Intake area reviews

The Department for Education Children and Young People has completed a review of the intake areas of Dunalley and Dodges Ferry Primary Schools. The outcome of this review is that Primrose Sands will become part of Dunalley Primary School’s intake area (Primrose Sands was part of Dodges Ferry Primary School’s intake area).

To access intake area maps, visit DECYP’s Find Your Local Primary School webpage.

This change will be implemented as follows:

2025: Families in Primrose Sands can enrol their child at either Dodges Ferry Primary School or Dunalley Primary School for the rest of 2025.

2026: Primrose Sands becomes part of Dunalley Primary School’s intake area:

• Dunalley Primary School becomes the local ‘in-area’ school for students living in Primrose Sands.
• Primrose Sands students already enrolled at Dodges Ferry Primary School will be able to remain there until they complete Year 6.
• Siblings of students enrolled at Dodges Ferry Primary School will still be able to enrol at the same school as their sibling.
• Primrose Sands families may be able to apply for out-of-area enrolment at Dodges Ferry Primary School. Schools can only accept applications for out-of-area enrolment if they have capacity.

This change will:

• Support a viable and sustainable school population at Dunalley Primary School.
• Reduce enrolment pressures at Dodges Ferry High School.
• Respond to projected population growth in the Sorell Local Government Area, where both schools are situated. Sorell Local Government Area is projected to be the fastest growing LGA in percentage terms from 2023 to 2053.

The following principles were used in the last Intake Area Review. These Principles were used to guide decision-making in this targeted intake area review:

Highest priority

• Schools have capacity to accommodate local enrolments.

High priority

• School viability is protected.
• Avoid splitting the community.
• Alignment with bus routes.
• Facilitate walking to school.
• Avoid travel through other school intake areas.

Moderate priority

• Zone students to closest government school.
• Align with parents’ travel direction to work.

Making Primrose Sands part of Dunalley Primary School’s intake area is in line with review principles as follows:

• The change will support Dodges Ferry Primary School’s capacity to accommodate local enrolments.
• The change will support viable and sustainable enrolments for Dunalley Primary School.
• Making the entire Primrose Sands area part of Dunalley Primary School’s intake area avoids splitting the community.

The following stakeholders were consulted:

• Principals, families and School Association Committees – Dunalley and Dodges Ferry Primary Schools
• Primrose Sands community (online survey with link shared via a postcard sent to all Primrose Sands residents on 14 October 2024).

Feedback was very positive towards the change. Principals and School Association Committees of the two schools were in favour of the change. Feedback from the online survey was also positive towards the change:

• 91 per cent (126 out of 139) of survey respondents reported being happy with the proposed change.
• Most respondents who reported living in Primrose Sands were happy with the proposed change (63 per cent).

There were some concerns raised via the online survey, please see below a list of key concerns raised and DECYP’s response to those concerns.

• Concerns around the increase in travel time and fuel costs for families where parental employment is in Sorell or Hobart.

There is an existing bus service that transports Primrose Sands students to and from Dunalley Primary School. This bus service would enable families who work in Sorell or Hobart to avoid driving in the opposite direction before and after work.

• Wanting to maintain Dunalley Primary School’s smaller school environment.

Even with a moderate increase in enrolments, Dunalley Primary School would remain a small school.

• Confusion on the need for the change, as the Government already announced its plan to upgrade Dodges Ferry Primary School.

There is a preliminary completion date of upgrades to Dodges Ferry Primary School of 2028. This intake area change will reduce enrolment pressures in the meantime. Dodges Ferry Primary School is expected to continue to increase in enrolments, even with this intake area change.

• A Steiner School is planned for Dodges Ferry, which would be likely to relieve enrolment pressure at Dodges Ferry Primary School.

A new independent school may have an impact on enrolments at Dodges Ferry Primary School. However, it is still expected that enrolments at Dodges Ferry Primary School will continue to increase. Sorell Local Government Area is projected to be the fastest growing LGA in percentage terms from 2023 to 2053.

Yes, a bus service is already operating that transport Primrose Sands students to and from Dunalley Primary School. To find out more about this bus, contact Dunalley Primary School office: https://www.dunalleyprimary.education.tas.edu.au/contact

You can find more information on school intake areas at the Find Your Local Primary School webpage and the FAQs about Local School Areas.