A major school upgrade is underway for families in Sydney’s Inner West, with new permanent classrooms and upgraded facilities being delivered at Orange Grove Public School.
The project will deliver eight new permanent classrooms, a new school hall, canteen, covered outdoor learning area and out-of-school-hours care facilities, alongside four refurbished classrooms and an upgraded library.
The NSW Government has worked with the school community on the final design of the upgrade, consulting on the location of the new classrooms, the preservation of play space for students and measures to protect the school’s heritage character.
The new classrooms will replace all temporary demountable classrooms at the school, with the completed upgrade expected to provide around 7,500 square metres of play space for students.
The project will also preserve and restore elements of the school’s historic architecture, including replacing and repairing original sandstone, restoring roofs and reinstating heritage timber windows.
Planning approval for the upgrade was granted in late June 2026, with construction works beginning on site during the July school holidays.
Work is expected to be completed in 2029, with construction being staged to minimise disruption to student learning and allow the weekly farmers’ market to continue operating on the school site.
The project includes:
- eight new permanent classrooms;
- a new school hall and canteen;
- new out-of-school-hours care facilities;
- new administration and staff facilities;
- new staff and student amenities;
- four refurbished classrooms in existing Buildings A and D, including a new lift in Building A;
- upgraded Practical Activities Areas and a new veranda in Building D;
- a new Covered Outdoor Learning Area and landscaping; and
- relocation of the library from Building C to upgraded Building B, allowing Building C to be demolished and replaced.
Over the next four years, the NSW Government will invest a record $9.2 billion in school infrastructure, supporting more than 260 new and upgraded schools and co-located early learning facilities across the state.
Alongside school infrastructure investment, more than 25,000 teachers and school support staff who were previously employed on temporary contracts have moved into permanent roles.
Since July 2023, permanent positions have been provided to 14,672 teachers and 10,363 school support staff. Teacher vacancies across NSW have fallen to their lowest level in 12 years, while the number of merged and cancelled classes has halved since 2023.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
“This upgrade will mean new permanent classrooms, better facilities and more play space for kids – while getting rid of the demountable classrooms that families have had to put up with for too long.
“We’re not just upgrading and building new schools, we’re also putting more permanent teachers back in classrooms by lifting their wages which has driven teacher vacancies to their lowest level in 12 years.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
“Our government has worked with the local community to ensure we respect the heritage and character that make Orange Grove such a special school.
“This upgrade is the result of genuine consultation. We listened to the school community, refined the plans, and now we’re delivering the modern school facilities students and staff need.”
Deputy Mayor of Inner West Council and Labor Candidate for Balmain Philippa Scott said:
“Orange Grove Public School has been part of the Inner West community for over a century, and this upgrade reflects what local families told the NSW Government was important to them.”
Orange Grove Public School Principal Kasey Henness said:
“We’re excited to see facilities that will benefit every part of school life from new classrooms and our library to improved spaces for assemblies, performances, sport and out of school hours care.
“Our school has a proud history and a strong sense of community. This project respects that history while ensuring Orange Grove Public School is ready for the future.”
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