Families will have guaranteed access to a co-educational public high school on the Northern Beaches, with Northern Beaches Secondary College (NBSC) Freshwater campus to expand following comprehensive community consultation.

By 2027, the co-educational Freshwater campus will expand from a Year 11–12 campus to a Year 7–12 campus, with the NSW Government to deliver upgraded facilities to accommodate a larger school community.

The decision follows community consultation conducted by the NSW Department of Education with the Northern Beaches community about their views on co-education and high school settings in the local area.

The NSW Government made a commitment at the last election to ensure every community had access to a co-educational school.

The Northern Beaches community consultation found strong support for co-education.

• 74 per cent of local early childhood parents and carers preferred a co-educational school setting for high school.
• 68 per cent of local primary school parents and carers preferred a co-educational school setting for high school.

The most preferred option to deliver guaranteed co-educational access was expanding NBSC Freshwater campus to years 7-12.

The community was also consulted about a proposal to offer co-education at the Mackellar Girls and Balgowlah Boys campuses of NBSC, however this option was not the community’s preference.

As the Freshwater campus transitions to offering schooling for years 7-12, features of the current school that best support senior students will be retained.

In addition to infrastructure works at the Freshwater campus, upgrades will also be undertaken at the Balgowlah Boys campus to address needs at the school.

It is proposed that Year 7 and Year 9 will enrol at Freshwater Campus in 2026, alongside years 11 and 12, with the school becoming fully comprehensive for Years 7–12 from Term 1, 2027.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Local consultation in each community has informed the way we are delivering on our election commitment to provide access to co-educational schooling for NSW families.

“Hundreds of families on the Northern Beaches will now have guaranteed access to a co-educational high school for the first time, reducing uncertainly for parents and travel time for many families.

“I want to thank the community for their engagement and the passion shown for public education on the Northern Beaches throughout the consultation.”