Mudgee Public School is still the Mid-Westen Region’s biggest primary school, with enrolments significantly increasing in the last five years.
The numbers have come from the NSW public school February census enrolment data.
The school has increased its enrolments by 135 in the last five years, with some dramatic rises in that period.
Last year saw Mudgee Public pass six hundred students (609), which saw the addition of another class.
Then this year enrolments increased sharply to 651.
Principal Alan Kerr said this was due to a larger than normal intake of the school’s youngest students.
“We’ve had a rather large Kindergarten cohort to begin school this year, which is one of the main reasons,” he said.
“And we lost a relatively smaller number in Year 6.
“We’re running 25 mainstream classes at the moment, which is up two whole classes in this year.”
He added that he believes the numbers are reflective of the growth of the town.
“But all schools in Mudgee have done well, which is great because we all work together quite well and support each other, and I think it reflects the growth of Mudgee,” he said.
“A lot of people come to Mudgee as ‘tree-changers’, looking for a good quality of life in a nice country town and we’re fortunate to be able to support that from an educational point of view.”
Cudgegong Valley Public School is the region’s next biggest primary school with 563 enrolments, which was higher five years ago (592) but up on last year (544).
Gulgong Public School has passed three hundred (307), continuing a steady climb over five years from 220.
Kandos Public School is at 146 students and neighbours Rylstone Public School have 89. The biggest “little school” in the local region in 2017 is Ilford Public School with 33 students. Then; Hargraves (21); Lue (19); Ulan (15); Goolma (eight); and Wollar (four).
Source: Mudgee Guardian, 6 April 2017
Link: http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/4581640/enrolment-blitz-in-the-region/
