26 Oct 2010

High School for Coburg Response to DEECD commissioned Spatial Vision Report

High School for Coburg (HSC) thanks the DEECD, Bronwyn Pike and Christine Campbell for the
opportunity to be involved in the consultation process around this report.

HSC thank Spatial Vision and the DEECD for considering our comments and adding many of our
suggestions to the report.

It is fantastic that the report acknowledges the shortfall in secondary provision which the
community is painfully aware of, here and now.

The report acknowledges the increase in primary numbers over 3 years (including projected
2011) and points out these children will flow on to secondary. Please note HSC work provided to
the consultative committee showing overall at least 30% more in prep at primary schools
compared to grade 6.

In general the earlier HSC background and general comments in response to the draft report still
hold true.

The findings in the executive summary, although ultimately showing a shortfall, are still very
conservative as they are still underpinned by the same methodology and figures- for example:
• a yield scenario the same as 2006 when there was only a failing high school in the
Coburg area,
• the yield of 229 extra kids at state secondary in Coburg/Brunswick from Moreland
Council’s recently provided new dwelling figures (extra 5,683 dwellings) hasn’t
been added to final number.(pg 85)
• A net number for the whole ‘Coburg Network” even though the report shows no
significant South-North travel to secondary school.

However the final report appears to have been written with a view to establishing at least junior
provision in Coburg thereby highlighting the 7-9 shortfall and this is of course very promising for
HSC.

Levels of analysis

1. Overall permanent capacity versus expected number of students. This showed there
is enough space theoretically. We are very grateful to have been involved in the
process because we fear this is where it could have ended without our input.

2. Age and Sex of expected students. Given that all the schools in the area relevant to
HSC are senior or girls schools, this further level of analysis was most welcome. This
deeper analysis revealed the shortfall.

3. North/South Schools. HSC take it a step further and analyze in terms of North/South
particularly because the report shows (and Glenn commented on this at a previous
meeting) no significant South-North travel to school. The final number presented is
net figure over a wide area - if you look just at schools in the South, namely- Brunswick
SC, Coburg Senior HS, Pascoe Vale Girls SC, Strathmore SC and Thornbury HS the
shortfall is much bigger.
 Shortfall in southern schools:

• Year 7-9 shortfall at 2016 is 837

• Year 7-9 shortfall at 2021 is 1,027 (pg 61)

• Year 7-12 shortfall at 2016 is 1,358 ( which would be partially offset by the 684
surplus at CSHS)

• Year 7-12 shortfall at 2021 is 1,689 (which would be partially offset by the 664
surplus at CSHS) (pg 60)

Coburg Core Area

• The Coburg core area will generate between 1.8 and 10 times the demand for
government secondary as any of the surrounding school catchments. This is huge
when you consider we now have regeneration to the south at Brunswick and in the 2
northern schools but no open entry provision where the great majority of students are
generated. (pg 79)

• Coburg area will provide 2,443 at state secondary in 2021 (1,951 at standard
secondary )(pg 89)
HSC recommendations

1. That an implementation task force be set up in Feb 2011 to plan for the
establishment of, at minimum a year 7 intake at CSHS in 2012. That the Minister
for Education commences initial discussions and task force make up immediately
after swearing in.

2. That the Victorian Government and DEECD build on the really good work being done at
the Coburg Senior High School (CSHS) by making financial provision for the
establishment of, at minimum, a year 7 intake in 2012 at the CSHS with the aim of
having full open access secondary provision in 2014, thereby creating more education
opportunity for the greater Coburg community and thus enabling the Family-School-
Community partnership.

3. As well as opening the CSHS to junior year levels, the DEECD with co-operation from
all levels of government plus families, Moreland Council and community, work on
establishing the Coburg High School (CHS) as a Community Hub. By opening up the
excellent facilities to the broader community, increasing the schools identity and
involvement in the local community, especially in conjunction with the Coburg Initiative,
CHS could take its place as a valuable and integral community asset.

4. That the DEECD facilitate, with support of families and community, the establishment of
a cluster of local primary schools which can work together sharing knowledge and
facilities and can establish a relationship with, and pathway to, a Coburg High School
thus further enabling the Blueprint mission - “a high quality and coherent birth-to-
adulthood learning and development system.”

HSC request a firm commitment from the government before it goes into caretaker mode
regarding secondary provision establishment in Coburg being finalised during the next
term of government.

Kind Regards
Catherine Hall
For High School for Coburg
9354 3053

www.highschoolforcoburg.org
http://www.facebook.com/highschoolforcoburg