history and background

St Paul began in 1973 with 23 students and two teachers. It has, over the years, developed to its optimum enrolment of 330 students with 35 staff including full-time classroom and specialist teachers and various ancillary support staff.

The school is physically attached to the St Paul church/hall complex, which was built in 1967. The school community has use of these facilities. A Play Group also meets weekly in this area.

In 1973 the school began in temporary accommodation - an old asbestos building and the upper room of the church complex. Later in 1974, Stage 1 of the school building was completed. This catered for 120 students and included four classrooms, a withdrawal room, an art room, administration area and a small resource section to serve as the library.

Demand for places rose rapidly to the extent that all of the new building was full. Temporary accommodation was again used. Further planning and action led to the completion of Stage 2, the Junior Primary section in 1978. A new library, dedicated in 1983, two new classroom areas, an art room and renovations to the administration area, dedicated in February 1992 resulted in a fine education complex.

At the end of 1998, renovations to the Upper Room of the church were completed. This multi-purpose area is now used as a music suite and meeting area.

In 2003 the opportunity arose for St Paul to purchase additional land adjacent the campus. The School Council financed the purchase of the land, demolished the existing building and created additional play space and gardens for the children.

2005 saw the completion of, perhaps, the school's largest ever building project. Substantial building development was required to accommodate a steady growth in student population. Seven new classrooms, a sports storage area, a refurbished ICT Suite, computer pods and a teacher work area, together with an overhaul of associated outdoor play areas, combined to form this major building project.

The most recent stage of building was completed early in 2006 and included the relocation of the administration area, together with a new Canteen, Uniform Shop, staffroom, artroom and refurbished classrooms.

St Paul Lutheran School now boasts exemplary modern facilities and resources that enable teachers to provide outstanding curricular and extra-curricular programmes. Its current enrolment stands at 260 and, with steady growth, a ceiling of 320 students is expected to take place between now and 2010.