Public schooling in the Cannington and Maddington area

The State Government is undertaking community consultation with local parents and community members about schooling in the Cannington and Maddington area and possible changes to Cannington Community College, Sevenoaks Senior College, Cannington Community Education Support Centre, and Yule Brook College.

The Department of Education’s preferred model of secondary schooling is to, where possible, provide students with continuity of learning from Years 7 to 12 within a single school environment.

At present:

• Cannington Community College caters for students in Kindergarten to Year 10. Students then need to enrol at Sevenoaks Senior College or another school for Years 11 and 12.
• Sevenoaks Senior College caters for students in Years 11 and 12. The Big Picture Education Australia program is one of a range of programs offered at the College.
• The Cannington Community Education Support Centre caters for students in Years 7 to 12 across two sites. Students in Years 7 to 10 attend Cannington Community College and students in Years 11 and 12 attend Sevenoaks Senior College.
• Yule Brook College caters for students in Years 7 to 10. The College uses the Big Picture Education Australia program to provide individualised learning plans for students. Students then have the option to continue their learning at Sevenoaks Senior College for Years 11 and 12, either in Big Picture or other secondary courses.

There are currently 1691 students between the four schools.

The current structure of the schools has been a topic of discussion in the community. There are concerns about the requirement for students to change schools during their secondary education.

There are a number of factors to consider, including:

• the number of students enrolled;
• resourcing schools to maximise student learning; and
• continuity and consistency in learning and student support.

Local community members are invited to have their say through an online survey, where they can select one of the following options:

Option 1

• Yule Brook College extends to enrol Years 11 and 12 students in the Big Picture Education Australia program only.
• Cannington Community College becomes a Kindergarten to Year 6 primary school.
• Sevenoaks Senior College extends to Years 7 to 12.
• Cannington Community Education Support Centre offers Years 7 to 12 on the Sevenoaks Senior College site.

Option 2

• Yule Brook College extends to enrol Years 11 and 12 students in the Big Picture program only.
• Amalgamate Cannington Community College and Sevenoaks Senior College and offer Kindergarten to Year 12 across two sites.
• Cannington Community Education Support Centre offers Years 7 to 12 on one site.

Q. Is the number of students in a school important?
A. Schools of all sizes can be successful. As enrolments grow, a school increases its capacity and resource flexibility to offer wider educational opportunities and a broader range
of specialist provision for students.

The total enrolments as at Wednesday, 19 August 2020 for each school are:

School	Years	Total Enrolments
Cannington Community College	Kindergarten to Year 10	761
Sevenoaks Senior College	Years 11 and 12	493
Yule Brook College	Years 7 to 10	317
Cannington Community Education Support Centre	Years 7 to 10 on Cannington Community College site and Years 11 and 12 on Sevenoaks Senior College site	120

 

Q. What is the preferred model of primary schooling?
A. The preferred model of primary schooling in Western Australian public schools is Kindergarten to Year 6 in one school. Currently, Cannington Community College students go through to Year 10 at their school.

Q. What is the preferred model of secondary schooling?
A. The preferred model of secondary schooling is to, where possible, provide students with seamless Years 7 to 12 secondary schooling in one school. A secondary school with around 1200 students can provide the necessary breadth and depth of curriculum throughout the secondary school years.

Q. Who will be consulted as part of the community consultation process?
A. Parents/carers and community members in the Cannington and Maddington area are invited to have their views heard by providing feedback through an online survey. The survey is also available to interest groups, students and other stakeholders.

Q. How can I be involved in the consultation process?
A. The consultation process will take eight weeks. Initially, you can be involved by providing feedback through a short survey. Your responses are anonymous and will be collated with other responses for analysis. The survey is online at education.wa.edu.au and is open for three weeks from 9.00am on Wednesday 26 August 2020 and will close at 5.00pm on Tuesday 15 September 2020.If you do not have access to the internet, you are welcome to visit your local school during school hours for assistance. Please contact your local school to arrange a suitable time.The outcomes of the consultation process will help inform any decisions by the State Government about public schooling in the Cannington and Maddington area.

Q. Can I attend a forum?
A. Yes, there are three community forums being held:

• Sevenoaks Senior College and Cannington Community Education Support Centre school communities – Wednesday 26 August 2020 from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at Sevenoaks Senior College lecture theatre, 275 Sevenoaks Street, Cannington. Register at Sevenoaks.sc.parentinfo@education.wa.edu.au.
• Cannington Community College – Tuesday 1 September 2020 from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at Cannington Community College library, 147 Wharf Street, Cannington. Register at Cannington.cc@education.wa.edu.au.
• Yule Brook College – Wednesday 2 September 2020 from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at Yule Brook College performing arts theatre, 61 Dellar Road, Maddington. Register at Yulebrook.col@education.wa.edu.au.

Physical distancing measures will apply at the community forums.

Q. What is being considered in this consultation process?
A. There are a number of factors to consider throughout this process, including the size of schools, number of students enrolled, range of courses and subjects that students can study, and pastoral care programs and support services for students.

Q. Will any changes disrupt students already enrolled at the schools?
A. High quality education is the main focus in managing any change to public schooling. The Department of Education works closely with school leaders and others whenever changes are made to schools to ensure they do not impact on student learning and wellbeing.

Q. Will there be any changes to school local-intake areas?
A. This depends on any decision by the State Government following the consultation process.

Q. Is funding allocated to implement outcomes of the consultation?
A. Any decision by the State Government about changes to public schooling in the Cannington and Maddington area will need to be properly costed and appropriate funding allocated. This also applies to any building requirements.

Q. What will happen to the information gathered as part of the consultation process?
A. Outcomes of the consultation process will help inform any decisions by the State Government about public schooling in the Cannington and Maddington area.

Q. When will a decision be made?
A. The Minister for Education and Training will inform the community when a decision is made.