farewell to the old Forest High School: New Forest High School Set to be ready for February 2 2026
In December 2021 The NSW Department of Education made available drawings and artists' impressions of the new Forest High School. With the school set to be ready for students on February 2nd an overview of the project is timely.
Through the years of construction there have been a few mishaps, notably concerns over runoff from the site impacting the creeks down hill from the build site, and pollution of Manly dam.
In December 2025 Students and staff bid adieu to the old Forest High School while looking forward to ‘amazing, state-of-the-art’ facilities at a newly built school in 2026. Jim Griffiths reports. The December 2025 Update from School Infrastructure NSW is also included, with a map of the new school grounds and a few photos from inside the new rooms.
L-R: Student leadership team James Dry, Oliver Burn, Isobel Pacholski and Aishwarya Kalra with Principal Nathan Lawler
Staff and students left The Forest High School’s 1961 site for the last time in December 2025, as the school prepares to move into a brand-new site at the beginning of the 2026 school year.
For all concerned, the old school carries fond memories, from making new friends to sporting and artistic events.
School captain Isobel Pacholski said being at the school since Year 7 had created many memories.
“While we've all been looking forward to the new site since we got here, I think, as we've grown with the school, we've grown fond of it as well,” she said.
School vice-captain James Dry said his best memories involved playing team sports for the school but is looking forward to the new facilities at the Allambie Road site.
“The new facilities look amazing, like all the sports facilities and new classrooms,” he said.
“There’ll be so many opportunities for future students, and it's definitely a very supportive environment, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Isobel Pacholski notes the Festival of Lights and school musicals have created very fond memories for her, and she looks forward to the new facilities.
“The new state-of-the-art facilities and performance spaces definitely cater towards performers and people who want to perform for larger groups of people,” she said.
“I think it will help us in preparing for performances, especially the dance studios. I know the dancers are really looking forward to that.
“Any time where we've been able to represent the school on stage and share my love for music with the greater community is just amazing.”
Principal Nathan Lawler said he also had fond memories of performance alongside students learning in classrooms, as well as the sounds that follow different spaces around the school.
“My fondest memories are the everyday routines that you build,” he said. “For me it’s walking the playground in the morning and hearing the band rehearsing in the hall, then looping past our sports academy and hearing the instructions from the coaches.
“Along with hearing the music playing because the music classrooms were directly above my office. You'd be sitting in a meeting and then, all of a sudden, you've got music elective students playing upstairs.”
However, Mr Lawler believes the new school will offer more opportunities for students, whether that’s in the classroom, state-of-the-art gym and playing surfaces, performance spaces or vocational education facilities.
“We have high expectations of our students, and we'll have the facilities to match the effort they're putting in and what we're expecting from them,” he said.
“For example, I see how much work goes into rehearsing a performance before and after school, now they'll actually have a theatre to match the quality of performance.”
Features of the new school include a new library, canteen and administration spaces, a multi-purpose sports and performance hall, new outdoor sports courts, landscaped recreation and outdoor learning spaces, and over 180 parking spaces for bicycles and scooters. A continuous accessible circulation path will link classrooms with the landscape around the internal edges of the campus buildings.
The project is part of an expansive plan to establish a new dynamic town centre for the Frenchs Forest community.
The new school location remains within the current intake area for The Forest High School. It is a local school of choice where its supportive and inspiring environment helps every student thrive.
Mr Lawler said The Forest High School had a strong sense of community and values and a commitment to realising the potential of our students.
“Every student is inspired to reach their full potential and confidently shape their future,” he said.
“Through high expectations, continuous growth, and strong community engagement, we equip students with the knowledge, skills, and character to thrive and unlock opportunities for success and wellbeing throughout their lives.”
December 2025 Update on New Forest High School
The Forest High School is part of the re-zoning and planning framework for Frenchs Forest to create a new town centre for the community. The Forest High School will be relocated to 189 Allambie Road, Allambie Heights.
The Forest High School relocation project provides 73 modern classrooms and 3 Special Support Units for up to 1500 students; a new library, canteen and administration spaces; a multi-purpose sports and performance hall; new outdoor sports courts and landscaped recreation and outdoor learning spaces.
Main construction works are nearing completion, and the school is on track to open for Day 1 Term 1 2026. The internal fit out, landscaping, and boundary works are in the final stages.
The concrete pours for the sports facilities slabs are continuing and will be finished in early December, weather and site conditions permitting.
The process of relocating equipment and resources will start during the school holiday period. We will work with the teachers and school staff to minimise the impact on school operations.
New intake areas – 2026
From 2026, intake areas across the Manly to Warringah end of the northern beaches are changing. The updates provide improved alignment between primary schools and high schools, enabling more students to move from primary to high school with their peers.
The changes will apply to new enrolments from 2026. To view the new local intake area for The Forest High School, please click on the 2026 button displayed on the School Finder website.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I have a child already attending at The Forest High School. Can they stay there if I am now in a different school’s intake area?
Yes, they can. There is no change for students already attending The Forest High School.
2. I have a child already attending The Forest High School. This is currently our local intake area school but from 2026 we will be designated to a different school. Can I enrol my other children at the same school?
Families with a child currently enrolled at their local designated school will retain the entitlement to enrol siblings at the same school, even if there are changes to the local intake area boundaries that make their home address out-of-area.
3. How were the new intake areas developed?
The new intake areas have been developed through a consultative process with schools and communities. A number of relevant factors were considered to inform the development of the new intake areas including enrolment trends; opportunities to align with primary school local intake areas; public transport access; the size and utilisation rate of schools; the number of students living in each proposed intake area; and the physical capacity of schools to enrol students.
State Significant Development Application – modification 3
A modification (3) to the State Significant Development Application (SSD), to split the public domain works into two stages has been approved. This allows the opening of the school with interim arrangements to ensure safe travel and pedestrian access arrangements. Works will include the upgrade and movement of the bus stops on Aquatic Drive, provision of the kiss and drop zone and a new pedestrian crossing. The exhibition for this modification (3) closed on Thursday 17 July 2025.
State Significant Development Application – modification 4
A modification (4) to the State Significant Development Application (SSD) has been submitted. This proposes the retention and upgrade of the existing roundabout at the intersection of Aquatic Drive and Allambie Road, rather than replacing the roundabout with a signalised intersection as previously approved. The upgrade to the existing roundabout will ensure the intersection can accommodate the projected increase in traffic in future years. This will achieve the same or better outcomes as the original proposal for traffic lights, without the additional construction timeframes or disturbance to utility infrastructure. The exhibition for this modification (4) closed on Thursday 28 August 2025.
A modification (3) to the SSD application (SSD-26876801) to split the public domain works into 2 stages has now been approved. This will allow the opening of the school with interim arrangements to ensure safe travel and pedestrian access arrangements.
Next steps
• Continue the sports facilities construction, landscaping and tree planting.
• Progressively remove site hoarding and shade cloth to begin works on the site boundary.
• Begin external works to footpaths and pedestrian crossings.
Map of the new school site.
Transport options
The Forest High School is easily accessible via a range of transport options. We recommend accessing the school via foot, bicycle, scooter or bus where possible.
Bike and scooter parking is available near the secondary entrance on Allambie Road.
From mid-January 2026, students catching buses will be able to use the Transport for NSW Trip Planner transportnsw.info/trip to plan their trip.
Transport for NSW has developed a fact sheet for families of The Forest High School to outline the available bus services. Please contact the school for a copy.
Front Entrance - Artists drawing. Credit: NSW Education Infrastructure
Aerial - East. Artists drawing. Credit: NSW Education Infrastructure
Term dates for NSW public schools: 2026
2026 school term dates
Term First day for students Last day for students
Term 1
(Eastern division) Monday 2 February 2026 Thursday 2 April 2026
Term 1
(Western division) Monday 9 February 2026 Thursday 2 April 2026
Term 2
(Eastern and Western division) Wednesday 22 April 2026 Friday 3 July 2026
Term 3
(Eastern and Western division) Tuesday 21 July 2026 Friday 25 September 2026
Term 4
(Eastern and Western division) Tuesday 13 October 2026 Thursday 17 December 2026
NSW school holiday dates: 2026 school year
Season Division
Autumn holidays Eastern and Western divisions
Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April 2026
Winter holidays Eastern and Western divisions
Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July 2026
Spring holidays Eastern and Western divisions
Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026
Summer holidays
Eastern division
Friday 18 December to Wednesday 27 January 2027
Western division
Friday 18 December to Wednesday 3 February 2027