Principal Geoff McLay has big plans for a new independent school being built in Narre Warren South.
By Rebecca Fraser
THE principal of a new multimillion-dollar school set to open in Narre Warren South next year says he is keen to offer local families a distinct education experience.
In an Australian first, Independent Colleges Australia (ICA) will officially open its Casey college at the start of 2007, and hopes to attract more than 100 students in its first year.
The $32 million development on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road will be built in various stages over the next seven years.
It will eventually include a prep to Year 12 college, early learning centre, swimming pool, gymnasium, auditorium and sporting fields.
Next year, classes will open for prep to grade six students and ICA plans to hire about five local teachers.
Newly appointed principal Geoff McLay travelled from Queensland last Wednesday to inspect the 33-acre school site, which was home to the Oakwood Riding School until recently.
Mr McLay has 23 years teaching experience and was most recently acting principal of a Queensland school with some 1200 students.
He will move to Casey later this year, but said he would be travelling to Narre Warren South every two weeks to oversee the development and enrolments.
Building works start in the next three weeks with an administrative building, classrooms, early learning centre, an access road and car park to be finished by the start of term one.
ICA chief executive Tom Mould accompanied Mr McLay and both said the City of Casey was the perfect place for an independent, private secular school.
“We want to provide quality programs, buildings and staff,” Mr McLay said.
“I believe we have something special to offer and we will be able to give parents more educational choices.
“The City of Casey is such a dynamic, growing area and is in dire need of more schools. There is such booming growth and that is why it is an obvious place for an independent, secular school,” he said.
Earlier this year ICA hit back at speculation they were out to make a profit from education.
Media reports had claimed that ICA was created by, and was aligned with, Australian childcare empire ABC Learning Centres.
Profit-making schools are not permitted to operate in Victoria and Mr Mould told the News in May that ICA had absolutely no connection with the ABC group and was not out to make money from the development.
A spokesperson for Victorian Education Minister Lynne Kosky also confirmed that ICA’s application was for a not-for-profit school.
