Tomorrow, more than 200 schools across NSW will close due to the state’s bushfire emergency.
NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, said more schools would likely be added to the list of those closed throughout the afternoon.
The closures also include at least 46 independent schools – which collectively enrol more than 10,000 students – in the Greater Sydney, Hunter, Central Coast, North Coast and Mid-North Coast regions.
The Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW) said more schools were expected to confirm their closure in the next 24 hours.
“The safety and welfare of students and staff are every school’s absolute highest priority,” AISNSW chief executive Dr Geoff Newcombe AM said.
“We have been advised that there is a strong likelihood that the Illawarra/Shoalhaven area will also be declared ‘Catastrophic’,” Dr Newcombe said.
“We are advising schools to make their decision to close early, to give them the best chance to communicate with parents and carers who need time to make arrangements for looking after their children.”
He added that the Rural Fire Service (RFS) is available to provide advice to schools on a local level to assist them in making a decision to close.
“As NSW has now been declared a state of emergency, the police may direct schools to close if they deem the risk too high,” Dr Newcombe said.
The following government schools will be non-operational on Tuesday 12 November:
- Barkers Vale Public School
- Baryulgil Public School
- Beechwood Public School
- Bellbrook Public School
- Ben Lomond Public School
- Bobin Public School
- Cascade Environmental Education Centre
- Coffee Camp Public School
- Coolongolook Public School
- Coopernook Public School
- Coutts Crossing Public School
- Deepwater Public School
- Dundurrabin Public School
- Elands Public School
- Emmaville Central School
- Glenreagh Public School
- Hallidays Point Public School
- Hannam Vale Public School
- Harrington Public School
- Heron's Creek Public School
- Huntingdon Public School
- Johns River Public School
- Krambach Public School
- Lansdowne Public School
- Long Flat Public School
- Lowanna Public School
- Manning Gardens Public School
- Medlow Public School
- Mingoola Public School
- Mitchells Island Public School
- Moorland Public School
- Mount George Public School
- Nabiac Public School
- Nana Glen Public School
- Nimbin Central School
- Nymboida Public School
- Old Bar Public School
- Oxley Island Public School
- Pacific Palms Public School
- Rollands Plains Upper Public School
- Telegraph Point Public School
- The Channon Public School
- Tinonee Public School
- Tuntable Creek Public School
- Ulong Public School
- Upper Coopers Creek Public School
- Upper Lansdowne Public School
- Whian Whian Public School
- Willawarrin Public School
- Wingham Brush Public School
- Wingham Public School
- Wytaliba Public School
- Yarrowitch Public School.
The following non-government schools will be non-operational on Tuesday 12 November:
- Alesco Senior College – Coast Campus, Tuncurry
- Alesco Senior College – Raymond Terrace, Raymond Terrace
- Armidale Waldorf School, Armidale
- Atwea College – Coast Campus, Tuncurry
- Berowra Christian School, Berowra
- Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner, Byron Bay
- Central Coast Sports College, Kariong
- Chrysalis Steiner School, Thora
- Columba Cottage Early Leaning Centre/OSCH, Port Macquarie
- Darkinjung Barker College, Yarramalong
- Forrestville Montessori School, Forestville
- Gaulston College, Ingleside
- Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School, Middle Cove
- Hawkesbury Independent School, Kurrajong
- Holy Cross, Kincumber
- Holy Name Primary School, Forster
- John Colet School, Belrose
- Kindlehill School, Wentworth Falls
- Kinma Preschool & Primary, Terrey Hills
- Korowal School, Hazelbrook
- Kuyper Christian School, Kurrajong
- Lindfield Montessssori, Lindfield
- Lorien Novalis School, Dural
- MacKillop Catholic College, Warnervale
- Macksville Adventist School, Macksville
- Manning Adventist School, Tinonee
- Manning Valley Anglican School, Cundletown
- Mater Dei School, Narellan
- Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood
- Mcauley Catholic College, Grafton
- Medowie Christian School, Medowie
- Mountains Christian College, Blackheath
- Nambucca Valley Christian Community School, Nambucca Heads
- Nautilus School Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie
- Newington College – Lindefield Campus, Lindfield
- Ngaruki Gulgul (NG) Central School, Kariong
- Northern Beaches Christian School, Terrey Hills
- Northholm Grammar School, Fiddletown
- Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, West Pymble
- Our Lady Star of the Sea, Terrigal
- Pete's Place South Blacktown, Blacktown
- Port Macquarie Steiner School, Port Macquarie
- Rainbow Ridge School for Steiner Education, Lillian Rock
- St Agnes' Primary, Port Macquarie
- St Andrews Christian School, Clarenza
- St Bernard’s, Berowra
- St Brendan’s, Lake Munmorah
- St Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah
- St Clare’s High School, Taree
- St Columba Anglican School, Port Macquarie
- St John Fisher, Tumbi Umbi
- St Johns Mt Dorrigo
- St Joseph's Primary Port Macquarie
- St Joseph's Regional College, Port Macquarie
- St Joseph's, Wauchope
- St Joseph’s Primary School, Buladehla
- St Joseph’s Primary School, Taree
- St Joseph’s Primary School, Wingham
- St Josephs, Graton South
- St Josephs, Kempsey
- St Josephs, Laurieton
- St Martin’s, Davidson
- St Mary's Catholic College, Casino
- St Mary’s, Toukley
- St Marys, Bellingen
- St Marys, Bowraville
- St Marys, Grafton
- St Patricks, Macksville
- St Paul's College, Kempsey
- St Peter's Primary, Port Macquarie
- St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah
- St Phillips Christian College DALE Young Parents Waratah, Waratah
- St Phillips Christian College DALE Young Parents Wyong, North Wyong
- Taree Christian School, Taree
- The Nature School, Port Macquarie
- Tuntable Falls Community School, Nimbin
- Warrah Special School, Dural
- Wycliffe Christian School, Warrimoo
- Yanginanook School, Belrose.
The following TAFE campuses will be non-operational on Tuesday 12 November:
- Great Lakes TAFE - The Northern Parkway, Tuncurry, NSW 2428
- Kempsey TAFE - 58 Sea Street, Kempsey, NSW 2240
- Macksville TAFE Campus - 5/9 West Street, Macksville NSW 2447
- Port Macquarie TAFE Campus - 70 Widderson Street, Port Macquarie, NSW 2244
- Taree TAFE Campus - Montgomery Crescent, Taree NSW 2430
- Wauchope TAFE Campus - 18-20 Young Street, Wauchope, NSW 2446.
- The following non-government schools will be non-operational on Monday 11 November: