Sod is turned on first high school for Molonglo due to open in 2023

An artist’s impression of the planned preschool to year 10 school at Denman Prospect. Images: Supplied.

The first Molonglo Valley high school will be ready for the 2023 school year as part of an integrated preschool to year 10 facility in Denman Prospect.

Education Minister Yvette Berry made the announcement on Friday at a sod-turning ceremony on the site in Bielski Street to mark the start of construction of the primary school, which will open in 2021.

In 2016, the ACT Government committed to building a new school for the Molonglo Valley to be delivered in two stages and named in consultation with the community.

The $47 million primary school, allocated in the 2018-19 Budget, will cater for 644 preschool to year 6 students, while the $23 million secondary school investment will take 600 students in years 7-10.

The high school will include specialist science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and design learning spaces, a modern library resource centre, specialist outdoor learning areas such as an outdoor stage and environmental design spaces, as well as sports courts.

Ms Berry said having the two schools on the same site would provide a smoother transition for students as they move from primary to secondary schooling.

“Molonglo has grown to around 7000 residents since 2011 and as new families settle into the region, it is important that students have a schooling pathway close to home,” she said.

“This P-10 school will provide a state-of-the-art education facility focussing on 21st century education philosophies and will be Canberra’s second zero emissions school.”

Ms Berry said it would also provide facilities for many local clubs and groups.

The school will include a large community room and kitchenette, a gym catering for roller derby, sports courts and change-room facilities, an outdoor turf sports field, outdoor multipurpose hard courts and cricket nets.

“The local community will soon have the opportunity to have input into the school name, uniform and logo as part of the community engagement strategy for the school,” Ms Berry said.