High schools welcome teacher influx
ABOUT 30 primary teachers in the region will move into high schools to help cater for the change.
A Queensland Department of Education spokeswoman said about 1000 extra teachers across the state were needed to cater for the Year 7 move into high schools.
About 60% of those recruited so far are former primary school teachers.
In the Darling Downs South West region, which includes Toowoomba and Warwick, 31 primary school teachers will transfer into secondary schools.
More than 600 new classrooms have been built across the state and 1100 have been refurbished to accommodate the Year 7s.
About $5.8 million has been spent at Warwick State High School to create a new junior secondary precinct with a new three-storey teaching block, including 12 classrooms and two flexible learning areas, which have been designed to also provide more covered space.
The education department spokeswoman said empty classrooms at primary schools would not go to waste. She said schools could use them for more education programs or to loan out to community groups.
