Seaforth families have welcomed the unification of their primary school catchment with high school options, eliminating previous divisions that split friendship groups.
The alteration follows a wider restructuring of Northern Beaches high school zones to ensure all students can access co-educational public secondary schooling.
Background to the Changes
The New South Wales Department of Education initiated a review of school catchment areas following a 2023 election promise to guarantee co-educational public high school access by 2027. In the lower Northern Beaches, the only public high schools were single-sex institutions: Mackellar Girls and Balgowlah Boys.
Four proposals were considered in mid-2024, culminating in the decision to expand Freshwater Northern Beaches Secondary College to include Years 7 to 12, beginning in 2026. This expansion necessitated adjustments to catchment zones to provide co-educational choices for all high school students.
Primary School Catchment Adjustments
The high school zone alterations have had a knock-on effect on primary school catchments. The Department of Education has also modified catchment zones for Brookvale Public School, Harbord Public School, Manly Vale Public School, Manly Village Public School, Manly West Public School, and Narraweena Public School.
These changes aim to “provide improved alignment between primary and high schools, enabling more students to move from primary school to high school with their peers.” These adjustments will come into effect in 2026.
Seaforth’s Specific Situation
Previously, students from Seaforth Public School were divided between Forest High, Balgowlah Boys, and Mackellar Girls, leading to friendship group separations and logistical issues. One Seaforth parent expressed satisfaction that the catchment is now unified, allowing all students to attend the same high schools.
They noted the previous issue of students allocated to Forest High needing to use public transport or be driven, while Balgowlah Boys was within walking distance for many. From 2026, all students within the Seaforth Public School catchment will have the option of Forest High, Balgowlah Boys, or Mackellar Girls.
The parent stated that this change had been requested for many years, and they were pleased future students would have the option to attend high school with their friends, regardless of where they resided within the catchment.
Implementation and Resources
The changes will be implemented in 2026. Parents can check their updated primary and high school catchment zones via online maps, with the School Finder tool to be updated later this year.
Published Date 4-March-2025
