Ironside State School officially opens new classroom block

Education Minister Grace Grace today officially opened the new $6.7 million classroom block at Ironside State School. 

“The new three-level building is now home to more than 240 Year 5 and Year 6 students and it also houses the after school care service on the ground level,” Ms Grace said. 

“The building includes a large atrium sky light which brightens the upper levels with natural light and features a spacious central hallway leading to the 10 classrooms.” 

The Minister said while the new block included modern flexible learning spaces it was linked to the historic school building, built in 1870. 

“This school is one of the state’s oldest and this building not only has a feeling of grandeur but retains links with the original historic school building through the use of exposed brickwork. It’s a superb and fitting addition to an already beautiful state school. 

“The new block has been in use since the beginning of the 2017 school year and has replaced a two-storey timber and brick classroom building,” Ms Grace said. 

“The State Government’s investment follows significant growth of more than 15 per cent over the past six years, with student numbers increasing to approximately 1150 this year.

“In 2018-19 we are delivering an overall infrastructure investment program across the state valued at more than $923 million,” she said.

“This investment is also helping to drive the Queensland economy and is supporting an estimated 2676 full-time jobs through the delivery of important infrastructure projects right across the state.

“This project supported up to 18 full-time jobs,” Ms Grace said.

Ironside State School Principal, Damian Johnson, said the new building had been welcomed by the entire school community as it enabled the school to cater for the continued growth. 

“Ours is a growing school and now the Year 5 and Year 6 students are accommodated in five classes each over two levels in the new building,” Mr Johnson said. 

“The ground floor provides a large under-croft for covered play space, which is also a very thoughtful and useful feature. 

“We are extremely thankful that the State Government was able to invest in this significant new development for our school.” 

Media contact: Scott Chandler 0439 578472