From 2025 the school will be co-educational, not all cohorts will have all co-educational classes from 2025 as a transition time will be required in particular for the year 12 2025 cohort.

The department undertook comprehensive consultation with eastern suburbs school communities. Co-educational schools were preferred by the majority of those surveyed. There was particularly strong support from local public primary school parents, carers and students.

An increase in the student population of a co-educational school will expand the range of curricula and co-curricular options. The wider range of course options available to Years 11 and 12 will support post-school pathways and career options.

The interim name for the school will be Randwick High School. A consultation process with students, parents and staff will take place which will follow departmental guidelines to determine the final name for the new co-educational high school.

No parent will need to buy a new uniform during the transition to the new co-educational school. In line with the department’s policy, the school community will be consulted on issues such as uniform, motto and other important aspects of school identity.

The catchment will cover the current Randwick Boys and Randwick Girls High School intake area boundaries.

All substantive staff, other than the current two principals, will be guaranteed a position at the school until at least 2028. After this time, the school will be staffed according to the school staffing agreement. From 2028, all staff would be guaranteed a position either at the co-educational school or another public high school. The principals of Randwick Boys and Girls will be guaranteed commensurate positions in the public education system.

The department will appoint an experienced secondary principal to manage the transition to a co-educational high school. This will ensure transitional and establishment issues are given appropriate focus, planning and consultation to ensure success. A principal for the co-educational school will be recruited in the first semester of 2024.

Particular care will be taken in the transition to ensure that HSC students are well supported during the changes. All current Stage 6 courses at the commencement of Randwick High School will be maintained through to students’ HSC examinations in 2025.

As previously committed, an additional $42 million will be invested at the current site to make the new co-educational high school a modern fit-for-purpose facility. The investment will be designed to provide all students with the best possible learning environment.

Out-of-area enrolment will be considered in line with the Department’s current policy. Recent changes to school boundaries and factors such as siblings are taken into account for out-of-area enrolment applications.

The transition team and coordinating principal will revise all school operations currently in place for the two single-sex schools and reconcile them into one set of school operations. Relevant details will be published for students and parents in 2024 and prior to the start of the 2025 school year.

In line with the department’s enrolment policy, the newly co-educational campuses will accommodate all designated intake area students. Where capacity exists, out-of-area students may seek enrolment until the school reaches its designated cap.

There are no plans to sell any portion of the existing school sites. They will be retained for educational use.

From 2025, Georges River College will comprise of three coeducational 7-10 campuses feeding into one co-educational 11-12 campus:

• Georges River College Penshurst Girls and Georges River College Hurstville Boys will become co-educational 7-10 high schools starting in 2025.

• In 2025, Years 7 and 8 will be co-educational.

• In 2026, Years 9 and 10 will become co-educational.
  

• The Oatley senior campus will remain the same, enrolling both boys and girls for Years 11 and 12. Georges River College Peakhurst campus will also remain the same, as a co-educational 7-10 campus.

There was clear advocacy for co-education as well as extensive subject choice from parents and students. The announced model supports the data. Future parents were particularly supportive of this co-educational model with a wide subject choice.

A balance of enrolments across the co-educational schools will expand the range of curricula and co-curricular options for students at all three 7-10 campuses. For some future 7-10 students, the change will result in shorter travel times to and from school.

As stand-alone 7-12 schools, the current junior campuses would not be able to offer the breadth of subjects available at the Oatley Campus.

92 per cent of K-6 parents surveyed through the external consultation process indicated broad subject choice was important to them in secondary schooling. Feedback from parents, carers and students at all four campuses highlighted the benefits and advantages that the college model with a senior campus can bring.

The four campus communities (students, staff, parents and wider community members) will have an opportunity to have input into revised campus names during 2024.

All GRC middle campuses already share a common uniform.

As part of the transition to the new model, each of the three Year 7-10 schools will have a designated intake area. This will involve some changes to nearby school intake areas.

The newly defined enrolment intake areas will appear on School Finder or the 2025 Year 7 intake from the start of Term 1, 2024. All students enrolled in 7-10 GRC will have access to the senior 11-12 Senior campus.

There are no changes to the current staffing arrangements resulting from the revised educational offerings across the college.

Staffing will be in line with the staffing agreement and associated formula based on student enrolments in departmental colleges.

The remainder of 2023 and the 2024 school year will be a planning phase. This will include stakeholder and community communication, as well as the completion of necessary upgrades to ensure the campuses are fit for purpose. Works will be undertaken during the 2024 school year.

Out-of-area enrolment will be considered in line with the Department’s current policy. Recent changes to school boundaries and factors such as siblings are taken into account for out-of-area enrolment applications.

For 2024, there will be no changes to the schools start and finish times.

In line with the department’s enrolment policy, the newly co-educational campuses will accommodate all designated intake area students. Where capacity exists, out-of-area students may seek enrolment until the school reaches its designated cap.

The College model allows students from a larger geographical area to attend the same senior campus and, therefore, opens students up to collaborating with students from other cultural, socio-economic and religious backgrounds.

The increased student enrolment numbers in the college structure provides the capacity for cross-campus teaching and learning experiences across all key learning areas.

A wide variety of college extra-curricular opportunities, including the college band, dance troupe and sporting teams are provided through this model.

Students across all four campuses of the College will be supported by a range of programs and initiatives.

These include:

• The establishment of the College STEM academy.

• The Combined College musicals.

• Specific cross-campus equity and student well-being programs to enhance student attendance and engagement at all four campuses through revised Learning and Support Team practices.
  

There are no plans to sell any portion of the existing school sites. They will be retained for educational use.