Sydney Metro boosts school enrollments in North Sydney

Fifteen years ago, Nick Wagener made a wise decision when planning for the future of his twin daughters, Imogen and Elly. While looking at homes in Sydney, he considered how they would commute to Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College. Their choice to buy a house was influenced by plans for the new metro line in the area. Now, with the metro operational, Elly and Imogen travel from Kellyville to North Sydney in just 42 minutes. The North Sydney area has many well-known schools, and the metro has led to an increase in students coming from further away. Principals in the area have noted the metro's impact on school enrollments. Nicole Christensen, principal at Monte Sant’ Angelo, said it has significantly reduced travel time for students, making their commute safer and more efficient. Other schools, like North Sydney Boys High, are also seeing more applications as families prefer this option over private schools nearby. Private schools such as Shore have seen higher enrollment numbers from north-western Sydney since the metro opened. Reddam House North Shore, which just opened this year, has about 60% of its students using the metro. Principal Dave Pitcairn believes the metro is influencing parents during the application process. Marist Catholic College has also experienced a boost in applicants from suburbs like West Pennant Hills and Castle Hill. Principal Anthony Boys mentioned that the convenience of the metro has been a significant factor for parents choosing their school. Overall, the Sydney Metro is proving to be a valuable asset for families and schools in North Sydney.