-9 in coming years.
We have summarised the birth rates for Manly Warringah (based on NSW Mothers and Babies Report 2002 – 2004) as follows.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 6
Manly & Warringah Births Based on NSW Mothers & Babies Report (Dept. Health)
2500
2450
2400
2350
Births Actual Births
2300
2250
2200 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Year
Beacon Hill High School is located within the local government area of Warringah. Out of the total Northern Sydney Area (NSW Mothers & Babies Reports), Warringah with 1,878 births (2003) counts for almost 20% of all births. The number of births in Warringah is the highest in all councils considered within the Northern Sydney zone. This compares to Hunters Hill with 154 births for instance.
Based on the NSW Mothers & Babies Report, the number of births for Warringah (1,830 in 2004) places Warringah at 11th for the most births out of 197 Health Areas in NSW. This compares favourably with other growth areas such as Gosford (1,920 births), Hornsby (1,778 births), and is far in excess of inner western Sydney areas such as Drummoyne (495), Concord (395), Leichhardt (998) or Marrickville (1063).
The full table of births and data used for the above estimates can be provided upon request.
Further evidence of the increased number of children of pre school age and the potential future demand for schooling was obtained by contacting 14 of the 51 long day care, kindergarten, and pre schools listed in the Warringah Council website. Of the responses noted, all centres had waiting lists of at least the number of places they cater for or more. Whilst the average centre catered for 65 places of pre-school age, in many cases there were often double the number of families attending. In other words, for an average of 65 places there are more likely to be 105 children attending as many children attend part time.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 7
Of the 14 childcare centres contacted, a total of 911 places per day were accounted for. As stated above, generally there are twice the number of children attending than places. If one extrapolates this number for the 51 listed Warringah Council centres, there could be 6,637 children of pre school age catered for by childcare centres, not to mention children who are looked after by non listed family centres or by mums and dads in the area.
There has been substantial residential development in Manly Warringah with 5,671 more dwellings in 2001 compared to 1996 and a further 2863 dwellings, units and townhouses approved between July 2001 and March 2005. Additional development can attract people from outside of the local area, thus increasing the local population. In-migration combined with natural population increases means greater demand for services, including public education.
According to the DIPNR Metropolitan Development Program 2004 a further 4,200 dwellings will be constructed over the next ten years. This reflects an expectation of population increase.
The evidence indicates that many more young families are now entering the Warringah Council area and it is likely, as the older residents leave, new families will continue to locate in this area replacing the older age groups. A cyclical pattern referred to as the “filtration” process.
As the number of children is increasing in Warringah this must lead to an increased demand for public education in this area now and into the future.
The Junior Campus will provide a fresh alternative for public education and satisfy this increased demand.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 8
Geographic Distribution of Public Schools
A Junior High School at Beacon Hill would provide an appropriate geographical distribution of schools, to ensure facilities for a continuum of ages within the local area.
In Manly Warringah a high school (s) with surrounding feeder primary schools was the norm when the government schools were established. Typically, a local 'cluster' included a high school (s) and surrounding or adjacent primary feeder schools.
In the southern peninsula the following local public school 'clusters' exist: Balgowlah Boys and Mackellar Girls High School: 6 local feeder primary schools (Balgowlah Heights, North Balgowlah, Seaforth, Manly Vale, Manly West and Manly).
Cromer High School: 3 / 4 local feeder primary schools (Cromer, Wheeler Heights, Collaroy Plateau and Dee Why) Note: Dee Why Primary was also a feeder school for Manly and Beacon Hill High Schools. Forest High: 4 local feeder primary schools (Frenchs Forest, Belrose (2), Terrey Hills).
The distribution shows that a Junior Campus at Beacon Hill is unlikely to be a threat to population numbers at other high schools, such as Balgowlah Boys, which already has six feeder primary schools in the immediate locality. Instead, a new Junior Campus at Beacon Hill is likely to draw students from the adjoining primary school, divert some numbers from Cromer and Mackellar (where the population is already high) as well as retain public school students, who might otherwise transfer to private schools.
A Junior High School would form part of a cluster with 6 or 7 primary schools that formerly were feeder schools for Years 7-12 Beacon Hill, Freshwater or Manly comprehensive High Schools. Primary schools at (Brookvale, Curl Curl, Harbord) and (Allambie, Beacon Hill, Narraweena) have senior campus in the local area, but currently no government school for Years 7-10 in the local area. The provision of a Junior Campus at Beacon Hill would complement having the Senior Campus at Freshwater, and provide a continuum for 7-12 in the local area.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 9
Community Hub
A Year 7-10 Junior Campus would provide a public education facility, which is local and accessible. A year 7-10 Junior High School adjacent to a Primary School provides a community focus, which facilitates social interaction. The broader age range for children provides a greater continuity for families and siblings can attend school at the same location.
A Year 7-10 Junior Campus would keep the public schools local, as a social hub within the community. People who meet at a local school are more likely to live in the same vicinity, so that social links are reinforced. The Junior High School would also function as a community learning centre and a focus for family oriented activities.
A Year 7-10 Junior Campus would implement the Department's claims (leaflet, 2004) that NSW Government Secondary Schools are the best choice, because:
• Your family will have the opportunity to maintain local friendships that will help your child make a confident transition into high school.
• Your local secondary school is … part your local community and accountable to you.
• Your local government schools offer more than an education; they offer your family a community.
A Junior High School would be in keeping with the current emphasis on the transition between Years 5 and 8, and creating education pathways from preschool to high school and beyond.
The District office has introduced a fresh approach to the Northern Beaches and has recognised the advantages of clusters or communities of schools. This includes broadening links and integrating key high schools with surrounding primary schools.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 10
Community Learning Centre.
According to the Vinson Report, Chapter 8: Schools and Their Communities:
• There are powerful educational reasons for closer school and community relations. Learning outcomes improve when parents become involved in their children's learning and when schools form close links with families. (Page 1)
• The challenge is for schools to become centres of learning for the whole community, and to think of communities or regions as learning networks of which schools are a vital part. (Page 5)
• It is more than time that New South Wales undertook a modest pilot project in which educational advantage is taken of the stimulus of schooling being closely connected to its community, and the community drawing upon and contributing to the learning resources of its school. . (Page 5)
• To fulfil this 'community learning centres' brief, the schools would be encouraged to develop innovative forms of curricula, pedagogy and school organisation to accommodate a wider diversity of students and joint youth- adult activities. There would be weaker barriers between pre-school, primary and secondary divisions; school facilities would be shared with community groups, and strong links would exist with other educational providers. (Page 6, 7, 8)
Junior (Feeder) Campuses Recommendations in the Vinson Report
Chapter 4: The structure of Public Education and Social Values
(Page 31) Recommendation 4.6: Stand-alone senior colleges
(a) That notwithstanding the apparent success of stand-alone senior colleges, no more be created unless they are linked to feeder schools in such a way that they do not drain other local comprehensive schools of senior students. Any such developments should be consistent with the principles and administrative presumptions outlined above.
Recommendation 4.7: Multi-campus collegiates
(a) That the junior campuses of multi-campus colleges be the focus of ongoing pedagogical and curriculum reform so that they can meet the needs of adolescents in the middle school years.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 11
Current Enrolment Overview.
Based on the DET demographic data (requested by Director General) Primary school enrolments have increased from 7,952 in 1993 to 9,706 in 2005 which represents an increase in enrolments of 22%.
A number of other issues have also arisen in recent months confirming that demand for secondary education is rising in Warringah including the following:
Oxford Falls Grammar School has a submitted a Development Application to Warringah Council to accommodate an additional 140 students.
The Manly Daily reports on February 1 2006 (page 6: “ Enrolments on rise”) that a large increase in enrolments in the Northern Sydney Area is expected. This region includes the northern beaches and is expected to have the fifth highest enrolments across the state.
The Forest High notice board on 3 February 2006 confirms that there is a "Forty per cent increase in year 7 enrolments”
Balgowlah boys has a 20% increase in year 7 enrolments in 2006
Mackellar Girls High school has enrolled 230 girls in year 7 in 2006.
St Augustine’s has the largest enrolments this year in its FIFTY year history at 930 students.
Hon. Carmel Tebutt statement published in the Daily Telegraph on 31 January 2006, page 11 states:“ We recognise the benefit of working with local communities to develop innovative options such as Freshwater Campus (part of the Northern Beaches collegiate model) where enrolments are increasing”
It must be noted that Freshwater Senior Campus has large enrolment increases and attracted a third of students back from the private education sector.
Daily Telegraph page 5 January 25 2006: Top Marks for public schools states “enrolments in public high schools have surged dramatically, arresting the damaging long term drift of students to private colleges. The resurgence completes a remarkable turnaround for government secondary schools, which were in serious decline just two years ago. Data shows that more than a third of schools are reporting “higher or significantly higher “projected year 7 enrolments this year. The figures, from a statewide survey by the Secondary Principals Council, show public schools are winning students back. The survey shows a reverse in the decline revealed two years ago. Schools with gifted programs also attract more students. Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt said public schools had been promoted strongly through an effort by the Government and teacher and parent organisations. Smaller class sizes, 21 more pre-schools and multi – campus colleges had helped boost numbers, she said.”
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 12
Replacement Cost Analysis
A simple analysis from a commercial perspective which supports the retention of Beacon Hill High School is to consider the short term benefit from the sale of the site against the significant cost to replace the facility in the future to satisfy the escalating demand.
The current development application at Council is seeking approval to construct 27 dwellings (and an internal road) on the site but a total of 33 houses would have to be acquired to replace the current two hectare site. Our analysis, on this basis is as follows:
Land acquisition costs. 33 houses at $750,000 (including section 55 costs) $24,750,000
Plus
New buildings (as per current DET estimates) $20,000,000
TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST $44,750,000
SAY $45,000,000
The current gross sale price to Landcom is only $6,866,000, which is reduced to less than $6,000,000 after costs.
The commercial loss to the taxpayer is therefore summarised as follows: Replacement costs (say) $45,000,000 Less Net benefit from site sale $ 6,000,000
Commercial loss by selling the site $39,000,000
Please note that the above estimates are in today’s dollars. Obviously this cost would increase significantly with the value of land outstripping inflation and the costs of construction at least increasing at the rate of inflation.
Refurbishment Costs
Estimates from the Department (DGS04/1811) show the cost of “replacement works and maintenance to bring the site/buildings up to operating standard” at $1 million.
This figure is equal to the cost of demolition of the existing buildings. Assuming that this refurbishment cost escalates by 100% it is still a favourable cost option to establish a benchmark secondary education facility to satisfy the stated objectives
This modest refurbishment cost is an extremely favourable consideration when comparing the commercial versus social viability of the project.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 13
Supplementary Services
The Beacon Hill Junior Campus is a logical inclusion in the Northern Beaches Secondary College.
A year 7-10 Junior Campus need not be a stand-alone option for the site, but can also support a variety of supplementary services.
For example, the potential to incorporate innovative educational programs including:
1. Middle schooling 2. Single strand- girls/boys classes 3. Gifted and talented / remedial programs 4. Extension classes (e.g. for Years 5 and 6) 5. OC classes 6. Specialist education (e.g. environmental studies) 7. Early childhood education 8. Parent education (e.g. Parents as Teachers) 9. Community Learning Centre initiatives
The Junior Campus would be part of a large, integrated site with existing primary and secondary facilities catering for pre-school to year 10 students.
Middle schooling could be well suited to the Beacon Hill site as it lends itself well geographically to transition options.
The creation of a middle school link at the Beacon Hill Junior Campus site may be of particular interest to the Department as it reflects current best education practice.
Additional pre-school facilities are another option for incorporation into the site, as these would meet the current strong demand.
Beacon Hill Primary and the year 7-10 Junior Campus can be consolidated as a pre-school to 10 site which, with additional resourcing, offers the opportunity to create on-site pre School, K-4, 5-8, 9-10 configuration. This is common in non-government schools but is currently not available in the Government sector on the Northern Beaches.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 14
Conclusion
The Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee strongly recommends that the Department of Education and Training favourably consider the establishment of a year 7-10 Junior Campus at Beacon Hill High School.
The Beacon Hill High School site provides an opportunity for the Department to create an innovative secondary education facility which will satisfy our stated objectives including the retention of students in the public education system and facilitate the transition of students between primary and secondary schools.
The site is purpose built as an educational facility and its location offers a distinct range of advantages within a favourable learning environment.
Beacon Hill High School was built 40 years ago to complement the adjoining primary school - so that local children would not have to travel to other parts of Warringah to attend a high school. During that time the local community and parents sought to continually improve the facilities and amenity of the high school. This includes the planting of over 100 trees within the grounds. Links and support were also obtained from local technology companies.
The cost of re-opening the school is minimal and well worth the educational and social benefits that would be derived. The benefits of the proposed year 7 to 10 campus far outweigh the one-off financial return to the Department from its sale. The replacement cost analysis within this report supports our view that the disposal of the site is not a sound commercial proposition
Latest demographic trends in Warringah confirm a total increase in the 0-9 age group of 15% between 1991-2001.This confirms that demand for public high school education will continue to grow. The demand for quality public education will not be satisfied by the existing vacancy rates.
The establishment of a year 7-10 Junior Campus would also allow the Department to consider a number of supplementary service options that could provide additional educational benefit. Some of these options could generate income, which could offset maintenance costs of the Junior Campus.
Establishing a year 7 – 10 junior campus at Beacon Hill is financially cost effective and provides an opportunity for the Department to pro-actively generate fresh and viable alternatives in secondary education. It is an opportunity to improve both the quality and choice of public education.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee February 2006 15