Our community in the greater Mount Barker Council District is growing. In June 2024, the government announced a new preschool and primary school would be built at Mount Barker by 2028, and from 2025, Mount Barker Primary School and Mount Barker South Primary School will operate a single shared school zone.
The shared zone will include the areas of Mount Barker, Mount Barker Springs, Mount Barker Summit, Bugle Ranges, Wistow and Paechtown.
A map of the shared zone is available in our downloads section.
Please nominate your nearest local school on the enquiry form found in our downloads section and send it to us. Your nearest local school with capacity will contact you direct to assist with the enquiry.
The shared school zone will allow our 2 schools to balance enrolments, as we continue to experience increasing demand from families moving into the area.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR SCHOOL
A school zone is a defined geographical area surrounding a school from which the school accepts its core intake of students.
A shared zone means local families can nominate to attend either school, if we receive more applications from families living in the zone than there are places available, enrolments may be shared between the 2 schools.
The shared zone does not impact our current families, and younger siblings will continue to be able to enrol, no matter where they live.
The shared zone will be reviewed in coming years with the school and local community, as part of the planning for the new primary school, announced to open in 2028. Through this process school zoning for all 3 schools will be considered.
WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD START SCHOOL
From 2024, we are taking mid-year intakes for Reception The first year of primary school is known as reception. Children must be enrolled by the age of 6. If your child turns 5 years old:
You can use the Department for Education's Starting School Calculator.
STARTING SCHOOL PROGRAM
Preschool children are involved in a transition program which involves visits to the school and the classroom in term 4 prior to commencing school, as well as a Parent Meeting and Tour of the school.
Children who start reception at the beginning of the year will generally complete 4 terms of reception, while children who start reception through the mid-year intake will complete 6 terms of reception.
If you are considering enrolling your child to start school mid-year (ie term 3), you might be interested in the preschool mid-year the year prior, so they can do 4 terms before starting school.
For more information visit www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/enrol-school-or-preschool/school-enrolment/starting-school
