HAGLEY Farm Primary School could be redeveloped into a centre of excellence in agricultural studies for senior and post-secondary education, according to a proposal by the Meander Valley Council.
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At last month's council meeting, councillors passed a motion to establish a working party of council, community members and the state government to progress discussions for a school at Hadspen as well as look at the potential impact on surrounding schools.
The motion by Alderman Bob Richardson backs an earlier council report that highlighted the need for a school at Hadspen.
The council report states the potential impact of opening a school at Hadspen, upon existing schools and in particular Hagley primary, could be ``dramatic''.
The report goes on to say that if Hadspen were to get a school, there was an opportunity to redevelop Hagley into a a place of senior and post-secondary education.
The future of the Hagley school most recently came under the spotlight following a statewide audit of school farms by the Education Department.
Concern over the future of the school led to the formation of the Friends of Hagley Farm School group, which met for the first time last night.
Mayor Craig Perkins was unable to attend the meeting last night but said the council did not want to see the school closed and the idea of developing it for senior and post-secondary education was just one option discussed.
``What the council has supported is the establishment of this working group to consider the future of both - Hagley and Hadspen - where the future of both lies,'' Cr Perkins said. ``In particular about the future of Hagley Farm School, it's about us working with the community - where they see the future of Hagley and that working group would be part of the process.
``It's really to secure the future of all the schools in the area.''
The council supported four schools - Bracknell, Meander, Mole Creek and Westbury - in its area when each came under threat due to minimal enrolments and was put on the government's hit-list of 20 in 2011.
Education Minister Nick McKim said yesterday the Hagley school was not under threat of closure.
Department deputy secretary Andrew Finch said that although it had yet to be contacted by the council, it would be happy to meet and discuss local demographics and planning for educational facilities in the area.
