DESIGNS have been unveiled and a tender released for the long-awaited $10m upgrade of Springbank Secondary College – a school that not long ago faced the threat of closure.

The funding was first announced by the former Labor government in 2017. But it was frozen  when the Marshall government ordered a review of the school’s viability, after student numbers fell to as low as 117 in recent years. It had 171 last year. Despite the review finding Springbank should close, the school community claimed victory in its public campaign
last year after the state government decided it should stay open.
“We’re refurbishing the main original building which was constructed in 1965,” Principal Wendy House said. “They’ll basically be gutted and transformed into fantastic 21st century learning spaces.”

The courtyard will be upgraded with a covered learning area and the gym will have toilets and changerooms modernised. Ms House said enrolments would increase next year with the “largest cohort of year 8s we’ve had for many years” plus two classes of year 7s as that level  moves into secondary schools across the state. Tenders are out for demolition works due to  start after year 12 exams in November.

The refurbishment will be finished by late 2022. Separately, the school aims to upgrade its  Tower Arts Centre which is used by community groups as well as students. Landscaping at  the front of the school is under way, necessitated by the realignment of the Daws Rd- Goodwood Rd intersection. Education Minister John Mr Gardner said the statewide works  to bring year 7 into high schools was on track.