New Education Minister Sabine Winton called upon to visit Margaret River to tour high school’s ‘reality’

Margaret River Senior High School’s chair and the local member have invited WA’s new education minister to visit Margaret River and see the school’s difficulties firsthand. School chair Barbara Maidment this week voiced frustration at the squeeze on students after failing to secure any more funding commitments from the WA Government in the Budget or in the lead-up to the March election. Her concerns were echoed by Parents and Citizens president Joe Forte, and privately, by teachers working at the school as well. Meanwhile, new Nationals MP Bevan Eatts, representing the local Warren-Blackwood electorate, said Minister Sabine Winton should visit to see the reality of life at the school. “To now claim the school is within capacity is simply wrong,” he said. “Anyone who visits MRSHS can see how stretched the facilities are, and the students and staff living that reality deserve better.” The school’s independent leadership said it was nearly impossible to get a response out of Labor as local educators eyed the very real possibility of stacking demountable classrooms on the school’s $6m oval. “We have nowhere else to put them,” Dr Maidment said. “Every classroom is in use every hour of every day. We have no wiggle room if anything goes wrong.” The main point of contention remained an incomplete expansion plan for the school started in 2017 which was now barely meeting the needs of 1220 students, and with many more expected to enrol in the next few years. The incomplete second half of the second stage of the build was meant to include a cafeteria and canteen, an expanded library, relocation of toilet blocks and refurbishment of staff and storage areas, an outdoor education facility, and dedicated spaces for visual and performing arts, and design, technology and enterprise. The Education Department declined to provide specifics on how growth pressures were being addressed at the school despite reports of extra transportable classrooms being brought in. “The school’s enrolments fall within its current capacity,” a department spokesperson said. “The department will continue to work with the school to ensure it can accommodate staff and students over the short and longer term.” But Dr Maidment said the only places left untouched were the oval and the town’s precious organic garden, historically under threat from the school’s growth. “Most of this stage is based on specialist teaching needs, not general student numbers,” she said. The minister said her Government was committed to delivering quality education infrastructure for all WA students and teachers. “It is my expectation that the Department of Education will continue monitoring enrolments at this school,” Ms Winton said. “As minister for education, I am committed to visiting as many schools as possible. “I always welcome opportunities to return to the classroom, engage with students, and listen to the experiences of school leaders, teachers and support staff.” Mr Forte said his greatest concern as P&C president was for future students unable to access options the department was introducing Statewide. “As population grows and offerings in the education curriculum expand, MRSHS struggles to introduce some new courses in line with some other schools, especially in the areas related to trades,” he said. “The school is still achieving great results in their current state, but a large section of students would benefit from a broader range of opportunities.” Dr Maidment said the school had spent $250,000 of its own reserves to paint and recarpet some areas.