Thursday, 15 August 2019

In reply to  Ms WOOLDRIDGE (Eastern Metropolitan) (20 June 2019)

Mr MERLINO (Monbulk—Minister for Education):

Every Victorian child deserves access to a great public school that prepares them to thrive in the 21st century. Each school is part of a bigger system that provides education and a community to Victorian children and their families.

School zones are regularly reviewed to take into account changes in population and the opening of new schools. This includes the eleven new schools opening in 2020.

The Andrews Labor Government has created a simple and clear website so, for the first time, Victorian parents are able to enter their home address and see their local school zone. The majority of school zones in Victoria have not changed; however, a number of anomalies in school zoning have been addressed through this process. Previously, some homes were excluded from a school zone and, in some cases, school boundaries overlapped.

The methodology to determine school zones has not changed. School zones are generally determined by the nearest school, by straight line distance in metropolitan areas and major regional cities, or the nearest school by shortest practical route in regional areas. Designated neighbourhood schools are generally the public school in closest proximity to the student’s permanent residential address, unless the Minister for Education or the Regional Director has restricted the zone of the school. 

Glen Waverley Secondary College’s zone is not a standard zone and was designated as a restricted zone by the Minister. This zone has been in place for a number of years and was not changed as part of the review in early 2019. All children previously residing within this zone continue to be zoned to this school.

Box Hill High School has a standard zone, which has been determined based on the approved methodology (straight line distance). The enrolment zone differs slightly from a previously published map due to increasingly sophisticated spatial mapping software which provides greater State-wide accuracy. Any student living in the areas previously zoned to Box Hill High School continue to be able to enrol at the school.

The Department’s Placement Policy, which has not changed, continues to ensure that students have access to neighbourhood schools and the freedom to choose other schools, subject to facility limitations. Within the policy, siblings continue to have a high priority for enrolment, once a school has accommodated all children within its zone.

Any school with an amended or updated zone were contacted by the Department of Education and Training to ensure they were aware of the changes and received support and information relevant to their situation ahead of the public release of the ‘find my school’ website.

Stakeholders, including the Victorian Principals Association, Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, Parents Victoria, Australian Education Union, Australian Principals Federation and the Principals’ Association of Specialist Schools Victoria were also consulted regarding the publication of all school zones.

I trust this information is of assistance.