Please turn your device to portrait.
Shenton College double-storey modular block opens with additional modular classrooms planned in Western Australia.
As Western Australia grapples with a surge in student enrolments, the state’s education system is looking to transition from traditional demountable classrooms to modern, modular solutions. This progression, highlighted by the recent opening of a state-of-the-art modular block at Shenton College, represents a broader effort to address the challenges of rapidly growing school populations with more permanent, high-quality infrastructure. (main pic: Shenton College.)
Shenton College, the largest public school in the state, is at the forefront of this initiative. With enrolments nearing 3,000 students, the college has recently opened a new $15 million double-storey modular building designed to house an additional 300 students. The new facility, constructed by Ausco Modular, features 11 general learning classrooms, a science lab, staff areas, and modern toilet facilities. The building’s design is part of Ausco’s Progress-ED™ range, which offers scalable solutions for expanding school infrastructure.
This modular building was developed with the dual goals of minimising disruption to the school and providing a rapid solution to the increasing enrollment pressures. Constructed offsite in Kwinana, Western Australia, the modules were delivered and assembled during school holidays, ensuring that the impact on students and staff was kept to a minimum. The entire process, from design to installation, took just one year, showcasing the efficiency and potential of modular construction in the education sector.
Shenton College’s principal, Michael Morgan, noted that the school’s cohort sizes have grown significantly over the past decade, with current year groups ranging from 450 to 520 students. This increase reflects a broader trend in the state, where public education is becoming an increasingly popular choice for families. Morgan highlighted the importance of this new modular building in accommodating the school’s growth and providing a conducive learning environment for students.
The opening of the Shenton College modular block is just the beginning of a broader rollout of similar projects across the state. Highgate Primary School is next in line to receive a two-storey modular building, designed to alleviate enrolment pressures until the new East Perth Primary School opens. This approach is part of the state government’s strategy to address the rising demand for school places, driven by Western Australia’s rapid population growth.
However, despite the introduction of these modern modular solutions, demountable classrooms remain part of the state’s strategy to manage enrollment increases. The WA government has allocated nearly $80 million in its latest budget to build more transportable classrooms over the next two years.
