MERREDIN Senior High School has applied for a $3.9 million trade training facility to be built on school grounds.
High school principal Kath Ward said she recently put the proposal to a panel of experts chaired by Policy, Planning and Accountability executive director Norma Jeffery.
She said Merredin was ideally suited for the proposed training centre as it was the only senior high school for 160 kilometres, was located in the central Wheatbelt, serviced a surrounding population of about 10,000 and was located close to a residential college.
She said partnerships with five district high schools in the region indicated a positive response from neighbouring communities.
The school, in its 50th year of operation, provides some Tertiary Entrance Examination courses, traditional Technical and Further Educational courses, and Vocational Education Training courses including business, hospitality and automotive metals, as well as an alternative pathway with TAFE for school rural operations and outdoor recreation.
VET courses have been conducted at the school since 1995 and the school had a strong working relationship with TAFE.
The school also has an excellent partnership with local employers and started a Certificate I in Engineering until it was deemed not viable because the facilities were not up to industry standards.
Ms Ward said community support was encouraging and aimed at promoting further education, training and employment opportunities for Merredin and surrounding districts and securing educational resources.
Support consisted of schools, shire, TAFE, government representatives and many local business owners, especially in automotive, metals and agricultural fields.
Ms Ward said the only trade training centre in the region was WA College of Agricultural in Cunderdin which was 100 kilometres away and usually operated with a waiting list.
The school and residential college offered taster programs and transition week for students coming to Merredin from district high schools.
Ms Ward said the facility for automotive metals would have school and TAFE access, offer a smooth transition for students into workforce and operate to industry standards.