Harristown State High School is an innovative state secondary school in the Toowoomba District, with a host of significant achievements.
Harristown's enrolment has grown significantly in the past four years, with more than 20% of the school's students originating in private or independent schools.
Facilities issues impinge on the discussions at the school regarding enrolment management, with the increased numbers of students requiring housing. While the school has had few classroom facilities developments since the 1970's (a Home Economics building and a Manual Arts Senior Workshop have been constructed), the provision of new facilities at the school was enhanced by inclusion in the Secondary Schools Renewal program, and the construction of the Creative Technology Centre, Engineering annex, and with some refurbishment in Science.
This is the third management plan for the school' the first being written in 2000.
Due to the strong image held by the school in the Toowoomba community, the Harristown State High School School Council felt that a strategy ought to be developed to monitor and manage enrolment growth with the aim of keeping the school's enrolment within reasonable limits.
In addition, the Executive Director (Schools) Toowoomba District, has requested that the school develop an enrolment management strategy, which manages enrolment within facilities capacity.
Harristown State High School recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to an appropriate educational service for students resident within this community as defined by its local catchment area.
Because of enrolment capacity and growth Harristown State High School may be unable to meet this obligation in future, unless action is taken now to manage enrolment.
This plan sets out the conditions under which students may be enrolled into Harristown State High School.
The school currently has the capacity to enrol up to 1739 students in 83 classrooms.
The school's enrolment capacity for students who live outside the local catchment is dependant upon:
The local catchment area is based on equidistance boundaries with other schools. The attached map defines the boundary area for which Harristown State High School (new window) 720k 
is the closest school by trafficable route. Should this capacity change because of changes to road networks, this will be formally notified through the registration and gazettal of an amended plan including the operative date for the new catchment area.
Programs for students with disabilities are regional programs for students whose educational support needs are additional to, or different from, other students. Students who live outside the catchment area and are verified , or likely to be verified with a disability can enrol in the school to attend the program if it is the closest program to their home and meets their individualised need.
All students who reside within the local catchment area and are eligible for enrolment in the educational program offered by the school have a right to enrolment at the school. The Principal will hold places for students who relocate to within the catchment boundary throughout the school year.
Enrolment of students from outside the local catchment area will be managed to ensure that the total current and forecast enrolments do not exceed the school's current built capacity and where applicable will ensure there is an even spread of students across year levels or class groupings.
The school's enrolment management plan does not replace other departmental policy; for example Safe, Supportive and Disciplined School Environment, nor does it override subsequent determinations regarding built school capacity.
Students who reside outside the school's local catchment boundary who apply for enrolment at the school will be put on a waiting list in order of receipt of application. Where there is spare capacity, students will be enrolled from the waiting list based on the following criteria and order of priority:
School should select which documentation is required to be produced:
Parents who wish to enrol their child/ren at Harristown State High School under the Enrolment Management Plan will need to demonstrate that the child/ren to be enrolled, reside within the catchment area. The following documentation may be required if requested by the principal:
Applications for admission into Years 7-12 will be accepted each year from the beginning of Term 3 for enrolment to commence from the beginning of Term 1 the following year.
Applications will be recorded in order of receipt.
Applications will remain current only for the year of submission.
All enrolment applications will be considered on merit in accordance with the enrolment criteria.
Parents wishing to have an unsuccessful enrolment application reviewed may seek clarification from the principal. Parents may provide a written submission seeking a review of an unsuccessful enrolment application. This submission should present evidence to substantiate a claim that the stated criteria have not been applied fairly and equitably.
The Enrolment Management Committee will review written submissions and the reply should be in writing within 14 days of submission.
The enrolment management committee consists of Principal (Chair) / P&C or School Council Representative / Representative of Executive Director (Schools) / Staff Representative.
Further appeal should be directed to the Executive Director (Schools) whose decision will be final.
Please contact the principal at Harristown State High School on - Tel: (07) 4636 8700 should you wish to discuss, or need further assistance with enrolments.
Harristown State High School (new window) 720k
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and the Arts) 2006.