City of Moreland birthrates continue to rise

Moreland Birth rates went up again in this last financial year by 1.2% (from 2008). According to Robyn Mitchell at the City of Moreland,

This means birth rates have increased by 21.35% since 2001. Talking to other municipalities around Melbourne it seems this has been a bit of a trend - and if that is the case, it means the ability of surrounding municipalities to take Moreland's high school overflow is going to be severely compromised.

According to the  Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) "Suburbs in time " for Coburg, in 2006, 0-4 yr olds were almost back at the level they were in the 1980's when there were many more schools in the area. As shown below, births have continued to rise since 2006 with Coburg having highest birth rate in Moreland.





There has also been a big increase in tertiary educated residents, these in large part are the families who do not want to have to migrate out due to the lack of a state secondary school (as has been the pattern in these parts to date) because they value this community. There has also been a decrease in families who would classify themselves as religious, leading to increase in demand for state education.

Large numbers of young people in Coburg Statistical Local Area (SLA) are hard to refute now given the similarity between Moreland's ID projections and the DPCD projections.West Preston numbers can be added to the Coburg SLA numbers for the full picture.

West Preston by Census Collection Districts, drawn from Australian Bureau of Statistics CDATA.

Age Group	Males	Females	Total
0-4 years	687	647	1334
5-9 years	587	496	1083
10-14 years	505	460	965
15-19 years	499	480	979
0-19 years	2965	2083	4361

The Education Department count Newlands Primary which is actually in West Preston but not Bell Primary or Preston West. HSC argue strongly for these to be included in any analysis of the need for a high school in Coburg. Furthermore if Newlands Primary is included then the population of the suburb surrounding should also be taken in to account in demographic analysis, not just the portion attending from Moreland. Conversely, the Darebin schools mentioned above are attended by many Coburg children so should be included in school enrolment data being considered regarding the need for a high school in Coburg.

The need and demand for a quality state open entry high school for the local community which is the Coburg SLA plus West Preston is here now and will definitely be sustained into the future.

Looking for secondary school students to be interviewed by Class TV

Class TV is a television show made by the students at Thornbury High School. They are interested in making a story on our push for a school and are looking for secondary school students to talk to about:

• How far they have to travel to school
• If they go to different secondary schools than friends from primary school
• If it would be better to have a local high school

If you have any questions or if you know some students who can be interviewed by Class TV please contact us - highschool4coburg@gmail.com or Darren Saffin 0411 089 209.

September update

Dear High School for Coburg Supporters,
Thank you for your support and assistance through the last busy month. There are currently over 1,500 supporters and together we are continuing to drive the goal of an open entry state secondary school for Coburg and surrounding areas.

New numbers show need for school
The good news is that last week the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) released new population projections for Melbourne which support Moreland City Council's (MCC) own forecasts.
Both sets of numbers show most growth in the suburb of Coburg. Both are at odds with the Northern Region Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) projections which show growth mainly in the north of Moreland and much less over all.
Once more we see valid population projections supporting the need for a High School for Coburg. Where are the plans for one?
In the last week, the Government has been seen negotiating to build a school in a new housing development in Alphington. The same happened in Maribyrnong earlier this year.
Coburg demands the same planning and respect for our children. Email the Minister for Education, Bronwyn Pike and tell her what you think - bronwyn.pike@parliament.vic.gov.au

Meeting with DEECD and Christine Campbell
HSC attended the first of a series of meetings with Northern Region DEECD, Christine Campbell MP, school Principals and Moreland City Council.
Christine reiterated her call for Year 7 intake in 2011 at the Coburg Senior High School.
Everyone present also explained the level of public demand for a high school and the high numbers of families leaving or considering leaving the area (or have left already) because there is no school.
To help reinforce that case to the Department of Education:
• If you are in this situation (or know someone who is) and are willing to have your details recorded, please email us at – highschool4coburg@gmail.com
• Please fill in our online survey by the end of the September school holidays. We are getting very strong results but the more the better!

Coburg misses out on spending on secondary schools

In the Moreland Leader was mention of huge spending planned for Box Forest and Fawkner secondary schools including new subsidised uniforms. There is also a push for spending at Brunswick Secondary College to cater for more students.
This contrasts starkly with NO planning or spending on secondary education in Coburg.
Make your voice heard on this important issue. Email the Minister for Education, Bronwyn Pike and tell her we deserve better - bronwyn.pike@parliament.vic.gov.au
Also let your local member know how you feel and make sure we get a local high school:
Christine Campbell, Member for Pascoe Vale - christine.campbell@parliament.vic.gov.au
Carlo Carli, Member for Brunswick - carlo.carli@parliament.vic.gov.au
Robin Scott, Member for Preston - robin.scott@parliament.vic.gov.au

Email us: highschool4coburg@gmail.com
Call us:

Denis Matson JP: 0419 747 748

Cate Hall: 9354 3053

Morena Milani: 9025 0839

Letter from Christine Campbell to the Moreland Leader

The letter below is from Christine Campbell MP to the editor of the Moreland Leader, clarifying her position and calling for Year 7 to commence at Coburg Senior High School. You can view the original letter here.


September 8

The Editor
Moreland Leader
Fax:9481 2083

Dear Editor,

I wish to clarify for your reader, my call for Coburg Senior High School to be expanded to a 7-12 years secondary school. When CSHS opened in 2007 the initial three year plan was for 900 students in years 10-12 by 2010 - this equates to 300 students per year level. School facilities have been designed and developed accordingly. The schools website shows the latest enrolment figure as 207.

I have been advised that Department of Education guidelines require a critical mass of 200 students per year level for a new school to be considered. Analysis by Moreland City Council of population projection data supports the need for a high school but analysis of the same data by the Department of Education concludes that there is not a need. It is vital that we have the correct figures.

Currently, based on the most conservative analysis of the figures, there would be enough year 7 students seeking enrolment at a Coburg high school in 2011 to establish at least two classes, an approach consistent with the process approved by the education department for the commencement of CSHS. As with CSHS, the number of classes in subsequent years would increase. Incidentally, this would also assist VCE numbers at CSHS.

It can be concluded that with so much space already available at Coburg Senior High School and the Department's previous flexibility with their enrolment guidelines that the opportunity is there to meet the needs of the community. It would follow that Year would start in 2012 and Year 9 in 2013. The existing facilities are brand new, state of the art and designed to be expanded as enrolments require.

This is why I have written to the Minister for Education requesting that provisions be made for a Year 7 intake in January 2011 at the current CSHS site.

My constituents, particularly those in Coburg and many in Pascoe Vale are not eligible for enrolment in their closest secondary school and Pascoe Vale Girls College is under considerable pressure with a long waiting list. I will continue to bring my constituents' concerns to the Minister's attention.

Yours sincerely

Hon Christine Campbell
Member for Pascoe Vale

School zones

by Darren Saffin

It is time to clear up the issue of school zones that has been muddying the waters recently in the Moreland Leader. Carlo Carli says in his letter to the Moreland Leader that right now different schools are having their pick of students from outside their zones and drawing many local students away (of course because there is no local school). He then talks about parents losing their rights to send their children to other schools if a new Coburg High School was to be built because zones would change.

On the website of the Department of Education is a resource called The Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide. In section 4.1 are the guidelines to what schools children can attend - It in no way, shape or form denies any child the right to apply to attend any school anywhere in Melbourne.

Section 4.1.1.6.1 says:

A child resident in the neighbourhood area has a right to attend the school if that is the wish of the parents/guardians. If the parents/guardians do not wish the child to attend either the neighbourhood school or the same school being attended by a brother or sister who resides at the same address, they have the right to choose any other school in which space is available.

A new school in Coburg won’t change this fact or affect parent’s rights and will offer another choice for parents. Parents can apply to send their children to any school and the children will be able to attend any school they are accepted into.

End of story.

Online comments in the Moreland Leader

The online comments for the Moreland leader article - HAVE YOUR SAY: Brunswick MP Carlo Carli slates Coburg high school bid - have been running hot over the last two days. Interesting reading, I encourage everyone to visit and chime in.