July 25, 2025
A group of Yarraman parents and grandparents have taken their six-month long campaign to reinstate Year 10 at their local State School to the media after fearing they have not been making any headway with the State Government.
Yarraman State School lost its Year 10 class in 2014, becoming a P-9 (ie. Prep to Year 9).
Since then Year 10 Yarraman students have been forced to catch a bus daily to Nanango to attend Nanango State High School.
The group believes the extra travel is too much, particularly for students who live in Benarkin who have to catch a bus to Blackbutt, then another to Yarraman, and then another to Nanango.
They also claim many of the former Yarraman P-9 students do not complete Year 10 at NSHS, dropping out before completion.
There is also the added expense for parents of buying a new set of NSHS uniforms – and a laptop – for students who only intend to go to Year 10 before starting a trade.
Tanya Comerford’s grandson Dominic is in Year 9 at Yarraman this year, and she is worried he will have to go to Nanango next year.
She also has five other grandchildren in different classes at the school.
Tanya said some parents were seriously considering home-schooling their children rather than sending them to Nanango.
The group had written to Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek’s office on January, then Education Queensland’s Regional Office in Toowoomba and Premier David Crisafulli’s office, but Tanya felt she had been “fobbed off”.
Yarraman P&C president Jaime-Lea Stimpson said the P&C had started the initial discussions about a possible change last year.
She said students should be able to finish their compulsory schooling in Yarraman.
Parents had been told that moving Year 10 to Nanango would help Yarraman students transition smoothly to Senior Secondary school but this was not happening.
“Yarraman students are going to Year 10 in Nanango and then leaving. They drop out and don’t complete Year 10,” Jaime-Lea said.
“No one can give us a direct answer” about their request but she was hopeful things would change.
The group has set up a Facebook page as part of their campaign.
There are currently 26 students in Year 9 at Yarraman.
“We will need an answer soon,” Tanya said.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington was due to meet with parents and P&C members on Friday afternoon.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with the Yarraman State School community this afternoon,” she told southburnett.com.au.
“I understand the concerns raised and look forward to hearing their proposal.
“I welcome the opportunity to discuss the details of this proposed addition and working together to find the best path forward.”
A Department of Education spokesperson said the Department was aware there has been community advocacy for the reinstatement of Year 10 at Yarraman State School.
“As the decisions to change year level offerings carry short- and long-term impacts, these changes are considered through a comprehensive process involving consultation with a wide range of stakeholders,” the spokesperson said.
“Parents and carers are encouraged to connect with the Principal and the school’s P&C for updates.”
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