Architects are finalising drawings at the moment for consultation and tenders to build the new school will go out to builders later this year.

Some questions and answers about this new and exciting redevelopment of Sunshine College.


What are the future plans for how Sunshine College will operate?

Into the future Sunshine College will be a two site school with a new school on Lachlan Road, West Sunshine and new buildings at the Northumberland Road site. The two new schools will each cater for students in Years 7 to 12.
Once the new school in Lachlan Road is completed, all going well by the end of 2019, the Senior and Ardeer campuses will close and students will move to the new schools.

Why is the structure of Sunshine College changing?

One of the main drivers for change is the need to provide the students and community with the best possible modern facilities. The current buildings of Sunshine College were not designed for modern teaching and learning practices. Some areas of the school are in need of unrealistic maintenance and upgrading, therefore building “new” is financially the best option.
Sunshine College will operate as two Years 7-12 schools, allowing for students to change from one to the other depending on the career aspirations they have. Both sites will run very similar Years 7-9 courses and programs. At Years 10-12, students will be able to choose a career stream leading to University or Technology / Traineeships & Apprenticeships, similar to the way the schooling system works in Finland where students move off from secondary school to University or the Poly technics. Students in the senior years will be able to change courses unhindered should they change their mind on their career pathway. Both sites in Lachlan Rd and Northumberland Rd will have high spec STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) buildings, wellequipped sport facilities with gymnasiums and performing arts spaces.

What does this all mean to our current families?

At the end of this year, West campus students and teachers will start to relocate to our Ardeer campus at the corner of Glengala Road and Allison Street Ardeer for the next two years. Next year, some old rooms will be demolished at the North campus to allow for the construction of new, improved buildings. The senior campus will continue to operate unchanged as a Year 11 & 12 campus until 2020.

What does this mean for our “new” Year 7 students in 2018 & 2019?

In 2018 & 2019 our “new” Year 7 students from West Sunshine and Ardeer communities will attend the Ardeer campus. There is no change for our Year 7 students attending our North campus.

What is being done about transport to the Ardeer campus for the West Sunshine Community in 2018 & 2019?

The college is currently negotiating a bus schedule to support students getting to the Ardeer campus. The route is likely to include Wright St, Fairbairn Rd and Glengala Rd pick up points and the cost will be subsidised by the school.

What is being done about transport to the West campus for the Ardeer, Derrimut, Deer Park and Cairnlea Communities in 2020 and beyond?

The school already operates a very successful bus service for the Derrimut, Deer Park and Cairnlea communities. This will continue to run when the new school in Lachlan road is operational and Ardeer students will have access to this ongoing service.

What about the programs Sunshine College runs, will they change in the future?

• Our successful maths program, which won two Victorian Educational Excellence Awards, will continue to run.
• Our successful literacy program SunLit, which was nominated for Herald Sun Awards, will continue to run.
• Our successful VCE, VET and VCAL programs will continue to run.
• Our Deaf Facility will continue to run and support students who are hearing impaired.
• Our successful Pastoral Care and Careers programs, highlighted in parliament, will continue to run.

Sunshine College will continue to break new ground and provide the community with a variety of career pathways for its students. The facilities will change for the better. Our vision to create futures for our students will always drive the way we teach. The expectations we have of one another, in working together to get the best possible outcomes for our students will be at the forefront of our purpose.