The ability of Gisborne schools to deal with a growing population is under review.
The state government and Macedon Ranges council have confirmed that investigating the schooling situation in Gisborne is on their agendas.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said she would be hosting Education Minister James Merlino when he visited the Macedon Ranges in coming months to discuss Gisborne schools.
She said she was “keenly aware of the significant number of students attending schools in Gisborne every day”.
“The demand on enrolments at these schools is a tribute to the excellent teaching and learning that takes place in all of them,” Ms Thomas said.
Macedon Ranges council said discussing schooling with the state government was important.
Council acting chief executive officer Sophie Segafredo said that as the town’s population grew, it was essential its schools kept up with demand.
“We will be talking with the Victorian government about the provision of local services and infrastructure, including school facilities, as part of the town structure plan review that’s planned for Gisborne in this current financial year,” she said.
Gisborne currently has three government schools – Gisborne and New Gisborne primary schools and Gisborne Secondary College.
Gisborne Secondary College principal Andrew Robertson said that four years ago, the school had 985 students. Next year there would be “well over 1100” students enrolled.
Mr Robertson said the school could cope with about 1200 students without requiring new buildings.
He said “very few” classes contained more than 25 students and the average year 12 class had 18 students.
Gisborne South resident of 35 years Debra Werrett has been campaigning for a new school in Gisborne.
“Gisborne is expanding rapidly, both south of the town between Willowbank and Brooking roads, and north with a large area of land opposite the New Gisborne Primary school set aside for further subdivision,” she said.
Mrs Werrett said she was concerned children’s education would suffer if class numbers had to operate above capacity.
