A projected increase in enrolments at Denison College's two campuses over the next few years has reignited the debate as to whether Bathurst will need a third public high school in the near future.
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According to the NSW Department of Education's enrolment statistics, Denison College has an enrolment of 1952 students for 2019.
The figure includes 1149 students at Bathurst High Campus and 803 at Kelso High.
A spokesperson from the NSW Department of Education said the body is "anticipating future enrolment growth in Bathurst."
"By 2025, the number of high school students enrolling into government secondary schools in the area is projected to increase by approximately 200 students," the spokesperson said.
"However, it's anticipated a portion of this increase will be out of area enrolments."
Bathurst High and Kelso High have both experienced a significant rise in enrolments over the past five years.
The same statistics show Bathurst High's enrolment experienced a 19 per cent increase between 2015 and 2019 and although Kelso High only grew by one per cent in the same time period, the school experienced a six per cent rise on 2018's figure.
Both schools also saw a sizable number of Year 7 students commence their secondary education this year, with 206 at Bathurst High and 157 at Kelso High.
Despite these numbers, the spokesperson said a third high school is not currently on the cards for the Bathurst region.
"The number of secondary students living in the Bathurst region is expected to remain stable or even decline slightly to 2036," the spokesperson said.
"Student projections are based on official NSW population projections from the Department of Planning and Environment."
However, Bathurst Regional Council's recent adoption of a master plan for future development at Laffing Waters has allocated room for a future school.
"Council is committed to reserving a site for a future school, although the Department of Education has advised that future schools are not required," council's director environmental planning and building services Neil Southorn said.
"A three-hectare site has been identified and reserved."
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
