Joseph Banks Secondary College Explained

Joseph Banks Secondary College
Address:40 Joseph Banks Boulevard
Location:Banksia Grove, Western Australia
Country:Australia
Coordinates:-31.699°N 115.796°W
Pushpin Map:Australia Perth
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Perth, Western Australia
Pushpin Label Position:right
Type:Independent public co-educational day school
Campus Type:Suburban
Educational Authority:WA Department of Education
Grades:712
Grades Label:Years
Principal:Eleanor Hughes
Enrolment:1,513
Enrolment As Of:2020

Joseph Banks Secondary College (abbreviated as JBSC) is an independent public co-educational high day school, located in Banksia Grove, a suburb north of Perth, Western Australia.

Overview

The new school was first announced in March 2012.[1] Construction started on the first stage of the school in June 2012. That stage cost $48.7 million, and had a capacity of 850 students.[2] This stage opened for the start of the 2015 school year to 226 Year 7 students and 192 Year 8 students.[3] [4]

The school's namesake is Joseph Banks, an English botanist who was on James Cook's first great voyage which visited the east coast of Australia. He catalogued several plants, including the genus Banksia, which is the namesake of Banksia Grove. In keeping with the theme of botany, the school's houses are named after local plants, and the logo is a representation of a Banksia flower. The houses are Ornata, Formosa, Incana and Serrata.[5]

The $22.5 million second stage of construction opened mid-2017, expanding the capacity of the school to 1,450 students.[6] [7] By 2020 though, the school had a student population of 1,513, requiring five transportable classrooms.[8]

In 2020, as part of the state's COVID-19 recovery plan, construction of a new $16.1 million building was announced. The new building is planned to include a "Space Science Education Centre". The school's foundation principal stated that "it had been a long-term goal to establish the school as a specialist science and mathematics school".[9] [10] [11] [12]

Local intake area

Joseph Banks Secondary College's local intake area covers Banksia Grove, parts of Carabooda, Carramar, Mariginiup, Neerabup, Nowergup, Pinjar and Tapping. Students living in the local intake area have a guaranteed place at the school if they apply. Students living outside the local intake area may apply and they will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.[13]

Academic results

2019 was the first year where Year 12s graduated Joseph Banks Secondary College.

YearRankMedian ATAREligible studentsStudents with ATAR% Students with ATARRef
202179.831833921.31%[14]
20209274.952035125.12%[15]
201914241.851716839.77%[16]

Student numbers

YearNumber[17] [18]
2015425
2016740
20171,089
20181,309
20191,467
20201,513

Public transport

Joseph Banks Secondary College is serviced by two bus routes, 390 and 391.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New secondary school for northern suburbs . Media Statements . 4 January 2021 . 29 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129052007/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2012/03/New-secondary-school-for-northern-suburbs.aspx . dead .
  2. Web site: New northern suburbs school to get under way . Media Statements . 4 January 2021 . 23 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220123000042/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2012/06/New-northern-suburbs-school-to-get-under-way.aspx . dead .
  3. Web site: New secondary school for Perth's growing north . Media Statements . 4 January 2021 . 2 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160402095709/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2015/02/New-secondary-school-for-Perths-growing-north.aspx . dead .
  4. Web site: A Message From The Principal . Joseph Banks Secondary College . 4 January 2021.
  5. Web site: House System . Joseph Banks Secondary College . 4 January 2021.
  6. Web site: College Overview . Joseph Banks Secondary College . 4 January 2021.
  7. Web site: Our State Budget 2015-16 - Investing in infrastructure to grow the State: Building new schools for record growth . Media Statements . 4 January 2021 . 13 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180313123043/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2015/05/Our-State-Budget-2015-16---Investing-in-infrastructure-to-grow-the-State-Building-new-schools-for-record-growth.aspx . dead .
  8. Web site: Brookes . Sarah . WA public schools bursting at the seams, with more transportable classrooms in use . Perth Now . 4 January 2021.
  9. Web site: Space centre among $16.1 million upgrades at Joseph Banks Secondary College . Media Statements . 4 January 2021 .
  10. Web site: Ageing WA public schools set for $500 million facelift as part of coronavirus recovery plan . ABC News . 4 January 2021.
  11. Web site: Space centre among $16.1 million upgrades at Joseph Banks Secondary College . Mirage News . 4 January 2021.
  12. Web site: Jarvis . Lucy . School space centre plans at Joseph Banks Secondary College blast off . Perth Now . 4 January 2021.
  13. Web site: Joseph Banks Secondary College – Local Intake Area . Schools Online . 4 January 2021.
  14. News: How Your School Rates liftout . The West Australian . 11 January 2022.
  15. Web site: WA School Ranking - 2020 . Better Education . 12 January 2021.
  16. Web site: WA School Ranking - 2019 . Better Education . 4 January 2021.
  17. Web site: Joseph Banks Secondary College Annual Report . Trove . Joseph Banks Secondary College . 4 January 2021.
  18. Web site: Joseph Banks Secondary College – Student Numbers . Schools Online . Department of Education . 4 January 2021.