After years without even one primary school, it is looking likely that Wagga's fast-growing northern precinct will soon have two.
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The Riverina Anglican College announced on Thursday that it is shovel-ready to begin construction on its own independent primary school, connected to its high school.
Plans have been in the works since 2006 to expand TRAC's grounds to include a primary school along its north-east quadrant.
Since taking up the role three years ago, principal Paul Humble said he has seen the need for a primary school steadily increasing.
Over the years, he said, many have inquired about enrolling their children into a primary school connected to the high school, but never before has the facility been established.
"It was decided [at the end of 2006] that this would be what the college would evolve into," he said.
"It's been about finding the right time to go ahead. With all the development that's around us now, and all the development that's coming in the next few years, the board have decided that now is the right time for us."
Construction of stage one is expected to conclude by October 2020, with the school to be taking kindergarten to year 6 students the following year.
The opening will also correspond with the planned development of a public school north of the river, though Mr Humble is confident the two schools will not be in competition for student intake.
"For us it's about being able to provide a unique TRAC experience," he said.
"There's plenty of students to go around, Wagga is the second fastest growing region in NSW, after the Tweed. There are lots of young families out there.
"I think the idea that you're in one school from beginning to end has many attractive factors. There's a consistency in culture, in the quality of the education, there's a real sense of a strong community that builds over that time."
Earlier this year, the school announced its plans to begin offering the International Baccalaureate course for matriculating students.
As the only school in the region with the qualification to do so, Mr Humble is confident the status will attract families seeking a consistent education right through the years.
"One of the things we would look at doing is introducing the International Baccalaureate primary years program once the school's been established for a little bit of time, so that will then feed into the high school," Mr Humble said.
"I'd like to think two to three years after we've reached our full two streams would be an appropriate time to bring that in. The last thing you want to do it rush things."
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The plan is to keep the school small, offering only two streams in each year group, and hosting a maximum of 250 students in the primary school. Including next year's intake, the high school presently operates with 740 students.
Mr Humble expects the primary school to reach its capacity as soon as 2025.
"It's a relatively small venture, I think that's quite an obtainable venture," he said.
"I'd like to think 750 in a high school is about where we want to be. Once you get over that 750 mark schools can tend to get a little bit impersonal, and that's not what we're about."
Despite the statewide shortage of teachers, especially those willing to relocate to the regions, Mr Humble does not envision any difficulty in populating the primary school with staff.
"I've had absolutely no problems attracting new staff to the college in the last three years, and they've come from all over the state," Mr Humble said.