Margaret Hendry School to be expanded four years after it opened

Margaret Hendry School in Taylor will be expanded to host 600 more students in time for the 2023 school year.

Next door, a new high school will be built to accommodate 800 students and will be ready for the 2024 school year.

Hindmarsh Construction has been selected as the lead contractor for both projects, which have been allocated a $118 million budget.

Education Minister Yvette Berry said a probity officer was hired for this project following the scathing ACT Auditor-General's report on the Campbell Primary School modernisation procurement process.

"As an abundance of caution we did actually engage a private probity officer just to make sure that we had got it right," she said.

"All our procurements have been completed in line with the government's procurement processes."

The current year 6 students at Margaret Hendry School will need to attend Amaroo or Gold Creek Schools for high school next year as the new Taylor school will not be ready in time. The new Kenny high school in east Gungahlin was set to open next year but was delayed due to rain.

Ms Berry said she was as confident regarding the timeframes for the Margaret Hendry School expansion and new Taylor high school.

Margaret Hendry School is projected to grow to more than 1200 students by 2030.

When asked if the new 800-place high school would be too small in the future, Ms Berry said priority enrolment areas would be adjusted to cope with the demand for places.

Margaret Hendry School's new learning spaces will feature general learning settings, specialist learning settings including food technology, Science Technology Engineering Art and Maths (STEAM), and small group programs.

The high school will include a library, an interactive learning centre a double gymnasium/hall, performing arts spaces and hardcourts.

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