Names have been revealed for the new schools at Aldinga, Angle Vale and Whyalla.

The selected names are:

·       Aldinga Payinthi College as the name for the new B-12 school at Aldinga

·       Riverbanks College B-12 as the name for the new B-12 school in Angle Vale; and

·       Whyalla Secondary College as the name for the new school in Whyalla.

A total of 1554 responses were received across the three communities since surveys regarding the new names were launched in September.

Pronounced Bay-in-di, the Aboriginal name for the new Aldinga B-12 school echoes the meaning ‘to seek, look for, examine, be thinking’. 

It was provided by the Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi at the University of Adelaide.

Work is now underway to shape the schools’ brand identity, such as logo, motto and uniforms.

Consultation will soon begin on a name for the new high school set to open in Goolwa in 2022.

Education Minister John Gardner says it is an exciting time for these communities.

“The overwhelming amount of feedback received from the local school communities is a sign that they are eager to be connected with these new schools,” he says.

“It is fantastic that we can bring the community along on this journey and create a greater sense of ownership between the schools and their communities when they open from Term 1, 2022.

“Significant progress is already being made on construction of these three schools, which form a major part of the Marshall Government’s $1.3 billion education build, delivering thousands of jobs across the state.

“I am confident that these names will bring with them a sense of pride and identity that defines these schools for generations to come.

“These schools can now consider how the names will influence their visual branding and uniform as the next significant step in building their individual identities.”

Aldinga Payinthi College and Riverbanks College B-12 will open with preschool to Year 8 students in 2022.

The new schools will open to students from Reception to Year 2 and Year 7 and 8 on day one, as well as a smaller number of students in Years 3 to 6.

It is anticipated around 600 students will attend each school on day one, with the expectation that they will grow to 1675 students each by 2026.

The Department for Education will establish a Capacity Management Plan for both schools to ensure that applications are treated in a fair and consistent way. These plans will be released in the coming months.

Eligible families will be able to register their interest in enrolling for Term 1, 2022 in the first half of next year, with enrolment offers made in August 2021.

To find out more and to see the zones for the new schools, visit the Department for Education website.