Thousands of public school students start 2026 in new and upgraded schools

Thousands of public school students across NSW are today returning to 12 new and upgraded schools delivered under the Minns Labor Government’s record investment in public school infrastructure - ensuring every child has access to a world-class public education.

These new and upgraded schools include 7 new halls, 6 new libraries and more than 200 new classrooms providing more than 4,500 additional spaces for students, all while making way for the removal of more than 50 demountables.

The delivery of new classrooms is being matched with more teachers in NSW public schools, with teacher vacancies at a 12-year low for the start of 2026. 

Among the new and upgraded schools welcoming students into brand new facilities today are:

• Cecil Hills High School – an upgrade delivering 50 new classrooms, including four STEM classrooms, a refurbished hall and expanded canteen.
• Concord High School – an upgrade delivering 40 new permanent classrooms across three new buildings.
• Box Hill High School – a new school fast-tracked to open in temporary facilities for Year 7 students in the fast-growing suburb ahead of the permanent school opening in 2028.
• The Forest High School – relocated and rebuilt with 73 modern classrooms, three Special Support Units and capacity for 1,500 students.
• Three new coeducational high schools – Asquith, Hornsby and Bayside high schools – supporting the election commitment for every public school student in NSW to have guaranteed access to a co-educational high school by 2027.
• Girraween Public School – a new building opening with 38 classrooms and three support classrooms, as well as an upgraded hall, as part of an ongoing major upgrade.
• Ryde Secondary College – an upgrade creating new specialised teaching spaces, extra classrooms and upgraded toilets, library and study areas.
• Wollumbin High School – an upgrade delivering redeveloped classrooms, new support classrooms, upgrades to TAS spaces and a new recording studio for music education.
• Condong Public School and Tumbulgum Public School – flood rebuild schools with new buildings completed in December.

In addition to these projects the Minns Labor Government has construction underway on more than 70 new and upgraded schools.

This stands in stark contrast to the former Liberal and National Government who failed to build schools where they were needed, while promising new schools and upgrades to communities that were never delivered.

This follows the Minns Labor Government’s plan to deliver more teachers and better schools through a record $9 billion investment in the 2025-26 Budget, giving our kids a world class education, right where they live.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“We’ve made sure that students and teachers across our state are starting the year in new classrooms, with more teachers and better facilities.

“As the son of a public school teacher, I know just how important giving every kid access to the best education possible is, no matter where they live – and thanks to more teachers and better schools, that is what we’re delivering.

“To every student starting at a new school and to the parents and families supporting them, I wish you a fantastic year ahead, I hope these new classrooms and facilities help make it an even more exciting time to start school.”

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

“I’m thrilled to be joining students and teachers as they celebrate the start of the 2026 year today, with thousands heading into brand new, upgraded and refurbished classrooms across NSW. 

“This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to ensuring every child in NSW has access to a world class public education, backed by our record $9 billion investment in a huge pipeline of new and upgraded schools. 

“Labor’s commitment to public education goes beyond bricks and mortar to ensuring every classroom has a qualified teacher, and I am proud that public schools are starting this year with vacancies at a 12-year low, a product of our work to raise wages and improve conditions for this vital profession.”