Comet Bay College

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Wikipedia

Comet Bay College
Location
Secret Harbour, Western Australia

Australia
Coordinates32°24′57″S 115°45′50″E / 32.415742°S 115.763931°E / -32.415742; 115.763931
Information
TypePublic co-educational high school
MottoSeek excellence
Established2006; 20 years ago (2006)
Educational authorityWA Department of Education
PrincipalKelly Bennett
Years7–12
Enrolment1,904[1] (Semester 2, 2025)
Campus typeSuburban
ColoursNavy blue, blue, yellow, white     
Websitecometbaycollege.wa.edu.au

Comet Bay College is a public co-educational high school, located in Secret Harbour, 56 kilometres (35 mi) south of Perth, Western Australia.

Established in 2006 at the premises now occupied by Comet Bay Primary School, the College moved to its present location south of the primary school in 2007. In 2020 the school for the first time ranked academically within the top ten public secondary schools in the state.[2][3]

History

The college was initially a junior high school accommodating years 8 to 10. The first stage of construction of the school was completed in May/June 2006. In November 2007 the Minister for Education announced that years 11 and 12 would be accommodated in 2008 and 2009 respectively. In 2011 a A$20.5 million building program for senior school facilities was completed, including science laboratories, a lecture theatre, trades area and a fitness centre.[4]

The school consists of separate blocks for each subject, including mathematics, HASS, English, and science, as well as a gymnasium, a library, an oval, a cafeteria, a performing arts area, and an administration area. The school incorporates a Gifted and Talented (GAT) Program, along with AFL football and golf development programs, drama and visual arts extension programs, music programs and a media extension program.

Fire

On Thursday 8 June 2023, at around 6:30 pm, the Humanities and English Blocks were deliberately set on fire in an arson attack.[5] Year 11 exams which were set to take place the next day were postponed till the Monday, and other students were given the day off on both Friday and Monday due to the damage to the school.

Demountables were installed on outdoor basketball courts to serve as temporary replacements to classrooms damaged in the fire. Students in the STEP program were moved to the local Comet Bay Primary School while more temporary accommodation could be arranged. To accommodate a return of the VET program in Term 4, additional demountables were installed during the Term 3 holidays. The STEP program returned in 2024 at the start of Term 1.

The English block has since been renovated, reopening Week 10 Term 2, 2025.

Catchment area

The school's intake area includes Secret Harbour, Golden Bay, Singleton, Baldivis, Karnup and a small section of southern Port Kennedy. Students from the suburb of Madora Bay have the option of attending Comet Bay College or Mandurah High School.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Alphabetical List of Western Australian Schools" (PDF). WA Department of Education. Perth, WA: Government of Western Australia. 1 October 2025. p. 9. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "WA School Ranking 2020". Better Education Pty Ltd. 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  3. ↑ Pilat, Lauren (11 January 2021). "WA's top-performing high schools revealed as students don't let pandemic hold them back". WAToday. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Premier hails Comet Bay College". Perth, WA: Dept of the Premier and Cabinet, Government of Western Australia. 11 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  5. ↑ Welhan, Monique (9 June 2023). "Teen in custody, school closed after Comet Bay College fire". coastlive.
  6. ↑ "School Education Act 1999 — Declaration of Local Intake Areas for Schools with Secondary Students". Western Australia Government Gazette. 30 December 2005. p. 2005:6893–6894.