Region: Mid-Coast

Save Our School - Upper Lansdowne Public School

Petition is addressed to:
Department of Education

608 Signatures

100 %
600 for collection target

608 Signatures

100 %
600 for collection target
  1. Launched 06/05/2026
  2. Time remaining > 2 months
  3. Submission
  4. Dialog with recipient
  5. Decision
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Petition addressed to: Department of Education

For over 130 years, our local school has been part of this community—teaching our children and bringing families together.

Now, it is at risk of going into recess due to low enrolment numbers.

If this happens, local kids will have to travel further to attend school, making daily life harder for families and limiting children’s ability to be part of their school community. For rural areas like ours, having a local school is essential.

Our school is more than a place to learn. It is a meeting place, a support network, and an important part of life in our valley. Losing it would have a lasting impact on our whole community.

We are asking for your support to help keep our school open and protect its future.

Every signature matters.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
After reaching 500 signatures, we have escalated our petition to a Legislative Assembly e-petition with the goal of reaching 20,000 signatures and having our cause debated in Parliament. We would greatly appreciate your support by signing and sharing this petition also to help us reach this milestone.

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/Pages/ePetition-details.aspx?q=-w66AStz5YQmh0a6Fl5jCg

Reason

We are deeply concerned about what will happen if our school goes into recess.

Recess means that the school is temporarily closed. The teachers and students are relocated to other schools and they stop taking enrolments. It’s basically a “use it or lose it” situation. If numbers don’t recover, a school in recess can eventually be permanently closed.

Our key concern is that recess closures are rarely reversed. In NSW between 2011–2022, 18 schools went into recess and only 1 is documented as having reopened — around just 5%. This shows how difficult it is to bring a school back once it is closed.

For over 130 years, our school has supported local children and families. Losing it would mean young kids travelling long distances every day just to get to school. Research shows that longer travel times can lead to fatigue, lower attendance, and less participation in school life—especially for younger children and those in rural areas.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, families in regional and rural areas already face greater challenges accessing services, including education. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also highlights how access to local services is closely linked to better wellbeing and stronger communities.

Beyond education, our school is a key part of our valley. It brings people together, supports local events, and helps keep our community connected. When a rural school closes, it doesn’t just affect students—it impacts the whole community’s future.

We are concerned that once our school is in recess, it may never return.

We are asking for support to keep our school open—for our children, our families, and our community.

Thank you so much for your support, Upper Lansdowne Public Public School P&C, Upper Lansdowne
Question to the initiator

Petition details

Petition started: 05/06/2026
Collection ends: 11/05/2026
Region: Mid-Coast
Topic: Education

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News

  • Celebrate Our School with a Night of Live Music!

    Join us for a fantastic evening of live music, great food and community spirit as we celebrate keeping Upper Lansdowne Public School open and the incredible community effort that made it possible.

    Doors Open: 6:00 PM
    First band: 6:30pm

    Featuring:

    The Nature Painters
    A much-loved local folk trio known for their beautiful harmonies, thoughtful songwriting and relaxed acoustic sound inspired by life, nature and community.

    Bobin Maintenance Crew
    Bringing a lively mix of country, folk and classic favourites, this talented local group is guaranteed to get the crowd smiling and singing along.

    Dingo Creek String Band
    Finishing the night with their energetic blend of bluegrass, old-time string music and toe-tapping tunes, this acclaimed local band always delivers an unforgettable live performance.

    Hot dinner available to purchase on the night, so come hungry and make an evening of it.

    Tickets:
    $25 Adults
    $15 Teen tickets available at the door
    Under 12 free

    All proceeds from the evening will be donated to Upper Lansdowne Public School, helping support the students, programs and opportunities that make our small rural school so special.

    This is more than just a concert—it’s a celebration of what can be achieved when a community comes together. After months of determination, advocacy and support, we’re celebrating the future of Upper Lansdowne Public School with an unforgettable night of music, friendship and fun.

    Bring your family, invite your friends and join us for a night that celebrates not only great local music, but the heart and resilience of our community. 

    We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

    Poster artist: artists.anon.studio

  • We are very excited to announce we have confirmation from the department of education that our beautiful little school is not closing! 🥳🎉💃

    We would like to thank our community for your continued support and help with our campaign! 

    It's been a stressful time for parents, kids, staff and the broader community for the past 6 weeks so it's a great relief that the department has recognised the important role our school plays in our community. 

    Although it's been a challenging time, on a positive note, it's actually brought our community closer together. Through it we have achieved the following: 
    🌼 Created the ULPS playgroup with early engagement of the next generation of school kids
    🌼 A school bus in the pipeline 🤞 to help more local kids access the school 
    🌼 An awareness of the restrictions of the catchment zone and potential changes to it in the future 
    🌼 Engaging the broader community with the schools facilities and beautiful grounds
    🌼 Acknowledgment of the important role our small, flexible learning environment provides

    So once again thank you! Thank you for signing petitions, sharing and engaging with posts, putting up posters and signs, writing letters and complaints, coming to the community meeting and giving ideas, calling politicians, sharing stories, sharing with your networks, and encouraging us along the way. We couldn't have done this without the help of our community! 

    And thank you to the many politicians who have rallied for our cause and taken the fight to parliament! 

    Our kids are so happy they get to stay at their beautiful school. You have put a great big smile on their faces 😊😁🥳

    Here's to another 130 years of ULPS 🙌 

    #wesavedourschool

Why people sign

Both of our grand daughters have attended this school and it plays such an important role in the local community. It would be a travesty if it were to close, and if the children have to travel further to go to a school, it would make very long days for them.

I went to that school 60 years ago

Supporting our community and rural providers

To keep the school open for the children to be able to attend their local school.

Schools in small communities are very important for students and families.

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