Premier Chris Minns has opened the new-look Darcy Road Public School at Wentworthville.
He joined teachers and students at the school this morning for an official celebration of the new facilities.
The project has seen nearly every existing building removed and replaced with brand new, state-of the-art facilities – the largest upgrade the school has seen since it opened in 1955.
The original school hall will be retained, with an extension, refurbishment, and additional landscaping due for completion by late 2026.
This major upgrade increases the school’s permanent capacity from 255 to 1,000 students and will see all demountables removed from the site by the end of this year, freeing up more than 3,600 square metres, or eight basketball courts, of play space for the students.
“Students at Darcy Road Public School have been learning out of uncomfortable temporary facilities for far too long,” Minns said.
“Upgrading this 70-year-old school, adding brand new permanent classrooms and removing demountables will be a game changer for the school community.
“We want teachers and students to have access to high quality schools, and I am proud we’re delivering on that promise.”
Two new multi-storey buildings featuring 45 new permanent classrooms, new administration facilities, library, canteen and covered outdoor learning area (COLA) are now complete and open almost four months ahead of schedule.
Darcy Road Public School Principal Trudy Hopkins said it was a game-changer for students and staff.
“Our students are excited to be learning out of their brand-new classrooms today and to have more play space at the school once all demountables are removed,” she said.
“This is an exciting milestone for our entire school community, and we look forward to the final stage of the upgrade nearing completion next year.”
The opening wasn’t all about the students, however.
Labor took the opportunity to slam the previous Coalition government for its work on school upgrades.
“Demountables should only be used as a temporary measure, but under the former Liberal National government they’ve become a permanent fixture at far too many schools in western Sydney and across the state,” said Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos.
“There’s more to do, and we are working hard to undo the mess left behind by the Liberals.”
But Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the previous government had invested $2 billion in 50 new and upgraded schools prior to the 2023 election.
“The Minns Labor Government is claiming credit for projects it did not start, that were funded by the former government that believed in building for the future. You don’t earn credibility by cutting ribbons on someone else’s work. You earn it by delivering your own,” Speakman said.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.