We are calling on the Carroll Labor Government to make an election commit at this year's Victorian State Election to redevelop Northcote Primary School's ageing Grade 5/6 building and provide local students with learning environments that match the quality of education being delivered.

Northcote Primary School has a proud reputation for delivering outstanding educational outcomes.

Our students thrive because of the dedication of our teachers, staff and school community. Recent NAPLAN results demonstrate strong student growth and achievement, reflecting years of sustained work to strengthen teaching and learning.

Now it's time for our facilities to support that success.

The school's ageing Grade 5/6 building no longer reflects the standards expected of a contemporary public school.

A recent Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) condition assessment identified 201 defect groups within the building, including structural concerns, roof water penetration and priority maintenance issues. While ongoing maintenance is important, repairing individual defects will not address the building's outdated layout, accessibility barriers or limited teaching capacity.

The school's split-campus model also creates unnecessary operational challenges.

More than 100 students in Grades 3 and 4 currently learn on a separate campus known as The Block. Throughout the week, students and staff regularly move between campuses to access specialist classes, the library, assemblies and other shared learning opportunities. Time spent moving between campuses reduces the time available for teaching, learning and collaboration.

Bringing all students together on the main campus would create a more connected school community, improve access to shared facilities and ensure more of the school day is spent learning together.

A redeveloped Grade 5/6 building would provide modern, flexible and accessible learning spaces that support the outstanding teaching already taking place at Northcote Primary.

Why investment is needed

• The Grade 5/6 building is ageing and no longer supports contemporary teaching and learning.
• The building's layout, small classrooms, poor acoustics and accessibility barriers limit how teachers can deliver modern learning programs and how students learn and collaborate.
• The split-campus arrangement creates unnecessary movement between sites and reduces opportunities for students to fully benefit from shared facilities and learning experiences.
• Ongoing maintenance alone will not address the building's underlying design and capacity limitations.

Northcote Primary has missed out

Since 2017, neighbouring public schools have received significant Victorian Government investment:

1. Wales Street Primary School – $21.2 million
2. Thornbury Primary School – $17.6 million
3. Northcote High School – $16.7 million
4. Thornbury High School – $14.9 million
5. Preston South Primary School – $14.6 million
6. Westgarth Primary School – $12.97 million
7. Bell Primary School – $7.1 million
8. Northcote Primary School – $3.16 million

While the funding Northcote Primary received improved the school's entrance, essential services and parts of the main building, it did not address the ageing Grade 5/6 building or the broader capacity and accessibility challenges now facing the school.

This is not about special treatment. It's about ensuring Northcote Primary students receive the same opportunity to learn in modern, safe and inclusive facilities as students at neighbouring public schools.

Our proposal

Stage 1 – election commitment

Redevelop the Grade 5/6 building to:

1. Deliver modern, flexible and accessible learning spaces.
2. Return Grades 3 and 4 to the main campus.
3. Improve accessibility, inclusion and student wellbeing.
4. Replace ageing infrastructure with contemporary learning environments designed for today's students.

Stage 2 – A future integrated kindergarten

Once Grades 3 and 4 return to the main campus, The Block could become the future site of an integrated kindergarten, helping respond to growing demand for kindergarten places in Darebin while strengthening the pathway into Northcote Primary School.

This is an investment that benefits today's students and future generations.

We are asking the Carroll Labor Government to:

1. Commitment to redevelop Northcote Primary School's Grade 5/6 building.
2. Return Grades 3 and 4 to the main campus.
3. Deliver modern, accessible learning environments that support the outstanding teaching already taking place.
4. Support future planning for an integrated kindergarten on The Block.

This investment would bring Northcote Primary into line with recent investment provided to neighbouring schools and ensure local students can continue to learn, grow and succeed in safe, inclusive and contemporary learning environments.

Public education should not depend on postcode.

It's Northcote Primary's turn for funding.

Please sign this petition and share it with your family, friends and community. Together, we can show the Victorian Government that our students deserve the same investment and opportunities as every other child in our community.