RETAINING BEACON HILL HIGH SCHOOL
For Public Education
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 1 SUMMARY POINTS
The purpose of this submission is to provide additional information to support the view that Beacon Hill High School should be retained for public education. We believe the school is needed to ensure adequate provision and distribution of high school facilities in Manly Warringah. The high school facility can also be used to fulfil other education and training requirements.
1. Disposal of the Beacon Hill High School is not economic due to the high cost of replacing the existing investment in public land and facilities.
2. The catchment of Beacon Hill / Freshwater has one of the highest numbers of students in surrounding feeder primary schools in Manly Warringah.
3. The permanent loss of Beacon Hill High School would mean ongoing disadvantage for students living in one of the most populated areas of Manly Warringah.
4. Beacon Hill High School is the only school on the Southern peninsula with an adjoining primary school, to facilitate the integration of middle schooling
5. The number of students in feeder primary schools is sufficient to sustain a viable population in all high schools in the collegiate.
6. The only high school for girls, i.e. Mackellar Girls, is struggling to cope with an intake from two large clusters, including Beacon Hill / Freshwater
7. The new hospital site next to The Forest High will result in major disruption for several years, due to the construction and associated road works.
8. Cromer High School has the potential to exceed capacity and new development in Dee Why will result in increased population.
9. Spare capacity needs to be qualified by other factors such as geographical distribution, optimum school and class sizes, specialist use of rooms, alternative uses (see Excellence and Innovation submission) etc.
10.Educational facilities can also be used for training to address skills shortages.
11.There is a shortfall in public land and buildings for early childhood education.
12.Health education is an option that would alleviate pressure on hospital services in the peninsula.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 2 INTRODUCTION
The Minister’s / Department of Education and Training's response to the Junior High School proposal for Beacon Hill High states that there is spare capacity in surrounding high schools and uses this to justify its closure.
We challenge that on several fronts:
The figure does not take into account specialist usage of rooms etc and is therefore not a reflection of the true capacity of schools. Spare capacity does not take into account the loss of students from the public education system between Year 6 and Year 7. There are sufficient numbers in the feeder primary schools to support Beacon Hill High’s re-opening. The figure does not take into account that Mackellar Girl's high school is already near capacity because of Beacon Hill’s closure. Schools operating at full capacity do not provide an ideal learning environment for students.
'Spare capacity' is the wrong measure, the wrong criterion upon which to base future planning.
It is more relevant to look at the numbers of students in the primary feeder schools. This information reveals a different story. It shows there are sufficient numbers of students in the primary feeder schools to have a viable school population at Beacon Hill High School and the remaining public high schools in Manly Warringah.
CAPACITY
'Capacity' should relate to a school size that allows students to feel that they are part of a large community, in which their individual identity is respected. It should not mean a school that is filled to the brim, with overcrowded corridors and large class sizes, and too little space to accommodate ancillary functions.
The combined 'spare capacity' of several high schools in Manly Warringah is a single figure, which masks geographical variation. It also fails to identify or analyse the reasons for variation in particular schools.
Focussing on vacancies in Manly Warringah high schools does not recognise problem areas and underlying trends, which may contribute to variations in enrolments. It masks differences, which allow comparisons between individual high schools, and diverts attention from the question as to why 'spare capacity' is greater in some schools than others.
The combined 'spare capacity' does not address the problem of population pressure on particular schools, such as Mackellar Girls. The closure of Beacon Hill High School has contributed to this problem.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 3 MISLEADING CRITERION / ATTRITION
What is wrong with using spare capacity as a criterion?
Spare capacity does not take into account the loss of students from the public education system between Year 6 and Year 7. ATTRITION from the public education system occurs mainly in the transition from primary to high school. The figure for spare capacity camouflages the vacancies that can be attributed to attrition during this changeover phase.
The failure of (some) public high schools to ATTRACT more students in their own cluster is being used as the BASIS for the proposed sale of BHHS. This action is only likely to exacerbate the problem of attrition, by permanently reducing the choice of options and scope of public education.
Why dispose of a high school, which has the potential to ATTRACT more students and encourage them to remain in the public school system?
The number of students in the feeder primary schools alleviates concerns that re- opening BHHS would reduce enrolments at other high schools i.e. Cromer or The Forest. Retaining BHHS eg as a composite school with supplementary services, has the potential to retain students who might otherwise leave the public education system, and to entice others back to public education.
WRONG STRATEGY
It is unfair to force some students to travel out of area in an attempt to balance numbers in high schools, which are failing to attract adequate enrolment numbers in their own cluster. The extra time is equivalent to one school day a week for some students. To address the imbalance of student retention in any particular cluster, perceived or actual problems should be tackled at the source.
SIMPLISTIC MEASURE
The focus on a single figure for 'spare capacity' is a very simplistic and risky measure to assess the existing and future educational needs. Some of the factors, which influence the choice of a high school, are convenience, amenity, school size, siblings, and shared (composite) school sites. Spare capacity in the public school system should be utilised to improve choice and quality, eg smaller and specialist classes.
PRODUCTIVE USES
The DET's view presumes that spare capacity is wasted space. This view fails to identify existing and potential uses for spare capacity in schools. Many of these uses are mentioned in the DET document on Excellence and Innovation (2005). One of the objectives of this report, and the accompanying invitation for public submissions, was to identify ways in which spare capacity could be productively used for the benefit of education and the community.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 4 HOSPITAL IMPACT
A new factor, which must now be taken into account, is the siting of a major new hospital adjacent to The Forest High School. The announcement of the new hospital site was made on 30th March 2006, and introduces new arguments for the retention of Beacon Hill High School.
Major construction is expected to last for around three years, with dust and trucks etc. Congestion would occur in the immediate area during the construction phase with a subsequent increase in traffic, including emergency vehicles. In the interests of health, safety and convenience, Beacon Hill High School should be retained for students living on the eastern side of Wakehurst Parkway.
DEE WHY IMPACT
Major new residential development is proposed for Dee Why, which is only 3 kilometres from Beacon Hill. Approval has been given for a complex of nearly 250 units and plans for several hundred more units are in draft form. Existing public educational facilities will be needed to cater for the additional influx of population.
BENEFITS OF JUNIOR HIGH / COMPOSITE SCHOOL
The proposal of a Junior Campus (or Composite School) is a sensible and logical initiative which, combined with supplementary services, would compliment the Freshwater Senior Campus.
An advantage of a junior campus is that it provides a feeder school for the senior campus and avoids the need to derive (poach) senior students from elsewhere. It has the important benefit of allowing a cohort of students to advance to senior campus together, without the need to divide peer groups and fragment friendships that have been established during the earlier years at school. The opportunity to implement middle schooling and provide integrated teaching on one campus is a key factor. The overlap of core subjects in the curriculum for primary and junior high school would economise teaching resources and reduce running costs for a junior high school. Strengthening connections between local primary and high schools has social advantages for the community. A local high school is more convenient for parents and encourages increased community participation in the school.
A junior high school is a buffer in the event of increased retention of senior students in comprehensive schools. Freshwater Senior Campus students derive mostly from Year 7-12 public high schools, with a proportion from private schools. The latter source could diminish if private schools introduce new incentives to encourage students to continue to Year 12. In a stand-alone high school, senior students provide role models and mentors for younger students. Academic, sporting and other achievements in senior years can provide positive feedback for the whole school.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 5 ALTERNATIVE USES
The initial focus should be on alternative uses to retain this facility even if a Junior High School is not an immediate preferred option. DET has not looked at the various options to utilise this facility to its maximum potential. Consideration of possible options could be done in conjunction with the community, local business, local government and the Federal Government. Leasing the facility is a better option than SALE.
Pre-school, an early learning centre, long day care and adult education are all options that the DET needs to consider. More time is required to address these alternative educational uses. The buildings are of sound structure and continue to offer many viable alternatives.
BEACON HILL HIGH SCHOOL
SIX BLOCKS: ALLOCATION of ALTERNATIVE USES
If the school is not used immediately for a junior high, alternative uses should be allocated to the six separate blocks.
For example:
Block A: Administration, Preschool and Parent Education
Block B: Specialist training use
Block C: Extension Classes for Grades 5 and 6
Block D: Adult (Community) Education
Block E: Indoor Sports, Amenities
Block F: Library, Science, Dark Room etc. (Extension class / specialist use)
EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF ASSETS
The DET is not recognising the educational value of its assets. Beacon Hill High School has special attributes, which are unique in the Manly Warringah area and which cannot be replaced. Features that contribute to educational value include adjoining recreation facilities, creek and reserve, good pedestrian access. An aesthetic bonus is that the school offers a pleasant environment, with an attractive outlook and open space between the buildings.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 6 ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSETS
The assessment of educational assets includes Location, Buildings, and Attributes - NOT just spare capacity.
The value of public investment in infrastructure will be eroded if educational resources are considered only in terms of land value. Educational facilities will be undervalued as a community resource, if consideration of their use is confined to a narrow age range. The years before and beyond school age are also important, as are extracurricular and after school activities for school aged children.
The most critical years for educational development are before school age. Yet there is a shortage of facilities for early childhood education in Warringah. Beyond school, with a life expectancy of 70 years, there is another 50 years! To make full use of educational facilities, the scope of learning should be expanded to include lifelong learning.
Educational resources are needed to fill the knowledge gaps in our society. To assess the educational value of the school there is a need to broaden the scope to address the role of education in the provision of services. An advantage of BHHS is that the six separate blocks allow for compatible uses on one site.
REPLACEMENT COST
The replacement cost is a key issue that should be taken into account. The replacement cost of the facility is estimated to be $45 million. The demolition / development cost would include the tearing up of existing utilities connected to the school, constructing a road through the middle of the site and relocating parking onto the playing fields. The public investment in land, infrastructure and buildings would be sacrificed for a development that has no public benefit for the community.
The Opportunity Cost is also relevant. What is the likelihood that a site with similar educational advantages can be found? There is NO other site, which has the same advantages as the existing school land. The educational value of the land will be wasted without any possibility of replacement, if sold.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 7 ADVANTAGES OF BEACON HILL
The POSITIVE values of Beacon Hill High School should be recognised.
For example:
Six separate buildings, which are structurally sound and purpose built.
A three-storey, architecturally significant block. (Block F)
Simplicity of design and north facing orientation
Located at the convergence of existing bus and pedestrian routes
Proximity to creek and reserve
Health and educational advantages of location ie open space, air quality (not on a busy road). Co-location with existing Primary School
Adjacent to sports fields, recreational and community facilities
Existing multi purpose centre
CONTINGENCY
Schools need some spare capacity to respond to new information, new initiatives and changing needs relating to education. New information has resulted in a trend towards smaller class sizes, particularly in the junior years, and recognition of individual learning styles. New initiatives have been identified to utilise spare capacity in public schools. Changing needs include training to address the shortfall in skills and professional areas, such as health.
CONVENIENCE
Direct benefits of retaining a high school within a cluster are accessibility for: • Shared use of the facility by the surrounding feeder primary schools • Community participation in school events and cultural activities • Facilitating social networks and training in the local area.
DISTRIBUTION
The loss of Beacon Hill High School would distort the ratio of local high schools to primary schools. According to DET guidelines, in (new) residential areas, the average ratio of high schools to primary schools is one to three. Cromer High School already has 4 primary schools in the same cluster. Mackellar Girls and Balgowlah Boys share 6 primary schools in their combined cluster. The extended Beacon Hill / Freshwater cluster also has 6 primary schools, but currently only ONE local high school i.e. for Years 11 and 12. The resulting imbalance in the geographic distribution of local high schools would create an area of disadvantage.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 8 NEW HORIZONS
The New Horizons did not include the Forest High School in the collegiate. In the western area (which includes The Forest High) it was intended that the senior students would be encouraged to remain at their comprehensive high school. Schools in the western area of the district "will be assisted to develop co-operative arrangements to ensure students are offered a comprehensive curriculum, especially in the senior years".
The New Horizons proposed that TAFE, University and Adult and Community Education (ACE) would be integrated on one campus. The new Education Centre was to provide "the entire Northern Beaches with a broader training base and increased employment prospects". The opportunity to access tertiary education on the Northern Beaches was a tempting prospect for the "4,000 students, who leave the peninsula every day to attend university".
In reality, the Freshwater Senior Campus is utilised almost exclusively for Years 11 and 12. Many of the innovative opportunities promised were not delivered.
In order to provide the anticipated and much needed post-school education and training options, additional space is required. The educational facilities at Beacon Hill could be used to implement the proposals and offset limited accommodation at Freshwater.
CLOSURE OF SCHOOL NOT RECOMMENDED
The Northern Beaches Secondary Education Review Committee recommended against the option of closing one or more schools. The New Horizons states that: "The direct closure of schools, and simply transferring students to other schools, was not a preferred option. Historically, this has resulted in a downward spiral of student enrolments and the subsequent loss of provision and significant resources."
A comparison of high school and feeder primary school numbers indicates a net loss of public school students transferring from primary to high school. The closure of two junior high schools in the most populated area of Warringah is a major contributing factor. An indication of such a downward trend should be a warning and strong evidence in support of retaining the Beacon Hill High School. Reinstating Beacon Hill as a Composite or Junior Campus or for other education uses would be a practical and positive step to reverse this trend.
The New Horizons leaflet clearly states that all SIX high schools will be utilised. “The multi-campus secondary college will combine the resources and the best traditions of six high schools as they work more closely together.” There is no mention of the disposal of any school.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 9 FEEDER PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The following comments are based on information in APPENDIX 1.
TABLES 1 TO 4 indicate that:
• There are sufficient numbers in the feeder primary schools to support the re- opening of Beacon Hill High.
• Each high school has the potential to derive adequate numbers of students from the feeder schools within the same 'cluster'.
• Beacon Hill is within a cluster that has one of the highest numbers of students in the surrounding primary feeder schools.
• In the collegiate, Cromer High School has the potential to exceed capacity, based on the number of primary students in the same 'cluster'.
• The loss of Beacon Hill High School means that two of the comprehensive schools in the collegiate are more likely to exceed capacity.
COMMENT:
Currently the remaining high schools in the collegiate receive an additional intake from the Beacon Hill / Freshwater cluster, which no longer caters for years 7-10. Some schools ie Mackellar Girls and Cromer, have high numbers while other schools have greater spare capacity ie Balgowlah Boys. It is this 'spare capacity' that is being used inappropriately as the basis for selling off BHHS.
In each cluster, the total number of students at feeder primary schools is obtained and compared (on a proportional basis) with high school enrolments. Primary grades 1-6 represent the same peer group as High School grades 7-12 six years later.
Among the public high schools listed, the difference between the estimated and actual enrolment for 2006 is quite variable. Some high schools do not appear to have achieved an intake that would be anticipated from surrounding public feeder schools. In particular, Balgowlah Boys and The Forest are lower than expected.
In the Balgowlah Boys and Mackellar Girls Cluster, the total number of primary school children is 2440 in 2006. (Table 3) In the Freshwater / Beacon Hill High School Cluster, the total number of primary school children is 2695 in 2006. (Table 3) The student numbers in these two catchments are both relatively large. The conversion of Manly Comprehensive to a Selective (regional) High School has increased student numbers allocated to the remaining local high schools.
The number of primary school students in the catchment of Beacon Hill is sufficient to sustain a junior high school, independent of catchment numbers for Balgowlah / Mackellar, Cromer and The Forest.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 10 HIGH SCHOOLS
Mackellar Girls High is 'overcrowded' partly due to the additional intake derived from the closure of Freshwater / Beacon Hill High Schools for Year 7-10.
Balgowlah Boys High is below anticipated numbers compared with combined population in feeder schools. A contributing factor is direct competition with two Catholic boys high schools in Manly-Warringah. (To attract more students, Balgowlah Boys could benefit from diversification, a selective stream, challenging programmes etc.)
Cromer: The school is already large in size, with a population of 813. This figure is only 100 less than a preferred 'cap' of 900 students. The estimated potential intake in 2012 is 1154, based on the current number of children in surrounding feeder schools (including Dee Why). (Table 4) This figure exceeds the maximum capacity of 1050.
The Forest High: The bulk of 'vacancies' would be at The Forest, with a current enrolment of 565. The estimated intake derived from the feeder primary schools is significantly higher than the current enrolment. The feeder primary schools included are in the western part of Warringah ie excluding Allambie Heights and Beacon Hill.
HIGH SCHOOL ENROLMENTS 1996-2000:
Between 1996 and 2000 lower numbers in Beacon Hill and Freshwater High Schools were due to a combination of circumstances. The DET has not sought feedback to analyse these factors. For example, when Manly High School became selective in the early 1990's, Freshwater was perceived to be in its academic shadow.
BHHS enrolment trend is distorted due to a number of factors ie advice not to enrol and the 'technology' label. Beacon Hill's former title as a technology high school had connotations, favouring an education for boys. The emphasis on technology also implied a less academic focus in keeping with former technical colleges.
PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLMENTS 1996 – 2006
In APPENDIX 1, TABLE 5 shows there has been an overall increase in the number of enrolments in local primary schools between 1996 and 2006. The Beacon Hill / Freshwater cluster has increased by 21% (462), Balgowlah Boys / Mackellar Girls cluster has increased by 25% (481), Cromer cluster has decreased marginally by 2% (-35) and The Forest cluster has increased by 23% (237). Three of the six schools in the Beacon Hill / Freshwater cluster (Beacon Hill, Narraweena and Curl Curl North) show a marked increase in numbers.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 11 SUSTAINING NUMBERS QUESTIONS • What factors contribute to the tendency for some public high schools to attract and sustain numbers? • What contributing reasons account for the loss of students in government schools between primary and high school ie between Year 6 and Year 7? • Do public high schools, which attract more students from the feeder schools, share common attributes?
Possible contributing factors to sustain numbers include a consistent and high academic standard eg Manly Selective and Mackellar Girls. Poor HSC results (compared with other schools in the local paper) may contribute to or correlate with lower numbers. Also important is the perception of parents that the school has a good reputation and a caring environment.
Community feedback may provide insights into factors, which affect enrolment numbers. It is also relevant to look at the attributes of high schools together with academic and other performance measures.
ATTRIBUTES
Balgowlah Boys High School: • Positives: Teaching staff, extension classes (one day per week) for upper primary, extension (graded) classes for high school, library, music facilities etc. • Negatives: Location near a busy road, small site with limited open space, playing field on the opposite side of major road (access via footbridge). (Competing with St Paul's Catholic College, which has scenic views and tennis courts.) Layout: Buildings oriented towards courtyards.
Cromer: • Positives: Teaching staff, extension classes, special education classes. • Negatives: The school is located in the Cromer Industrial Area; there is no direct public transport from many suburbs, large school population. Layout: Buildings define internal courtyards.
The Forest: Located in the western half of Warringah, not in the collegiate. School enrolments are subject to cyclic demographic change. Disruption is likely during construction of a new hospital.
Mackellar: • Positives: Good results in HSC, good reputation for high standard of education, good location ie quiet road and playing fields opposite. • Negatives: Large number of students and limited space.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 12 QUESTIONS RE SCHOOL ISSUES
QUESTIONS re CRITERIA
What is the relative importance of the following criteria re high schools? 1. To maximise the population of public high schools, 2. To ensure that there is an appropriate geographic distribution, 3. To retain schools as part of the community, 4. To locate high schools in convenient locations near to primary schools
What is considered to be a viable number for a junior high school and / or composite school?
QUESTIONS re DATA:
1. What is the proportion of public school students in Year 6 transferring to private schools in Year 7?
2. In the collegiate, the primary feeder school population has increased. However, the corresponding cohort for public high schools has decreased. Why?
3. What proportion of public primary school students are successful in gaining a place at a selective school?
4. The "very stable" and increasing population in many primary schools, contrasts with a decline in enrolments in (some) high schools for the same or similar cohort / peer group. Why?
QUESTIONS re RESTRUCTURE:
1. Why would DET get rid of a high school in an area with an increasing number of primary school students?
2. DET have CLOSED BHHS, even though Cromer, Mackellar, Manly (Regional School) already had high populations! Why would DET get rid of a high school, when 3 out of 4 of the remaining high schools already have high numbers, and the 4th school is for boys only?
3. Why would DET advertise the Northern Beaches Secondary College, and then expect students living in the area to enrol in Years 7-10 outside the collegiate ie at The Forest High? The intention was to encourage senior students at The Forest High to remain at their comprehensive high school, rather than leave to attend Freshwater Senior Campus.
4. If the restructure of the Northern Beaches Secondary College is successful, why have numbers in Years 7-10 declined, even though primary feeder schools have increased? Where are these students going?
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 13 CONCLUSION
Educational resources have social and economic benefits beyond the physical infrastructure. To equate the value of the resource with its land value only ignores the relevance of education to many aspects of our society. Beacon Hill High School is a community resource, which should be protected and promoted for public education.
The Beacon Hill High School should be retained as part of the collegiate:
To provide greater choice To ensure an equable geographic distribution of high schools To maintain the ratio of high school to primary schools To absorb the increase in students progressing through the ranks of preschool and primary To avoid particular schools becoming overcrowded.
If Beacon Hill High School is not to be re-opened immediately as a high school campus, alternative uses for the facility need to be considered. These include:
Use of the combined library / science block and nearby classroom block by the adjoining primary school eg for extension classes for Years 5 and 6 Relocation and expansion of early childhood facilities Incorporation of family services Sporting use of indoor and outdoor facilities After school activities, particularly for youth Vocational training and adult (community) education courses during the day and evening etc.
Selling off a high school in an area, which is already disadvantaged due to the closure of a second local high school for years 7-10, is not a sensible strategy. Students in the affected catchment continue to be dependent on travel outside the local area. The remaining high schools are likely to become larger and more impersonal and none would offer the same opportunity for middle schooling, as Beacon Hill High School.
The Beacon Hill High School is located in a catchment area with one of the highest numbers of students in surrounding feeder schools. Its loss would mean ongoing disadvantage for students living in the most populated area in Warringah. In many cases the additional travel time is equivalent to an extra school day per week.
The number of students in primary feeder schools and the distribution of high schools are factors additional to spare capacity. In the interests of the hundreds of children in the local area now and in the future, the Beacon Hill High School facility must be retained for public education.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 14 APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1
CLUSTERS: LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS and PRIMARY FEEDER SCHOOLS
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 15 CLUSTERS: LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS and PRIMARY FEEDER SCHOOLS
EXPLANATION of TABLES
The only figure available on the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) web site is the TOTAL number of students at a public school. To simplify the calculations, it is assumed that there are relatively even numbers of students in each grade of primary school.
Primary School consists of 7 grades, whereas Junior High consists of 4 grades. To obtain the number of Year 7-10 students derived from the surrounding feeder primary schools, 4 out of 7 (years) of the total primary school population is obtained. This is an approximation only, as the number of students in each year of the primary school could vary.
Only a few students from each primary school are likely to attend Manly Selective High School. However, based on sample data, the number is relatively small compared to the total per year. Manly Selective catchment stretches across a broad area, with the majority of students living between Palm Beach, Mosman and Chatswood. The proportion of primary school students that subsequently attend a selective high school is assumed to be around 10%. This 10% estimate is deducted from the total to more accurately gauge the estimated feeder population for the comprehensive high schools.
For the purpose of this exercise i.e. to ascertain primary feeder school populations, a primary school is allocated to only one (or two complementary) high school(s) in the same catchment. In reality, where there is no nearby high school, the population of a primary school may disperse between two or more high schools in different catchments. One example is Allambie Heights where some students travel to The Forest High and others to Mackellar Girls or Balgowlah Boys. The current dispersal of the Year 6 cohort in individual primary schools is not factored in, as the focus is on capturing the feeder school population in each catchment or cluster.
If all students continued to Years 11 and 12, the proportion of high / primary (for the same cohort) would be 6 out of 7 (years). However, in the senior years some students leave to take up apprenticeships, or to attend the senior campus etc. So the total number at a high school is likely to be less than 6 of the 7 grades (of the same cohort) that previously attended primary school. To allow for attrition the lower ratio i.e. 5 out of 7 (years) of the primary school cohort is a reasonable estimate. The actual number could be higher, but 5 out of 7 is adopted.
The separate estimate for Mackellar Girls and Balgowlah Boys is taken to be half the total number in the cluster. In other words, it is assumed that there are an equal number of male and female students in the combined cluster.
The actual numbers of students in each high school can be compared with the estimated figure for the cluster.
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 16 INFORMATION IN TABLES 1 to 4
TABLE 1: Primary feeder school enrolments in 2000 for each high school cluster.
TABLE 2: Estimated high school enrolments in 2006 based on the primary feeder population. Actual high school enrolments for 2006 also included (for comparison).
TABLE 3: Primary feeder school enrolments in 2006 for each high school cluster.
TABLE 4: Estimated high school enrolments in 2012 based on the primary feeder population. Actual high school enrolments for 2006 also included.
EXPLANATION OF HEADINGS IN TABLES 2 AND 4
Feeder Total (FT) is the total number of enrolments in the feeder primary schools (Years K through 6) within a high school cluster.
The Junior, Full and Partial Estimate figures (below) are derived from the Feeder Total (FT), less 10% for those attending a selective high i.e. 0.9 x FT.
Junior (Years 7 through 10) is estimated at 4 / 7th of the Feeder Total (FT) (Junior = 4/7 x 0.9 x FT = 51% of FT (approx))
Full (Years 7 through 12) is estimated at 6 / 7th of the Feeder Total (FT) (Full = 6/7 x 0.9 x FT = 77% of FT (approx))
Partial (Years 7 through 12) is estimated at 5 / 7th of the Feeder Total (FT) and assumes some loss to TAFE, senior campus, apprenticeship, 'drop outs' etc. (Partial = 5/7 x 0.9 x FT = 64% of FT (approx)).
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 17 FEEDER PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLMENTS IN 2000
TABLE 1:
High School Cluster Primary Feeder Schools Enrolments Totals Cluster Primary School 2000 2000 Beacon Hill / Beacon Hill 466 Freshwater Narraweena 330 2550 Brookvale 182 Curl Curl North 447 Harbord 712
Allambie Heights 413 Balgowlah Heights 526 Balgowlah Boys / Balgowlah North 291 2338 Mackellar Girls Manly Vale 274 Manly Village 285 Manly West 587
Seaforth 375 Cromer Collaroy Plateau 389 1773 Cromer 689 Dee Why 297 Wheeler Heights 398 Frenchs Forest 237 The Forest Wakehurst 287 1103 Belrose (Ralston Ave) 338
Terrey Hills 241
(Below) HIGH SCHOOL POPULATION:
ESTIMATE for 2006 (based on feeder cluster in 2000) and ACTUAL for 2006
T ABLE 2
Estimate of high school High School Cluster population 2006 Actual for 2006 2000 51% 77% 64% 2006 Feeder School Total Junior Full Partial Actual Balgowlah + Mackellar 2338 1202 1804 1503 1434 Mackellar Girls 1169 601 902 752 964 Balgowlah Boys 1169 601 902 752 470 Beacon Hill + Freshwater Senior College 2550 1311 1967 1639 488 Cromer 1773 912 1368 1140 816 The Forest 1103 567 851 709 565 Fresh Sen Campus 488 Manly Selective 759
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 18 FEEDER PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLMENTS in 2006
TABLE 3
High School Cluster Primary Feeder Schools Enrolments Totals Cluster Primary School 2006 2006 Beacon Hill 464 Beacon Hill / Freshwater 2695 Narraweena 415 Brookvale 198 Curl Curl North 520 Harbord 730 Allambie Heights 368 Balgowlah Heights 546 Balgowlah Boys / Mackellar Girls 2440 Balgowlah North 414 Manly Vale 206 Manly Village 358 Manly West 579 Seaforth 337 Cromer Collaroy Plateau 405 1795 Cromer 652 Dee Why 225 Wheeler Heights 513 The Forest Frenchs Forest 242 1276 Wakehurst 310 Belrose (Ralston Ave) 465 Terrey Hills 259
(Below) HIGH SCHOOL POPULATION:
ESTIMATE for 2012 (based on feeder cluster in 2006) and ACTUAL for 2006
TABLE 4
Estimate of high school population High School Cluster 2012 Actual for 2006 51% 77% 64% 2006 School Feeder Total Junior Full Partial Actual Balgowlah + Mackellar 2440 1255 1882 1569 1434 Mackellar Girls 1220 627 941 784 964 Balgowlah Boys 1220 627 941 784 470 Beacon Hill + Freshwater Senior College 2695 1386 2079 1733 488 Cromer 1795 923 1385 1154 816 The Forest 1276 656 984 820 565 Fresh Sen Campus 488 Manly Selective 759
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 19 INCREASED ENROLMENTS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Primary school numbers in 2006, compared with those in 2000, show an increase in various locations, including Beacon Hill
Overall there has been an increase in the number of enrolments in Primary schools from 1996 to 2006. This increase is particularly marked for some schools, such as Beacon Hill, Narraweena, Wheeler Heights, North Balgowlah etc. Significantly, Beacon Hill is one of the suburbs in a 'growth band'.
The following table shows the comparison of primary schools and clusters.
TABLE 5
Cluster Primary School 1996 2006 % Increase Cluster Total 2006 Beacon Hill 349 464 33% Beacon Hill / Freshwater 2695 Narraweena 247 415 68%
Brookvale 173 198 14% Curl Curl North 412 520 26% Harbord 703 730 4% Allambie Heights 349 368 5% TOTAL 2233 2695 21% Balgowlah Heights 414 546 32% Balgowlah Boys / Balgowlah North 226 414 83% 2440 Mackellar Girls Manly Vale 208 206 -1% Manly Village 234 358 53% Manly West 550 579 5%
Seaforth 327 337 3%
TOTAL 1959 2440 25% Cromer Collaroy Plateau 377 405 7% 1795 Cromer 758 652 -14% Dee Why 365 225 -38% Wheeler Heights 330 513 55% TOTAL 1830 1795 -2% Frenchs Forest 300 242 -19% The Forest 1276 Wakehurst 248 310 25%
Belrose (Ralston Ave) 244 465 91% Terrey Hills 247 259 5% TOTAL 1039 1276 23% GRAND TOTAL 7061 8206 16%
Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee July 2006 20