Primary schools are like ‘ant farms’

Four schools in the Rockingham-Kwinana area are feeling the squeeze and have been listed among the top 10 overpopulated schools in the State.

Education Department figures show Makybe Rise, Comet Bay, Bertram and Baldivis primary schools are among the most overcrowded public primary schools in WA, with school sizes exploding by two-thirds in the past decade.

Despite Makybe Rise Primary School placing third on the list with 987 students, principal Steph McDonald said the school did not experience overcrowding.

“Our school was designed so that transportable classrooms have never encroached on any student play areas,” she said.

“We have four playgrounds, basketball courts, cricket nets and an oval — we also have open grassed areas with plenty of space for children to run.”

Comet Bay Primary School was close behind in sixth place with 905 students and principal Matt Osborne said he managed the school’s infrastructure and programs strategically.

“We have two assemblies to cater for all students,” he said.

“Extra car parking is being planned for our main school site later this year.”

Most new primary schools are designed for 450 students, however there are 112 schools with more than 500 pupils with the trend, showing that shifting Year 7s to secondary schools has failed to relieve the pressure.

WA Primary Principals Association president Stephen Breen said crowded schools struggled to provide students with access to adequate toilets, playing fields and information technology.

“Our primary schools are too big,” he said.

“You go down to some of these schools where you’ve got hundreds of little kids running around — it’s like an ant farm.”

Bertram Primary School sat in seventh place at 897 students with principal Geoff Hood not surprised the school’s population was among the State’s largest.

“While we are a big school, which does raise some issues, they rarely impact on the educational life of the children as our staff work diligently each day to add value to each student’s learning,” he said.

Mr Hood said the school had gained extra facilities including more parking, toilets and extra data bandwidth for technology to try and stay ahead of student population growth.

Baldivis Primary School rounded off the top 10 with 870 students.

Principal Ron Ross said staff worked well to come up with innovative programs to maximise the use of space and meet student needs.

“We have adequate play areas and through a creative arrangement with a nearby developer we use a shared oval,” he said.

“A new school is opening in north Baldivis next year, which means families in that area can enrol their children there.

“Large schools mimic the society we live in and provide students with a community to teach harmony, tolerance and co-operation.”

Education Minister Peter Collier said big schools had advantages because they could offer a broader range of programs.

Shadow education minister Sue Ellery said the increase showed the State Government was not building enough primary schools and planning models should be reviewed.