Proposed Baptist college denied

A school which applied to take over a vacant school site in Dalyellup at the beginning of 2019 has been rejected by Education Minister Sue Ellery.

Bunbury Baptist College intended to open its doors on the grounds of the former Ocean Forest Lutheran College on Norton Promenade, accepting students from Kindergarten to Year 7 in the first year.

The secondary school was anticipated to grow to include Year 12 by 2024.

Ms Ellery rejected the application based on advice from an independent panel, which believed the opening of the school would impact other schools in the area.

“I accepted the advice of the Non-Government Schools Planning Advisory Panel... not to make an advance determination for the establishment of a proposed new non-government school, Bunbury Baptist College,” Ms Ellery said.

“The proposal made by Bunbury Baptist College Inc was assessed as likely to have an adverse effect on existing schools in the catchment area.

“It is likely that most of the proposed school’s students would come from existing non-government schools and public schools rather than through local population growth.”

Ms Ellery said the college was entitled to apply for the decision to be reviewed.

Baptist Education Resources announced it had purchased the existing campus in April, with the backing of the Capel Shire Council.