Media release

T h e H o n M a rti n Minister for Education Wednesday 18 July 2012 Di x o n M P

New high school to bring Coburg community together

The Coburg community is set to gain a year 7-12 high school, with Education Minister Martin Dixon today announcing Coburg Senior High School will expand in 2015. Mr Dixon said the Victorian Coalition Government was committed to providing Coburg families with a choice of schools, and to ensuring they have access to the best educational opportunities for their children. This is an excellent outcome for the Coburg community, Mr Dixon said. Having a high school in the heart of Coburg will better support the communitys long-term education needs. Expanding Coburg Senior High School is the logical choice for a new school, as it is in an ideal location, already has some of the necessary facilities and has access to a host of nearby sport and recreation areas. This expansion will position the future high school in Coburg as an educational leader in the area. Mr Dixon said he made the decision to expand Coburg Senior High School after reviewing studies into the Coburg education network. He said the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development would work closely with the school and the local community to ensure the expanded school meets the needs of the community. This is a big undertaking and I have asked the Department to begin consulting with the school and community to map out what the new school will look like, Mr Dixon said. Opening the new school in 2015 allows enough time to plan for and successfully change to a full years 7-12 school. Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Craig Ondarchie said the decision was great news for education in Melbourne's north. The need for a secondary school in Coburg has been recognised and this is a great move and one that will definitely benefit the community, Mr Ondarchie said.

Media Contact: James Martin 0400 744 913 james.martin@minstaff.vic.gov.au

Visit www.premier.vic.gov.au for more news