Allambie Heights is set to become the new home of The Forest High School, a modern, purpose-built campus that is getting ready to welcome over 800 students next year, marking a fresh start for the 64-year-old institution previously based in Frenchs Forest.
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The new school on the corner of Allambie Road and Aquatic Drive represents one of the Northern Beaches’ most significant education infrastructure projects, with the $160-million development designed to accommodate up to 1,500 students as the region grows.
What the New Campus Offers
The Allambie Heights campus has been purpose-built with contemporary education in mind. Interactive smartboards will feature throughout the school, supporting digital learning across all year groups. The entire facility is fully air-conditioned, a considerable upgrade from the original 1960s buildings.
Students will benefit from flexible learning spaces designed around a “Learning Loop” concept – an accessible pathway connecting classrooms with outdoor learning areas. The campus includes a modern library, updated canteen facilities, and a multi-purpose theatre for music, drama and dance performances.
Sports facilities have received particular attention in the design. The school will feature a fully equipped gymnasium and fitness lab, all-weather sports surfaces, two half courts, and five multipurpose courts suitable for soccer, touch football, basketball, netball and volleyball. Break-out study and seminar spaces are included throughout the campus.
Senior students will appreciate dedicated facilities including a senior study area, senior bathrooms, and spaces located near examination rooms – creating what Lawler describes as a more senior experience for Years 11 and 12. The school’s specialist autism support unit will continue operating at the new location, maintaining the inclusive education programs that serve students with additional needs.
A Fresh Start for a Historic School
The original Forest High School opened its doors in January 1961 with just 318 students and 14 teachers. Over more than six decades, it became a cornerstone of the local community; the school included three members of legendary rock band INXS among its students. Now, as the school prepares to close its Frenchs Forest chapter, the move to Allambie Heights signals a new beginning for students and staff alike.
Principal Nathan Lawler has emphasised that the relocation brings significant advantages for the school community. The new 4.5-hectare site, previously home to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s McLeod House facility, offers modern learning environments surrounded by the natural beauty of Garigal National Park bushland.
Room to Grow
Capacity has been a key consideration in the relocation. While the school currently serves more than 830 students, the new campus can accommodate over 1,000, with eventual expansion possible to 1,500 places. This growth capacity isn’t arbitrary – it’s linked to significant residential development planned for the area.
The old Frenchs Forest site will be demolished to make way for a new town centre, with developers permitted to build apartment blocks up to 12 storeys high. This rezoning, part of the state’s plan to provide medium and high-density housing near the Northern Beaches Hospital precinct, will create demand for additional school places. The Forest High School is expecting approximately 180 new Year 7 students in 2026.
In a win for local residents, Northern Beaches has partnered with the Education Department to ensure community access to the school’s sports facilities outside school hours. This arrangement extends the benefit of the significant public investment beyond the student population.
Read: Historic Gravestone Preserved Ahead Of School Move In Allambie Heights
Looking Ahead
As demolition equipment prepares to move onto the old Frenchs Forest site, the school community is focused on the opportunities ahead. The relocation keeps the school within its existing catchment area, minimising disruption for current families while positioning The Forest High School to serve growing communities across the Northern Beaches for decades to come.
For Allambie Heights residents, the arrival of this expanded educational facility represents a significant addition to local amenities and a vote of confidence in the area’s future.
Published 23-December-2025
