Rutherford Technology High School is poised to become a national leader in high-tech education with almost $20million being spent on state-of-the-art classrooms, administration buildings and outdoor areas.
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A massive construction program started at the Avery Street school in October last year and was expected to be completed early next year.
Unprecedented growth in Maitland’s western suburbs and a school population of 1050 students were the catalysts for the state government’s commitment to the multi-million project.
Principal Michael Whiting said the construction works means students now and in the future would have top-quality resources, particularly in practical areas like science, industrial arts, performing arts and special education.
Construction started late last year with a canopy built over three courtyard areas at the rear of the school hall.
Mr Whiting said the canopy was unusual in that it had no structural beams going across it and it was believed to be a first in NSW.
“This now means we have three all-weather courts and an area to use for sporting activities and assemblies,” Mr Whiting said.
The school’s car park was increased from 29 to 112 spaces in phase one of the project.
Phase one also included an upgrade of the school’s administration block, a new COLA (covered outdoor learning area) and landscaping at the front of the school.
Mr Whiting said phase two would include the upgrade of six science laboratories to state-of-the-art labs, the installation of a commercial kitchen and bistro and a refurbished home economic area. There will also be a new performing arts area and a two-storey block comprising 19 general classrooms plus five special education classrooms is being built on the western end of the school.
The quadrangle area and main playground are also being upgraded and a new canopy is being built over the industrial arts area to form an outdoor construction area.
The Maitland Tutorial Centre has been moved from South Street Telarah to the school on the Weblands Street side.
“The works have come about because this is such a huge growth area and the projected growth figures are very high,” Mr Whiting said.
“Figures show this area will continue to grow and we are getting the school ready for that anticipated growth plus providing the extra resources we need to run the VET [vocational education and training] courses we want to run,” he said.
“The resources we have will be great and this is a big win for the community, for Maitland and for the kids who will be coming to this school in the future,” Mr Whiting said.
