According to Right to Information data analysed by this masthead,3079 “out of catchment” students were accepted between March 2021 and February 2022 for enrolment in state schools through an enrolment management plan (EMP) because they had a sibling at the school.
In Queensland,a state school must create an EMP when its capacity hits 80 per cent,and principals are required to restrict enrolments from out-of-catchment students to ensure there is enough room for local families.
But there are several ways out-of-catchment students can enrol.
Siblings of current students at a school are entitled to enrol,unless their brother or sister gained entry via an Excellence Program or enrolled as a result of exclusion from another school.
More than 1350 students were enrolled in 2021 through an Excellence Program.
Students who have a parent or guardian working at the school can also get out-of-catchment entry. A total of 241 children enrolled that way,while 72 were enrolled after being expelled.
And 5396 students were given access under an undefined reason of “other”. A departmental spokeswoman said “other” covered out-of-category enrolments that did not “fall under another category”.