Families in North-West Sydney will have a new public high school from the start of 2026, as the Minns Labor Government fast-tracks the delivery of the new Box Hill High School by two years.

As an urgent measure to accommodate population growth in Sydney’s North-West, the fast-tracked Box Hill High School will open in purpose-built temporary facilities while work to deliver the permanent school continues.

The stop-gap measure is part of the Minns Labor Government’s response to inaction by the former Liberal National Government, which left the Box Hill area without a single school, despite the student population surging by more than 1,000 per cent from 2018 to 2023, according to the NSW Enrolment Growth Audit released last year.

Ready for Day 1 Term 1 next year, the new high school will cater for 300 Year 7 students, expanding to include Year 8 students in 2027 before the permanent facilities open for Day 1, Term 1 2028.

Facilities will include classrooms, a library, art room, canteen and science lab, wood and metal workshops, admin spaces and amenities, playground space and shaded areas. Construction will begin later this year, with the temporary high school co-located with the public primary school.

Enrolments for Year 7, 2026 will open later this year. A community information session will be held this term to share more details about the project and the new school.

The announcement comes three months after the Minns Labor Government delivered the fast-tracked Box Hill Public School in a record 45 days. The early delivery of Box Hill High School will allow for students from Box Hill Public School to seamlessly transition to the new Box Hill High School.

When completed, the new Box Hill Public School, new Box Hill High School and the nearby new Gables primary school, will cater for 3,000 local students, with room for further expansion. The two primary schools will also be co-located with public preschools, increasing the community’s access to high-quality early education.

These schools are vital for families in Sydney’s growing North-West, after the Liberals and Nationals approved new housing developments, but failed to provide the vital infrastructure needed for growing communities.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education, with the 2024-25 Budget delivering a record $8.9 billion to address the school infrastructure backlog left by the Liberals and Nationals, including a record $3.6 billion for new and upgraded schools in Western Sydney.

Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“From the beginning of next year, families in Box Hill will have what they have been crying out for, for so long – a fast-tracked, high school delivering a local students a world-class education.

“For the first time, this growing community will have its own dedicated public primary and high school.

“It is unacceptable that the former Liberal National Government approved whole new suburbs in Sydney’s North-West but completely failed to deliver schools for the families and children that moved here.

“We have already delivered the fast-tracked Box Hill Public School in record time, and we will continue to fix the mistakes of the Liberals, by building the new schools this growing community needs and deserves

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to building the vital school infrastructure our growing communities need, so every child can access a high-quality public school in their local area.”

Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland said:

“Building Australia’s future means investing in the next generation.

“The Albanese and Minns Labor governments are delivering significant improvements across every stage of education to give young people the best start in life.

“Fast-tracking the new Box Hill High School will ensure local families have access to the high-quality school facilities they want and deserve.

“For too long, families in Box Hill have been left behind by the Liberals – this changes under Labor.

“Only a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will continue to protect and invest in education.”