New high school for students in inner Sydney

Students in inner Sydney will have a new world-class high-rise school designed by an award-winning architectural firm, Education Minister Rob Stokes announced today.

The new high school, on the corner of Cleveland and Chalmers streets in Surry Hills, will provide 1200 new places for students in inner Sydney.

“Schools will need to accommodate an extra 269,000 students by 2031, 164,000 of whom will be in the public system. More than 80 per cent of this growth will be in Sydney,” Mr Stokes said.

The school will have the equivalent of 47 traditional classrooms with open and informal learning areas, practical activities areas, seminar and presentation spaces.

The yet-to-be-named school is expected to have:

  • three science labs
  • a food technology unit
  • a visual arts unit
  • a performing arts workshop
  • music practice rooms
  • a design and technology workshop
  • a gymnasium and movement studio
  • an outdoor games court
  • a central resource library with mini-libraries throughout the school

Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp has been announced as the head design consultant and architect following a design competition run by the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Planning & Environment and the City of Sydney.

“This design stood out for its vision of a future-focused learning environment while preserving the heritage of this site,” Mr Stokes said.

The comprehensive school will be for students in years 7 to 12 and is expected to open in 2020.

Cleveland Street Intensive English High School, which is currently on the site, will move to a purpose-built school on Mitchell Road in Alexandria next year.

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