Students ‘fiercely opposed’ to Year 7 to 10 cohort
From 2026, Northern Beaches Secondary College (NBSC) Freshwater Campus will welcome Year 7s, in a move which has angered some students.
Currently home to only seniors in Year 11 and 12, the State Government announced the change last December, after a consultation with the Northern Beaches community about co- education (co-ed) and high school settings in the local area.
The community said its preferred option to deliver guaranteed co-ed access was expanding NBSC Freshwater campus to Years 7 to 12, with 74% of local early childhood and 68% of local primary school parents and carers favouring a co-ed setting for high school.
Year 7 and Year 9 will enrol at Freshwater Campus in 2026, alongside years 11 and 12, with the school becoming fully comprehensive from Term 1, 2027. Facilities would be upgraded to accommodate a larger school community.
However, some students launched a Change.org petition, which by 19 December had 1,754 signatures, asking the government to reconsider its decision. “This institution was purpose-built to nurture senior students during the crucial HSC years,” the petition reads. “The proposed change drastically undermines this purpose, dilutes essential resources, and risks shattering a focused learning environment essential for student success.”
The Department of Education (DoE) said the intake for seniors at Freshwater would still be larger than the Year 7 to 10 cohort. “We will also look to retain those features of the senior school that best support senior students in their learning and engagement,” the DoE said.
Any push to turn Mackellar Girls and Balgowlah Boys co-ed was stymied, and both will remain single- sex options. NBSC Balgowlah Boys will get an upgrade, something Manly MP James Griffin has been campaigning for. “Balgowlah Boys has consistently excelled as one of the State’s top performing schools, despite substandard conditions and woefully outdated facilities,” Mr Griffin said. “The (upgrades) will ensure that the students are able to thrive in a learning environment that reflects the school’s stellar academic success.”
Balgowlah Boys P&C also welcomed the news, with president Christie Goldspring saying it ‘applauded the government on its decision to listen to our school community’s wishes.’ “As one of the state’s top-performing comprehensive schools, we believe that the Bally approach helps our boys achieve their personal best.”
