The NSW Government is giving families in Calderwood a first look at their brand new public primary school and public preschool set to open day one, Term 1, 2028.

Artist’s impressions and plans for the new school shared with the community this week include 27 modern classrooms and specialist support classrooms, a library, a multipurpose hall, a covered outdoor learning area (COLA), administration facilities and a canteen.

The school at Calderwood will also include a new public preschool with capacity for 120 children per week, which will deliver high-quality, fee-free early education.

The new school, which was a key 2023 election commitment of the NSW Government and then Labor candidate Katelin McInerney, will service the rapidly growing Calderwood community, where thousands of young families have moved to in recent years.

The former Liberal Government and the local Liberal member Gareth Ward failed to deliver this school despite 12 years in office and the suburb growing from zero to more than 1,500 homes.

Community members are invited to attend an information drop-in session from 3pm to 6pm today at Tullimbar Public School Library.

The new school is part of a record $9 billion investment by the NSW Government for school infrastructure in the 2025-26 Budget, which includes $2.1 billion for new and upgraded schools in regional NSW.

The NSW Government is building better communities in NSW by delivering the essential infrastructure families in growing communities need, like world class local public schools and preschools.

Every new public primary school being delivered by the NSW Government will include a co-located public preschool as part of our commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality early education to more families in NSW.

This commitment sits alongside the record delivery of 100 new public preschools by 2027 in NSW communities where they are most needed – including 49 in regional areas.

The new public school and preschool for Calderwood is one of a raft of major school projects the NSW Government is delivering for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. These include:

• New public primary schools with co-located public preschools in West Dapto and Worrigee
• Upgrades to Bomaderry High School, Milton Public School, Nowra East Public School, Ulladulla Public School, Ulladulla High School, and Vincentia High School
• New public preschools at Barrack Heights, Berkeley West, Bomaderry, Greenwell Point, Hayes Park, Lake Heights, Lake Illawarra South, Sanctuary Point, and Cringila public schools.

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“It’s really exciting to see this next step forward in delivering a much needed new school for the growing Calderwood community.

“Once complete, these modern, state of the art facilities will lay down foundations for our kids to learn, grow and reach their full potential.

“The information session is an excellent opportunity for locals to learn more and play a vital role in shaping the future of this critical infrastructure project.”

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“Public schools are the heart of their local community, and the Minns Labor Government is proud to be delivering a new public primary school and preschool with families in Calderwood.

“For 12 years, the Kiama community was left behind by the Liberals who failed to deliver the desperately need school infrastructure that communities like Calderwood had been crying out for.

“The Minns Labor Government is also delivering a new public preschool at Calderwood, as part of its commitment to ensuring children in Kiama have access to a world-class public education.

“This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s record $9 billion investment in school infrastructure, led by Deputy Premier Prue Car, which will fund vital new schools like this which will benefit growing communities for years to come.”