A section of Redfern has been removed from the catchment of Inner Sydney High School, forcing some families to enrol their children in schools farther away, despite their proximity to the sought-after public high school. Parents say the decision splits the community in two and raises concerns about access to quality education in the inner city.
The school’s intake zone had been quietly reduced, cutting parts of Redfern, Double Bay, Woollahra, and Centennial Park from Inner Sydney High’s catchment. The changes mean students in these areas will now be redirected to Randwick High School, Rose Bay Secondary College, or Alexandria Park Community School. The adjustment follows increasing demand for Inner Sydney High, which has reached near full capacity with 1,000 students enrolled out of a maximum 1,080.
Redfern Parents Left Frustrated
Parents in Redfern say the boundary changes are unfair, particularly because some students are now zoned away from their closest school. One parent, who has a daughter affected by the decision, said the shift in boundaries makes little sense, as her child could walk to Inner Sydney High in under 10 minutes but will now have to commute farther to a different school.
Another local parent said Inner Sydney High has become a key part of the Redfern community, and removing access for some families will divide the neighbourhood. Some parents deliberately bought homes within the original catchment to ensure their children could attend, only to find themselves suddenly rezoned.
The situation is especially frustrating for families in western Redfern, where a large number of Indigenous and social housing communities are located. The revised catchment has removed about a quarter of Redfern, sparking concerns that students from lower-income backgrounds will have fewer options for quality public education.
Why the Boundaries Have Changed
The NSW Department of Education has defended the decision, saying the changes will help keep primary school students together as they transition into high school. Under the previous zoning, students from some local primary schools were being split across multiple high schools, which the department wanted to address.
The department also pointed out that capacity issues at Inner Sydney High were a factor in the decision. When the school opened in 2020, it was intended to help meet demand for public secondary education in the eastern suburbs and inner city. However, high enrolment numbers have led to a tightening of catchment boundaries.
With the newly amalgamated Randwick High School now offering a co-ed public education option, the department argues that students who were previously zoned for Inner Sydney High will still have access to high-quality alternatives.
Randwick High and the Broader Trend of School Changes
Randwick High School, formed by merging Randwick Girls High and Randwick Boys High, is part of a statewide shift towards co-education in public schools. The new co-ed school has already seen an increase in enrolments, with 300 new Year 7 students in 2025—a 30 per cent jump from previous years.
This reflects a broader trend in Sydney’s education system, where schools are merging and changing formats to meet community demand. Other areas, including Crows Nest and Kellyville, have also faced school boundary adjustments, sparking similar concerns from parents about longer commutes and changes in school access.
What’s Next for Affected Families?
For families impacted by the Inner Sydney High catchment changes, options remain limited. Some parents have started petitions and community discussions to urge the NSW Education Department to reconsider the boundary shift. Others are now weighing up the possibility of enrolling their children in private schools or moving to a suburb where their preferred public school is still accessible.
With Sydney’s public school enrolments growing and capacity pressures increasing, it remains to be seen whether the department will reassess the catchment map in future years. For now, Redfern parents say they will continue to push for fairer access to quality public education in their community.
Published 7-February-2025
