By Callan Date
A MAJOR shake up to education in the City of Casey has been approved with Eumemmerring College’s control of four campuses set to end next year.
More than 2700 students will be affected by the move, which was unanimously voted in by the school’s council last week.
Changes have been mooted for the last 18 months with the school’s ever increasing size considered a major obstacle in moving forward.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike only needs to rubber stamp the education revolution which will involve:
* The Hallam campus becoming a stand alone college for year 10 to 12 students.
* The Gleneagles campus becoming a stand alone college for year seven to 12 students.
* The Fountain Gate campus becoming a stand alone college for year seven to 12 students.
* The Endeavour Hills campus becoming a stand alone college for year seven to 10 students, with a longer term focus on creating a prep to year nine school.
Each college will be governed by a separate school council, have a different name and uniform.
Eumemmerring College principal David Barclay said the move signalled exciting times for the wider school community.
He said extensive research about the existing set up revealed education results “could have been better.”
“Four campuses makes it very difficult to have the results that you would like to,” Mr Barclay said.
“This is in no way a criticism of any staff, students or parents involved in the school. Basically it is an endeavour to make sure what we provide in the future is the best for the students,” he said.
He said the four separate schools would still work amicably together under an agreement of understanding.
“The greater you get into size, the harder the logistical and administration issues become.
“Whilst we are going to become distinct entities, we are not going to lose the cooperation and understanding of each other.
“Council members have spent many hours deliberating over what are the best possible future options for our students and have reached this decision with a great deal of care and consideration.”
Mr Barclay said the break up of Eumemmerring College needed to be embraced by all involved with the school.
“(It’s) a new and exciting era for the students of our community.”
