RESPECTED educator Andrea Long has been appointed principal of the Ouse and Westerway schools and will oversee the continuing partnership between the two schools that started last year. A long-term Derwent Valley resident, Ms Long is a past principal of Westerway Primary School.
It has been announced this week that the Ouse District School is not closing, but its enrolments have reached a critically low level. “In order to best support the learning and social development of the students, the [Ouse] school is planning for the majority of education provision in 2023 to take place at its partner school, Westerway Primary School,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“The school’s new principal, Andrea Long, is working closely with the families to finalise arrangements centred on the student’s best interests. This arrangement with Westerway Primary School builds on the successful partnership established between the schools in 2022.
“Further, we acknowledge that some families have made the decision to enrol their children full-time at either Westerway Primary School or Glenora District School for various personal reasons, such as ensuring their children weren’t all taught in the one class or bringing forward their transitions to Glenora for high school.
“The Ouse District School staff are highly valued and will continue to be supported through this change,” the statement concluded.