Horizons College, a specialised school for students with learning difficulties and education challenges in Caboolture is urgently seeking a new location as its current site nears demolition and has reached maximum capacity.
The independent special assistance school in the Moreton Bay region caters to 220 students who face learning challenges or have experienced severe bullying. The school provides all necessary supplies, including stationery, textbooks, and food, with no mandatory uniform policy. Parents only pay a $30 weekly resource levy, as the school receives significant funding.
Pressing Need for New Premises
Principal Jane Robinson explained that their current facility, an old butter factory built in 1987, no longer meets their growing needs. With every classroom in use throughout the day, the school has no room for expansion.
The building’s lease expires at the end of 2026, after which the owner plans to demolish it due to persistent roof leaks during rainfall.
Community Support Sought
Horizons College is appealing to the community, local council, and state government for assistance finding a new home. The school is prepared to purchase land and construct a new building if necessary. However, their recent attempt to secure a 10-acre block near their current location could have been more successful due to constraints related to flood-prone areas. A City of Moreton Bay spokeswoman stated that the council’s planning scheme aims to limit development to areas not impacted by floodwaters.
The Department of Education clarified that it does not have jurisdiction over non-state schools’ day-to-day operations. Still, it noted that the Queensland Government is providing $137.8 million in capital assistance for non-state schools in 2024-25.
Independent Schools Australia, the governing body for Horizons College, pledged to continue working with the Federal Government to support schools like Horizons. Chief executive Graham Catt highlighted the growing demand for special assistance schools and their reliance on funding to maintain their important work in the community.
Published 30-July-2024
