The Forest High School: Relocation designs, timeline revealed

The project has been in the planning for years, with a timeline and artist's impressions of the school finally released to the public on Monday, at an on site community information session.

Teachers were the first to see the designs, with the parents and the community invited in next.

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Designs show the school will be four storeys high in some sections; have a multi-purpose sports and performance hall; six outdoor sport courts; a sports field; landscaped recreation and outdoor learning spaces; library; canteen and administration spaces.

Many mature trees on the site will be retained, with some bushland kept at the school's western side. Buildings will form a 'U' shape around central landscaped gardens.

There will be modern, flexible learning spaces for up to 1500 students. My School data shows the school had 799 students in 2020.

The school is being relocated next to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance on Allambie Road so that the new Frenchs Forest town centre can be built.

Principal Rosemary McDowall said seeing the timeline and artist's impressions on Monday was a proud moment, and that it had come following extensive consultation between her, the school's P&C, the Department of Education, and School Infrastructure.

"It's really nice to see the artist's impressions because until now we'd only seen a few drawings," she said.

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"We've been pretty much really, really happy with how the final plans are looking and a lot of our desires have been met."

Ms McDowall said teaching staff had a direct impact on what was included at the new school.

She said the school's strong music, performing arts, technology and science sectors would be well catered for in the new site. Staff also had an input in where the canteen and quad would be located.

"It's just been a really collaborative space with people from School Infrastructure listening to us," she said.

Ms McDowall has been fielding calls from current and future parents about the school's relocation, and said many were excited to now have some certainty.

"Prospective parents have asked 'what will it be like?' and 'will it be built in time for my child to get benefits?'," she said.

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Ms McDowall said the new school is being designed with consideration of all students who could attend in the future, and it will be more accessible.

School P&C president Sarah Butchart said she was excited that her daughter, who is now in Year 8 at the school, will spend her final year at the new site.

She said seeing the artist's impressions had made the relocation feel "more real" and given her and fellow P&C members much reassurance.

Ms Butchart said having such a large oval at the current location has been a luxury, but that has been balanced by extensive green space at the Allambie Road site.

Ms McDowall reassured parents and the community that money is still being spent within the existing site including in painting, new technology and furniture, the later two will be moved to the new site in 2025.

A development application, already approved by Northern Beaches Council, will allow for demolition of McLeod House buildings at the Allambie Road site to start in mid-2022.

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The final business case and State Significant Development application for the school are yet to be submitted, but early works at the site will take place in mid-2022, with main construction works to start in mid-2023.

Student learning will continue at the current school site until the new facilities are built.

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