Thursday, 9 September 2021

 Mr TAYLOR (Bayswater) (6003)

I wish to raise a matter with the Minister for Education. The action I seek is that the minister provide my community with an update on the latest on the massive upgrade to Bayswater Secondary College to our community.

Back at the end of 2020 I was over the moon to announce a massive $12.43 million to provide the facilities the students and team down there deserve.

Back in May of that year, I also announced the Bayswater education plan to work with this and local schools to change the course of education locally and build on our schools’ successes and we’re close to soon having that plan released, which is exciting!

At that time, I was working away in the background with the school, its council and the minister to secure this much-needed funding to modernise the school and provide for new and exciting facilities and learning spaces.

And I’ve gotta say—it is one of my proudest days in this job when I announced the funding to the school, albeit over Zoom. It’s fair to say they were pumped.

I’m so proud to be part of this Andrews Labor government to help continue to transform education locally, to back in wonderful schools like Bayswater Secondary and of course support their new wonderful principal Liz Swan, who is doing great work.

I want to also take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to the entire school community, from teachers, support staff, students, families and everyone else in between. Lockdowns have been bloody tough and I’m so proud of everything you’ve all done to keep us safe and to keep the school and education going despite the many challenges. And of course, I’m looking forward to seeing you all back in the classrooms as soon as you can be in there.

I’m really looking forward to seeing this project take shape and cannot wait to be out seeing the entire school community in person again when able to.

It’s safe to say, there’s never been a more exciting time to be at Bayswater Secondary.

Until then—I thank the minister for his consideration of my request and for the work he and his team continue to do to support our great local schools.