Falling enrolments threatens school’s future
Kambora Public School in Davidson could be put into recess from 2026 due to a dramatic decline in enrolments. Its 41 students would be forced to move to other neighbouring schools.
More than 100 past, present and future parents gathered at the school on 26 May for a meeting hosted by the NSW Department of Education (DoE) as part of a community consultation on the school’s future.
The DoE’s director educational leadership, Amber Gorrell explained to parents that Kambora would not close, but go into recess.
This means the vacant school would be maintained by the DoE, for at least a couple of years while it monitors local demographics and future development plans. It would then reassess if the school needed to be reopened.
Ms Gorrell told the community that only 28 out of a possible 194 primary age students living in the intake area were enrolled in Kambora Public in 2025. Forty Year Six students had gone to high school at the end of last year – but there had only been two kindergarten enrolments for 2025.
If the DoE proceeds with a recess, the intake area may change for local schools, with Kambora being absorbed into Mimosa Public School which is one kilometre away. The DoE would work with families to meet individual needs, Ms Gorrell said.
Lily Stewart, P&C President, moved her two children to Kambora from a bigger school last year.
“Kambora is the gem of the Forest that people don’t know about,” Ms Stewart said.
“My son was relentlessly bullied at his old school. As soon as we came (to Kambora), we instantly fell in love. It’s very nurturing and it’s like a big family.”
“The (DoE) is talking about giving parents choices, but if they take away Kambora from us, that’s taking an option away.”
Davidson Liberal MP Matt Cross addressed the community at the meeting and gave his support.
“I want Kambora to stay open for the long term,” Mr Cross said.
“I’ll be advocating to the minister for education that no decision about the school’s future be made in 2025, to allow the Kambora community sufficient time to boost enrolments, especially for kindergarten in 2026.”
A spokesperson for the DoE said: “Consultations are being held with the Kambora community into the future educational provision at the school. No decision has been made on the school’s status.”
Submissions can be sent to ‘Attn Amber Gorrell:’ metronorthdeewhy@det.nsw.edu.au by 20 June.
