The Anglican School Googong will work in partnership with Anglicare to run the ELC, which will open to students in January next year and coincide with the launch of the school’s first kindergarten, primary and secondary classes.

Foundation principal of the school Ian Hewitt said the ELC would cater to 44 children, with plenty of interest from parents flowing in already.

“It’s a pre-school program, but then with before and after school care as well if families would like that. So it’s a flexible model,” Mr Hewitt said.

 “It’s really important for the school, because we can provide education for three-year-olds right through to 18, so you can be here for 15 years.

“The demand from families is that they’re really after a continual option for their children so they don’t have to change schools every couple of years,” he said.

Enrollments opened late last month and the school already has forty names on its waiting list, with parents from across Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra and even some Canberra families interested in the site.

Queanbeyan mayor Tim Overall attended the official launch of the ELC on Tuesday morning and said the new school would help cater to Queanebeyan’s rapidly expanding population.

“It’s of critical importance because of Queanbeyan’s projected growth over the next 20 years, not only at Googong, Tralee and South Jerrabomberra, but Queanbeyan’s internal growth as well,” Cr Overall said.

“To have a new school that will continue education right through to year 12 is strategically critical for the region.”