Hundreds of Western Sydney students are celebrating the first major improvements to their schools in two decades, with major upgrade works at Birrong Girls High School and Birrong Boys High School now complete.

Students at Birrong Girls High School are benefitting from the completion of stage 1 works, including a new teaching building with 13 classrooms and two visual art workshops.

The upgrades have also delivered a new multipurpose hall, a new covered outdoor learning area (COLA), a new administration area and staff areas and, improvements to the landscaped outdoor areas.

Upgrades to Birrong Boys High School, also the first in more than two decades, include a new teaching building with 11 classrooms, wood and metal workshops, three science labs, two food technology kitchens, new administration and school entry, a refurbished hall, a new canteen, new COLA, new outdoor sports court and landscaped outdoor areas.

The second stage of the upgrades is underway and will be completed by the end of May, with works being delivered on time and on budget.

These include refurbishments within Birrong Girls to create a Material Learning Unit space, while Birrong Boys will see a refurbishment to general learning areas, its Student Support Unit and its fitness centre.

Completion of these major school upgrades is due just 16 months after Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car and Member for Auburn Lynda Voltz turned the sod on these projects.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s record $.8.9 billion investment to deliver new and upgraded schools across NSW, including a record $3.6 billion for schools in Western Sydney.

NSW Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“Delivering these major improvements at Birrong Boys and Birrong Girls High School will provide a major boost for our local students, teachers and local families.

“These upgrades have been much needed for these schools, where significant improvement works had not been made in more than two decades.

“Our Labor Government is committed to delivering school upgrades for Western Sydney communities, which were badly neglected by the Liberals.

“These world-class facilities will give students at both schools the opportunities they need to meet their full potential at school.”

Federal Minister for Education and Member for Blaxland Jason Clare said:

“It is great to see these major upgrades delivered here at Birrong Boys and Birrong Girls, providing brand new facilities for our local students.

“Our local community deserves high quality schools, and it is fantastic to see the Minns Labor Government continuing to make a record investment into public schools in Western Sydney.”

Member for Auburn Lynda Voltz said:

“I am delighted that after more than 60 years in operation, these two great schools are having a much-needed, multi-million-dollar facelift.

“These upgrades represent more than just bricks and mortar, they symbolise our investment in the next generation that will give students the resources to excel.

“As a former student of Birrong Girls High School, these two schools obviously hold very special memories for me, so I am extremely proud to be part of the NSW Labor Government, who are delivering these upgraded facilities.

“While they stand just a few blocks apart, the shared benefits of this upgrade project will resonate throughout our entire community.”

Birrong Girls High School Principal Zena Dabaja said:

“These new upgrades in both schools are such an important investment in our local community and will further facilitate the high-quality teaching being delivered.

“Birrong Girls High School has a longstanding record of sustained growth and high achievement in HSC results and consistently sit at Excelling in value added growth.

“Birrong is the Dharug word for stars and these new facilities reaffirm that our students can reach for the stars and succeed in any career they are passionate about following the strong foundations they experience at Birrong Girls and Birrong Boys schools.”

Birrong Boys High School Principal Darren Stevens said:

“Our school has undergone a dramatic transformation, and our students and staff now have the privilege to be the first to use these new facilities.

“I am so proud of the school community for their resilience and flexibility throughout the construction of these upgrades.

“Achieving the best possible outcomes for our students remains our highest priority, and I look forward to seeing students take advantage of every new resource now at their disposal.”