Shenton College: Sue Ellery announces $15m ‘modular’ building to help cope with bumper student enrolments

Perth’s popular Shenton College — under pressure from swelling student enrolments — is set to get a new ‘modular’ building as part of a $15 million State Government funded solution to provide relief at the western suburbs public school.

The double-storey building, which will include 11 classrooms, one science lab, staff areas and toilet facilities, is due to accommodate students starting in 2024.

It’s not the first major modular building announcement by the State Government in the heat of a construction skills crunch. In June it announced a commitment to build a modular 30-bed ward at Osborne Park Hospital.

Education Minister Sue Ellery also revealed on Wednesday that the State Government had launched a business case seeking to address ongoing capacity issues at schools in the western suburbs.

Speaking at the 2700-student strong College, she said a long-term plan was needed but this modular build would provide immediate relief to growing class lists.

“We will be developing a business case looking more broadly about what the longer-term solutions are — not just for Shenton College — but more broadly across the educational needs of the western suburbs,” the Labor minister said.

She said the taskforce behind the business case would examine whether the old City Beach site — currently home to the International School of WA and held by Department of Education — could assist the broader strategy.

“It remains zoned for education purposes. It will be considered as part of how we go forward,” she said, pointing out it would be dependant on where growth occurred.

“The previous government had indicated they were going to use that site.

“When we came to government. We changed plans but delivered Bob Hawke College... on the basis that the increasing population was happening in the western suburbs closer to the city, not closer to the coast.”

Future high school site set for sale under McGowan Government plan

The fast-tracked, streamlined building process at Shenton Park was welcomed by Principal Michael Morgan who said the project would assist their ever-growing community.

He said the innovative design will accommodate an additional 300 secondary students.

“In terms of pressure, there is no doubt that the school has grown,” he said.

“We don’t turn anyone away because that’s the great thing about a proudly public school is that there’s a boundary, an intake, a catchment. We will take all the people who have a rightful lack access to the school.”

The construction will shuffle assets at the campus, with the modular build to be constructed on part of the school’s existing hard court.

New courts will then be created on a car park area and a replacement parking spot will be provided.

Ms Ellery said the opening of Bob Hawke College had taken enrolment pressure off Churchlands Senior High School but future student planning in the western suburbs was an ongoing issue.

“The State Government is looking at long-term solutions to address growing enrolments at local schools,” she said.

“We have invested $15 million in these new modular classrooms to address the immediate enrolment pressure at Shenton College.

“The Department of Education will also begin development of a strategy to address enrolment growth in the western suburbs, which will provide government with recommendations on solutions that will deliver for local students.”

Funding for the project will be included in the State Government’s upcoming mid-year budget review.