Staff and students at Darcy Road Public School in Wentworthville, Western Sydney, are returning to a transformed school on the first day of Term 4 which is nearly five times the size of the original school, following a fast-tracked completion of the major redevelopment by the NSW Government.
The project has seen nearly every existing building removed and replaced with brand new, state-of the-art facilities – the largest upgrade the school has seen since it opened in 1955. The original school hall will be retained, with an extension, refurbishment, and additional landscaping due for completion by late 2026.
The major upgrade increases the school’s permanent capacity from 255 to 1,000 students and will see all demountables removed from the site by the end of this year, freeing up more than 3,600 square metres, or eight basketball courts, of play space for the students.
“Students at Darcy Road Public School have been learning out of uncomfortable temporary facilities for far too long,” said Premier, Chris Minns.
“Upgrading this 70-year-old school, adding brand new permanent classrooms and removing demountables will be a game changer for the school community.
“We want teachers and students to have access to high quality schools, and I am proud we’re delivering on that promise.”
Two new multi-storey buildings featuring 45 new permanent classrooms, new administration facilities, library, canteen and covered outdoor learning area (COLA) are now complete and open almost four months ahead of schedule.
“Our new classrooms, library, canteen and admin facilities are a game-changer for our students and staff – who now have the space and modern tools they need to achieve their best,” said Darcy Road Public School Principal, Trudy Hopkins.
“Our students are excited to be learning out of their brand-new classrooms today and to have more play space at the school once all demountables are removed.
“This is an exciting milestone for our entire school community, and we look forward to the final stage of the upgrade nearing completion next year,” she said.
“Demountables should only be used as a temporary measure, but under the former Liberal National government they’ve become a permanent fixture at far too many schools in Western Sydney and across the state,” said Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning and Western Sydney, Courtney Houssos.
The upgrade to Darcy Road Public School is among 16 new schools and major upgrade projects being delivered across the greater Parramatta region, that will see more than 200 demountables removed and replaced with more than 300 new, permanent classrooms.
These upgrades will provide capacity for almost 7,000 additional students in the area.
The Government is also building three new public preschools in the Parramatta region, offering 280 places per week for the area’s youngest learners. The public preschools will be co-located with Melrose Park Public School, Ermington West Public School, and Oatlands Public School.
