A new 220-student special education secondary school will be built in Palmerston at a cost of $110 million, the Finocchiaro Government has announced.

Education Minister Jo Hersey said the new school will sit next to the current Palmerston College Rosebery Middle School campus, in accordance with recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission. The middle school will transition to become a full comprehensive high school from next year.

“A purpose-built special education secondary school in Palmerston will provide more options for parents, who may have their children currently in mainstream schools or travel long distances to a special school further away,” Ms Hersey said.

“In turn this will reduce enrollment pressures on the special education centre at Palmerston College and Henbury School.”

She said the school is scheduled to open for Term 1, 2029.

Disability Minister Jinson Charls said the new school is about creating the right environment for every child who needs extra support in their learning.

“Importantly, the design reflects the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendation that new special schools be located alongside mainstream schools, allowing students to benefit from both specialist support and shared educational, cultural, and sporting experiences with their peers,” Mr Charls said.

In late July, the Finocchiaro Government announced it would replace the middle school model in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs with Year 7 to Year 12 comprehensive schools and other specialist schools.

There will be two, as yet unnamed full comprehensive high schools in Palmerston, one on the Rosbery Middle School site and one on the Palmerston College Year 10 to 12 site.

Darwin will have four comprehensive high schools, along with one specialist industry, trade and technical college for years 10 to 12, and one higher education-focused college for years 10 to 12.

Alice Springs will have one comprehensive high school plus a new regional industry, trade and flexible education college for years 10 to 12.

The gradual transition of students will commence in 2026 in Darwin and Palmerston and 2027 in Alice Springs, with the full transition to the new design completed by the end of 2028.