7 July 2020

Development application lodged for new Throsby school

| Dominic Giannini
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Artists impression

An artist’s impression of the new school at Throsby. Photo: Supplied.

The ACT Government has lodged the development application (DA) for the new $44 million public primary school at Throsby, which is scheduled to begin construction in September and open in 2022.

The school will be the Territory’s third zero-emissions school and is set to accommodate 450 students, 132 pre-school children and space for people with special needs.

It will also provide additional facilities for the community including a large community room and kitchenette, multipurpose double gym, sports courts and change-room facilities, outdoor turf sports field and outdoor multipurpose hardcourts.

Artists impression - exterior

An artist’s impression of the new school at Throsby.

A membrane-like structure will be built around the school to make sure there are no drafts coming in or out of the school, a feature designed to reduce the impact of bushfire smoke on the campus.

Education Minister Yvette Berry said the ACT Government will keep upgrading and building new public school infrastructure to future proof the Territory. Public school enrolments in the Territory are increasing by 3 per cent annually.

Artists impression - exterior

An artist’s impression of the new school at Throsby.

To meet growing demand, the capacity of the Franklin School will be increased to 600 children while the Gold Creek School Senior Campus will be increased by 200 students. Facilities at Gungahlin College are also being upgraded to accommodate more staff and a specialist science facility, while plans continue for a new 800-student school in Kenny which will have room for temporary expansion to accommodate more places if required.

Minister Berry says the new facilities will provide a high-quality learning environment for students at the new school and may include classes of mixed-aged students.

“[Mixed classes] can be the case and it happens across a lot of our schools where different age groups are learning together, much like our communities,” she said.

“[We] are making sure there is more team teaching possibilities within our schools, not individual classes like we saw in the old days.

“Teachers are more about working together in collaboration and making sure they can deliver the best outcomes for every individual child.”

Layout of the new school of Throsby

The layout of the new school at Throsby.

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