Thornton Public School to Get multi-Million Facelift as Part of Historic NSW Education Spend

newy.com.au – The Minns Labor Government’s 2025‑26 Budget has confirmed a major, multimillion-dollar upgrade for Thornton Public School in Maitland, complementing its historic 1919 campus with a new state‑of‑the‑art 16‑classblock, library, covered outdoor learning area, extra parking, and updated amenities, scheduled for completion in 2028—supporting rapid enrolment growth from around 758 students in 2022 to approximately 3,000 across the Thornton and Chisholm catchments in 2025.

This development forms part of a broader $2.6 billion 2025–26 school infrastructure package, and a sweeping $9 billion investment over four years, including four new schools—two in Western Sydney and two on the South Coast—with about 140 classrooms expected by Term 1 2028. Notably, the program promises 100 new co‑located public preschools by 2027, emphasised by Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos as a transformative boost for childcare access

In regions such as the Hunter, the budget also allocates upgrades or expansions at Newcastle High, Hunter River High, Irrawang High, and the full redevelopment of Gillieston Public School—including preschool facilities—alongside new schools at Huntlee and Medowie.

Local sentiment is unanimous. Thornton’s principal, Stuart Wylie, welcomed the “green light” and hailed the project’s potential to enhance educational delivery. Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison echoed that this upgrade “future‑proofs education” amid population surges .

Acting Minister Houssos, in her first major assignment following Prue Car’s leave for cancer treatment, underscored the contrast between the Minns administration’s proactive infrastructure program and the previous government’s inertia—a stance reinforced by the major uplift in per‑student funding to over $17,000 annually, an increase of more than $2,200 since 2023.

In summary, the Thornton Public School project is a central pillar of NSW’s expansive, record‑setting school‑building and upgrade agenda, aiming to serve fast‑growing communities, enhance early learning, and reverse years of deferred investment in public education.