Planning for a new sports school at Eagle Vale is well underway as the Minns Labor Government ticks off another election commitment to Sydney’s South West.
A new selective sports stream will commence in 2025 at Eagle Vale High School, which will run the Talented Sports Program with basketball, cricket and rugby league as the foundation sports.
“There are so many up and coming sports stars in the Campbelltown and greater Macarthur area and giving them the opportunity to develop at a local school is fantastic,” Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said.
Families in the Macarthur region for the first time will have a school on their doorstep that caters to students excelling in sports, alongside a strong academic program. Previously, they have had to make long trips out of the area to pursue their sporting ambitions at other sports high schools.
“This is a project that Labor MPs in the region, especially Anoulack Chanthivong, Nathan Hagarty and Greg Warren, have championed for years and we’re proud that as a government we can now bring it to fruition,” Premier Chris Minns said.
The Talented Sports Program, which runs in another seven NSW public high schools, has a long tradition of nurturing some of the country’s best up-and-coming athletes.
Alumni of NSW public sports high schools include Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, soccer greats Harry Kewell and Alanna Kennedy, and former Australian rugby league captain Boyd Cordner.
“The Talented Sports Program at Eagle Vale High School will see local students reap the benefits of the school’s partnerships with a wide range of sporting clubs, fostering excellence in sports like rugby league, soccer, basketball and cricket,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said.
Local and national sporting organisations, including Wests Tigers NRL club, have given in-principle support to partner with the school for the program. Formal partnership agreements are expected to follow. These organisations include:
- Wests Tigers (NRL)
- Macarthur Rams, Camden Tigers and Macarthur District Football Associations (soccer)
- Campbelltown, Wollondilly and Roar Basketball Associations
- Campbelltown/Camden District Cricket Club and Camden District Cricket Association
- Macarthur Quake FUTSAL Club
The school will continue to cater comprehensively to local students, with the program and upgrades offering increased academic and sporting opportunities through increased curriculum options.
Trials for the school’s foundation sports will be held in 2024. The program’s first cohort will begin in 2025.
