04/11/2025
🏫📝⏳A huge thank you to those who have completed the Community Feedback. Submissions will close tomorrow, Wednesday the 5th of November, so if you were planning to, please make sure you don't miss out.
Term Four is here and so is the sun and blue sky☀️
We are open and below is an update for our community.
Community Consultation – the Future of Gairdner Primary School
During Term 4 the Southwest Education Regional Office will be consulting with the Gairdner Community on the future of Gairdner Primary School. Over the coming weeks Regional Office staff will be contacting community members and seeking their input.
If you would like to make a contribution you can also use this feedback link or scan the QR code.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-RaA4P3Ru0yDsLdutDYWJ0_S9fo95URIv102RgS5dCRUQUdPWFdLMFpJSU8wNTU0RlRBSUdSM05FWS4u
Frequently asked questions
🏫📝🎓What are the most recent enrolment numbers for Gairdner Primary School?
There are no enrolments in 2025, with no projected enrolments expected in the future. As of 2025, all school age students residing within Gairdner are already attending other schools.
🏫📝🎓Where are the nearest schools?
Gairdner is situated approximately 31 kilometres south of Jerramungup District High School which enrols students from Kindergarten to Year 10. Wellstead Primary School is situated approximately 48 kilometres southwest of Gairdner and Bremer Bay Primary 60km southeast of Gairdner Primary School.
🏫📝🎓What is the purpose of the consultation?
The Department of Education is undertaking community consultation to help inform decision-making about the future of Gairdner Primary School.
🏫📝🎓How are decisions made regarding the viability of a public school?
The Department of Education monitors population trends and demographics to ensure the State builds and operates public schools where they are most needed and provide the best education opportunities for students.
🏫📝🎓How would the needs of students from the closing school be accommodated at other schools?
Should a decision be made to close a school, consideration is given to accommodating students at their nearest appropriate school. Students and their families are assisted by staff at their relevant regional office on all aspects of their transition to their new school.
🏫📝🎓How would students from a closing school obtain transport to another school?
The Public Transport Authority of WA (School Bus Services) is responsible for transport assistance in rural areas. School Bus Services will continue to liaise with the community and, where appropriate, make changes to their services. The Department of Education will work with School Bus Services to resolve any issues. For further information visit schoolbuses.wa.gov.au.
🏫📝🎓What happens to the staff at a school when it closes?
The respective Regional Director of Education, and Director, Staffing Recruitment and Employment Services oversee the development of a redeployment plan for all permanent teaching and non-teaching staff from the closing school. A school staffing consultant will contact each staff member and work closely with them to facilitate their deployment into a role at another location.
🏫📝🎓What happens to memorabilia and significant historical records?
The school puts a proposal to the Director of Education about relocating historically significant records such as trophies, honour boards and plants (memorial rosebushes, etc). These may be forwarded to nearby schools, the local library, local government authority or local historical society or museum.
🏫📝🎓 What happens to equipment, resources and assets when a school closes?
In the first instance, nearby schools that enrol students from the closing school are given priority to receive assets. Any surplus unwanted equipment and resources may be offered to other public schools or disposed of through public tender, public auction or trade-in.
🏫📝🎓What happens to the school site when a school closes?
If the school site is deemed surplus to needs by the Department of Education, it is lodged with the Department of Finance. If, after 30 days, no expressions of interest have been received from other government agencies, the Department of Finance will dispose of the property on the open market by private sale, auction or tender. The Department of Education continues to maintain the property until the disposal process has been finalised.
🏫📝🎓What happens to P&C donated equipment?
The P&C should put a proposal for the equipment donated by it to the Director of Education. The P&C may nominate to forward donated property and memorabilia to host P&C associations, the local library, local historical society or museum, WACSSO and local government authority.
🏫📝🎓What happens to P&C monies?
Where the P&C is incorporated, disposal of funds is undertaken according to the “Voluntary Winding Up and Cancellation” guide available on the WACSSO website or the Department of Finance. Funds of an association may include funds in general P&C accounts, canteen accounts and other account held by the P&C. For P&C associations that are not incorporated and are using the approved P&C association constitution, Rule 25.1 of that constitution forbids distribution among members but directs that it shall be given or transferred to another P&C association. All debts and invoices must be cleared prior to the transfer of funds.
🏫📝🎓Where does the school go to get support in managing the closure?
The Director of Education and staff in the Regional Education Office assist the principal to manage the closure of a school.
