The Minns Labor Government will invest a record $9.2 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years as part of the 2026-27 NSW Budget, delivering new and upgraded schools to ensure every family has access to a world-class public education, close to home.
This historic investment includes $4.1 billion for new and upgraded schools across Western Sydney.
Western Sydney is home to some of the fastest growing communities in NSW, with thousands of young families moving into suburbs neglected by the Liberals and Nationals for more than a decade.
The Minns Labor Government is building brand new public schools and undertaking major school upgrades to deliver a pipeline of classrooms for Western Sydney as part of this Budget, including:
- Austral – new high school
- Austral South – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Bella Vista – new high school
- Bella Vista West – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Cherrybrook Public School – major upgrade
- East Cobbitty – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Marsden Park South – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Menangle Park – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Nangamay Public School – major upgrade
- Oran Park North – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Orchard Hills – new primary school (relocation) with co-located public early learning
- Spring Farm Public School – major upgrade
A new high school for Rydalmere and new primary school for Rhodes will also be fully funded after the Liberals announced unfunded schools for these communities, without proper planning.
In North West Sydney, the new and upgraded schools will add new permanent capacity for more than 17,000 public school students, with 800 modern classrooms replacing more than 160 ageing demountables.
In South West Sydney, the new and upgraded schools will add new permanent capacity for more than 13,500 public school students, with 650 modern classrooms replacing more than 100 ageing demountables.
The 2026-27 NSW Budget makes further progress in regional NSW, with a $2.3 billion investment over four years delivering new and upgraded schools, including:
- Calderwood Public School – co-located public early learning
- Cessnock East Public School – co-located public early learning
- Chisholm – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Cooranbong -new primary school (relocation) with co-located public early learning
- Deniliquin High School – rebuild
- Eden Public School – co-located public early learning
- Flinders – new high school
- Googong West – new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Huntlee - new primary school with co-located public early learning
- Inverell Public School – co-located public early learning
- Maitland Grossmann – new high school (relocation)
- Muswellbrook Public School – co-located public early learning
- West Dapto – new primary school co-located public early learning
These schools will be built in regional communities neglected by the Nationals and Liberals for more than a decade. Essential infrastructure in these regions was not planned for or built to keep pace with population growth.
This investment builds on the Minns Labor Government’s work to invest in education infrastructure with 260 new and upgraded schools and public preschools already being delivered across NSW.
In addition to ensuring students have modern schools, the Minns Labor Government is working to improve educational outcomes, including transitioning more than 25,000 teachers and school support staff from uncertain temporary contracts to permanent employment.
The transition of teachers and support staff follows the Minns Labor Government’s move to abolish the Liberals and Nationals wages cap, making NSW teachers amongst the best paid in the country.
This reform is attracting more teachers into the classroom and is helping retain those already there, leading to teacher vacancies falling to a 12-year low and the number of merged and cancelled classes in NSW halving since the election of the Minns Labor Government.
More teachers in front of NSW classrooms means academic outcomes are improving with progress being made across multiple year levels in writing, reading, grammar, and numeracy.
The Minns Labor Government is using the 2026-27 NSW Budget to continue our work to rebuild public education, ensuring every family has access to a world-class public education with a qualified teacher in every classroom.
We know there is more to do, but the steady academic progress and strengthened workforce in NSW shows the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education and boost student educational outcomes after a decade of neglect under the Liberals and Nationals is working.
Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:
“We came to government promising to rebuild public education in NSW, and we’ve spent three years delivering on that promise.
“Now, having worked hard to address the failures of the Liberals and Nationals to build schools in our fastest-growing suburbs, this Budget shifts our focus from catching up to planning ahead.
“Families want world-class public schools close to where they live, with less time spent commuting and a restored confidence in an improved public education system.
“The Minns Labor Government’s Budget delivers for these communities, with new schools being built and existing ones upgraded right where families need them.”
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:
“This Budget builds much more than bricks and mortar. It builds a brighter future for working families across NSW.
“This record $9.2 billion investment unlocks the life-changing benefits of a quality education. Benefits that should be within reach, regardless of postcode.
“That is why in communities where the former Coalition government delivered demountables and empty promises, Labor is investing real money into real projects and building a better NSW.”
