Making Winchelsea School Zones Clearer And Fairer

  • Minister for Education

The Andrews Labor Government has listened to community feedback from Winchelsea families and is taking action to make the area’s school zones clearer and fairer.

Minister for Education James Merlino today announced the school zones will be changed to include the township of Winchelsea in Grovedale College’s school zone, ensuring families can access a great local school closest to where they live.

The zone will change for the 2021 school year, with the area considered a shared zone from the remainder of 2020 – giving students the ability to attend Grovedale College or the school they are currently zoned to, Bannockburn P-12 College.

Winchelsea families can also choose to enrol their children at other government schools in the area, subject to the capacity of those schools to accommodate them.

As part of the zone change, Minister Merlino also announced eligible students from Winchelsea will continue to be able to access free bus travel to Grovedale College.

Every mainstream school in Victoria has a zone and every household has a designated neighbourhood school, giving residents the right to enrol at this school. Students currently enrolled in a government school will not lose their place as a result of this change.

School zone maps are now easily accessible and available in one place, giving schools and parents access to an official source of information on government school zones.

Findmyschool.vic.gov.au takes the guess work out of identifying which government school is closest, giving parents the clarity they need when deciding which school to enrol their child in.

The Labor Government is building the Education State so that every student can access a great local school and get a great education.

As noted by Minister for Education James Merlino

“We’ve listened to the community to give Winchelsea families the clarity they need when deciding which school to enrol their child in.”

As noted by Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney

“Whether it’s achieving excellence, building a world-class education system or creating opportunities for every Victorian, we’re making sure that every student can make the most of school and get the best start in life.”

/Public Release. View in full here.