When asked whether the state government planned to build more schools in the Maitland local government area, a spokesperson for education minister Adrian Piccoli told Fairfax Media the government had already invested “a significant” amount of money on school upgrades in the area.

“In June, the minister opened a $20 million upgrade of Rutherford High School, including 23 new classrooms and learning areas,” he said.

“An upgrade of Bolwarra Public School was announced in the 2016/17 state budget.

“The project will include the provision of new permanent classrooms, special programs rooms, upgrades to the library and administration and additional student and staff facilities.

“The 2016-17 state budget provided an extra $1 billion to increase capacity in NSW public schools and further announcements will be made in coming months.”

The comments came a day after Labor released Department of Education data, obtained through freedom of information laws, that highlighted overcrowded schools across the state – including several in the Hunter.

The figures showed Maitland Grossman High School was operating at 103 per cent capacity.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is in the process of buying two pieces of land west of Maitland, which it says would be “well suited” to a school or early childhood learning centre.

The diocese has also applied to increase the capacity of the 18-month-old St Aloysius Primary School, at Chisholm, by 50 per cent.

A high school has been planned for the site next to St Aloysius.