PARENTS anxiously awaiting news of whether they will get a high school in their area were told the "next steps" would be known in a couple of weeks.

Three months later they still have no answer and have taken matters into their own hands.

Parents from the the Seddon, Kingsville, Yarraville High Working Group (SKY High) have been campaigning for six years for a high school in their suburbs.

Despite this, an independent report commissioned last year and released in April found the SKY student population was too small to warrant a new school.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said at the time the department would "explore the provision of alternative education models in the area".

SKY members say that at a meeting with Ms Pike, education department representatives and MPs Marsha Thomson and Wade Noonan following the report's release, it was told to expect "the next steps" in the process to be known a couple of weeks later.

SKY High spokeswoman Susan Douglas said it was disappointed with the lack of contact, but that the group would push on with its own plans for a school.

"We're working on the next steps with businesses and talking to schools in the area. Part of our annual general meeting will include talking to the community to find out what they want as part of a school."

She said SKY High was researching, with or without department assistance, three key elements that would form part of the school: the best location, possible industry partners and what education model would best suit students. "We encourage any person, group, business or industry who would like to participate in creating an innovative post primary education facility in the SKY area to please contact SKY High.

"We have already established the need and are now planning for our local facility – the SKY neighbourhood will get secondary college, we now have to work on what form it will take."

State government spokesman Chris Owner said in a written statement that the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development was "bringing together interested parties to explore options for enhancing secondary education provision in Melbourne's inner west".

"The next step in this process is a workshop involving all key stakeholders through which the full range of possible options will be examined." The workshop on August 10 would "recommend possible next steps to DEECD".

SKY High will meet at 8pm tonight at the Yarraville Community Centre, room 3, Francis Street.

Details: www.skyhigh.org.au or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Link to story